Chapter 31Christian stood by the window of his office, watching Olivia. She sat quietly in the garden staring into space while Eunice ran around chasing some butterflies. The tension between them had been palpable since the incident of Eunice’s attempted kidnapping, and he knew he had been harsh. Too harsh. He wasn’t used to feeling this… uncertain.Eunice’s birthday was approaching, and Christian realized that if they didn’t make an effort to appear united, Eunice would sense the discord. For all the turmoil in his personal and professional life, Eunice remained his anchor. And Olivia, whether he liked to admit it or not, was now an essential part of that equation.A while later, he went into the garden to meet them. “Uncle Christian”, Eunice’s voice pierced the air and brought Olivia’s attention back.“What are you doing here?" Are you here to play with Olivia and I?" she asked, her curiosity peaking.“Yes. I’m here to play with you and Olivia”, he said with a small smile on his fa
Chapter 32Olivia’s eyes widened in horror as Christian ripped off the disguise, revealing Marcus' twisted face. The same man who had haunted her past now stands in her present, fueling her worst nightmares.“How did he get in?” Olivia demanded, her voice shaking.Christian’s expression was grim. “I don’t know. But he’s not going anywhere.”The security guards tightened their grip on Marcus, who sneered at Olivia. “You think you’re safe with him? You think he can protect you?”Olivia felt a chill run down her spine. “What do you want, Marcus?”Marcus' eyes blazed with resentment. “You! You owe me! And now you’re married to him? You’re just a tease, Olivia. Always have been. If you wanted to sleep your way to prominence, you should have just started with me. You gave what was mine to another man."Christian stepped forward, his fists clenched. “That’s enough.”Marcus' laughter sent shivers down Olivia’s spine. “You don’t know what she’s capable of, Christian. You don’t know what she di
Chapter 33The laughter and shouts of children began to fade as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm orange hue over the remains of the birthday party. Most of the guests had left, with only a few lingering at the tables, chatting quietly as the day drew to a close. Christian stood near the edge of the makeshift beach, his hands in his pockets, watching Olivia from a distance.She was kneeling by the sandcastle they had built with Eunice, smoothing out the walls with her fingers, her face soft and focused. Christian’s gaze lingered on her longer than he intended. She looked different to him now—more than just Eunice’s nanny, more than the woman he’d married out of necessity. There was something about her, something that pulled him despite the tension between them.Marcus’s words echoed in his mind, biting and venomous: “She’s a tease. You don’t know what she did."Christian clenched his jaw, pushing the thought aside. Marcus was a liar, a manipulator, and yet his presence t
Chapter 34After his call, Christian looked somewhat distraught. He looked over at Olivia, then Ruth and Josh with panic in his eyes. Olivia quickly understood him, so she turned to Eunice.“Sweetheart, why don’t you go and play in your toy room while I discuss something with your Uncle?”“Is there something you still have to discuss? I thought you had kissed and made up”, Eunice asked with sheer disappointment in her face.“We did already. We just want to discuss some adult things. We’ll be done very soon. After our discussion, your uncle and I will read you bedtime stories together”, Olivia promised the pouting girl.Eunice nodded and ran upstairs towards her toy room. “Be fast with your discussions”.As soon as they heard the door click upstairs, the tension in the room thickened. Christian’s jaw was tight, and the small calm he’d worn earlier had vanished. Olivia, Ruth, and Josh immediately turned to him, concern mirrored in their eyes.“What’s happening?” Olivia asked, her voice
Olivia saw the headline and read the first few lines before her mind started spiraling. This is really bad for her and Christian, especially for his company. She wanted to cry at that moment, but she looked towards Eunice and didn’t want to confuse her, so she held up her emotions.She picked up her phone again, and went through the call logs, looking to call Christian and explain herself when Ruth’s call came through. She picked it up immediately.“Liv, have you seen the news and what they’ve been saying about you? I just opened my phone to read some entertainment news when I saw that. What are you going to do now? Has Christian seen it?" She rambled on without giving Olivia the opportunity to answer any of her questions.“I don’t know why this is happening again suddenly. I think this is Marcus' doing, and I’m not about to take it easy on him. I’ll call Christian and see what opinion he has about this. I’m just really hoping his company doesn’t get affected”, Olivia answered, soundi
Chapter 36Christian’s face remained the same but his eyes hardened even more. The secretary seeing the situation at hand, subtly faked a cough to call the attention of the employees. The four of them turned back to find Christian looking as angry as they had ever seen him.“Secretary Pitcher, inform them to go to the financial department and collect their salaries for the month. Since they have something else to do, they don’t need to come back to work tomorrow”, he said coldly before turning to leave.“Please sir. Please excuse our behavior”, one of them said as he ran after Christian. Secretary Pitcher held him back in time and faced the remaining three.“Please proceed as Mr. Mason had instructed, and submit your employee cards to the administrative department when you’re leaving”, he said as he turned back to go to the elevator.“Secretary Pitcher!" they called him as he went.Olivia paced around the living room, her mind racing with the events of the day. The air felt thick, hea
Chapter 37In the middle of her thoughts, she heard heavy footsteps from a distance and she could decipher that it was Christian. Was he going to work early again? She quickly ran to the door and opened it to see Christian passing by her room.“Good morning, Christian," she greeted. Christian looked at her and grunted a response. Olivia sighed at herself and followed her husband downstairs.“Are you going early today? Shouldn’t you have breakfast or something?" she asked as he fixed his neck tie.“Don’t worry about me. I’ll get my secretary to prepare me something light for the morning. Also, I have a press conference this morning with the media. Be sure to tune in”, he said, before turning to leave.“Christian, please wait”, Olivia shouted from behind him.“What is it Olivia?”“I have something to show you”, she said as she pulled out her phone from her pocket. She went through her texts and pulled out the message she’d received the previous afternoon.“This was the message I receive
Chapter 38Olivia sat on the living room couch, her mind still spinning from the events of the morning. Christian’s bold announcement at the press conference left her feeling a mixture of pride and fear. His unwavering stance to defend her was both heartwarming and nerve-wracking. But the way he exposed Marcus openly rattled her—what would Marcus do now? Surely, he wouldn’t just sit back and let it slide.Ruth sat beside her scrolling through social media, reading through the comments pouring in about the press conference. “Look at this,” she said, handing Olivia her phone. “Most of the comments are positive. People are praising Christian for standing up for you. But your husband is very cunning. The reactions here are praising him and sympathizing with you. Shouldn’t you both be sharing the glory? Why are you getting sympathy only? But what can I say? Half bread is better than none. At least the hate comments have reduced.Olivia glanced at the screen, scanning the supportive comment
Chapter 90The mansion felt emptier than ever, even with everyone inside. Olivia sat in the dimly lit living room, staring at the untouched cup of tea Ruth had placed before her hours ago. Christian hadn’t spoken to her since they returned from the failed rescue attempt at the warehouse. Not a single word, not even a glance in her direction. His silence was louder than any accusation could have been.From across the room, Ruth watched Olivia carefully. Her brows knit with concern. Josh entered, his laptop tucked under his arm. “Any updates?” Ruth asked softly.Josh shook his head, his expression grim. “No leads." The trail went cold after the warehouse. "I've got a few people digging into Elise’s connections, but...” He hesitated, glancing toward Christian, who stood by the window, his back to everyone.Olivia couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed herself up from the couch and crossed the room to meet him. “Christian,” she began, her voice small but steady. “We need to talk.”He didn’t
Chapter 89Olivia and Ruth were pacing around in the in the stifling atmosphere. Olivia sat on the edge of the couch, her hands twisting the scarf that had now become a cruel reminder of Eunice’s abduction. Ruth hovered nearby, her calming presence a balm Olivia desperately clung to. Meanwhile, Christian and Josh were locked in a flurry of activity, coordinating with law enforcement and private investigators. Every phone call, every lead, seemed to come up short.Olivia’s chest felt like it was being crushed under the weight of helplessness. Eunice is out there somewhere. Alone. Frightened. The thought nearly undid her. She forced herself to focus on Christian’s promise. He would move mountains to bring Eunice home. He had to.“We’ve got a lead,” Josh announced, though his tone lacked the confidence she had hoped for. “The car was spotted in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. A team is already on the way.”Olivia bolted to her feet. “I’m coming with you.”Christian’s
Chapter 88There was a long, tense pause before Christian responded, his voice cold and clipped. “I’m on my way. Stay there and don’t let anyone leave until I get there.” Olivia ended the call, her mind racing. Who had taken Eunice, and how had they known enough to impersonate Christian? As fear churned in her chest, she forced herself to stay calm, knowing she needed to keep her head clear.Olivia quickly dialled Josh’s number, her hands trembling. He picked up almost immediately. “Olivia? What’s wrong?” Josh’s normally laid-back tone was laced with alarm. “Eunice... she’s gone,” Olivia said, barely able to keep her voice steady. “The teacher said someone who looked like me picked her up. Christian’s on his way, but I need you and Ruth to check if she somehow made it home.”“What?!” Josh barked, his disbelief evident. In the background, Olivia heard Ruth asking what was happening. “We’re on it,” Josh said firmly. “Stay calm. We’ll call you back as soon as we check the house.” Olivia
Chapter 87The sun rose over the Mason mansion, bathing its grand façade in golden light. Christian stood in the kitchen, dressed in a sharp navy suit, scanning through his emails on his phone while sipping his morning coffee. The distant sound of Eunice’s giggles echoed upstairs, followed by Olivia’s cheerful voice coaxing her to finish her breakfast.The excitement of the day was palpable. It was Parents’ Sports Day at Eunice’s school, and the young girl could barely contain her enthusiasm.“Uncle Christian! Olivia!” Eunice’s voice rang out as she bounded into the kitchen. She wore a bright yellow T-shirt with the school logo and black athletic shorts, her hair tied back in a ponytail that swayed as she moved.Christian smiled, setting down his coffee. “Ready for your big day, champ?”“More than ready!” Eunice grinned, clutching a water bottle and a small towel. “Are you coming with us?”Christian crouched to her level and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “I’ll drive yo
Chapter 86It was September already. Two months since Carey’s arrest and the end of their misery. The air was cool and filled with the faint scent of fall, signalling the start of a new chapter. Sunlight poured through the grand windows of the Mason mansion, casting a golden glow across the marble floors as the household stirred awake.Eunice’s excitement was infectious. She bounced down the stairs dressed in a neatly pressed uniform, her hair tied into two perfect braids adorned with small blue ribbons that matched her school colours. Her backpack was almost as big as she was, but the confident grin on her face made it seem like nothing could weigh her down.“Olivia! Uncle Christian! Are you ready yet?” Eunice called out, her voice echoing through the halls.“Someone’s excited,” Christian said, emerging from the kitchen with a cup of coffee in hand, dressed impeccably in his tailored suit. He ruffled Eunice’s hair playfully, earning a giggle.Olivia appeared moments later, balancing
Chapter 85The Mason mansion is suddenly alive with an air of celebration and gratitude, a stark contrast to the tensions that filled its halls for months until the day before. The soft glow of chandeliers reflected off the polished floors as Christian stood in the centre of the living room, his expression relaxed for the first time in what felt like forever.Olivia entered the room carrying a tray of champagne glasses and juice boxes. Her simple dress highlighted her elegance. Eunice trailed behind her, holding a plate of cookies, her face beaming with excitement.“Is everyone here yet?” Olivia asked as she set the tray down on the table.“Almost,” Christian replied, his gaze softening as it landed on her. “Josh just called. He and Ruth are on their way.”“Good,” Olivia said with a smile, glancing down at Eunice. “Go wash your hands before they get here, sweetheart.”Eunice nodded and hurried off, her footsteps echoing faintly in the distance.Minutes later, the doorbell rang, and Ch
Chapter 84Olivia perked up on the bed. “What good news? Is it about the recent happenings?" she asked eagerly.“Yes and no”, Christian said vaguely.“What do you mean by yes and no? Just choose one. Yes or no," she said, glaring at him.Christian sighed. “Josh didn’t say everything. He says he doesn’t want to jinx it, but when he confirms, he will tell me about it in the morning. We just need to wait."Olivia nodded in response, while Christina got on the bed and turned off the lights.The next morning, the first rays of sunlight spilled through the curtains of the master bedroom. Christian stirred, his arm resting protectively over Olivia as he blinked himself awake.Olivia lay beside him, still fast asleep, her features peaceful despite the storm they had faced. He watched her for a moment, marvelling at her resilience, before carefully slipping out of bed. He couldn’t afford to waste time—not with the opportunity they now had to strike back.Downstairs, Christian poured himself a
Chapter 83Time quickly rolled by, and it was already evening. The sun had already set on the other side of the city. Inside the Mason mansion, Olivia had just finished making some spaghetti. She stood by the kitchen window, watching Eunice play with her dolls in the dining room. Her earlier resolve to tell Christian about the phone call lingered in her mind, but the worry had begun to twist in her chest like a persistent ache.The sound of the front door opening broke her thoughts. Christian’s familiar stride echoed through the hall. He appeared in the kitchen doorway moments later, his tie loosened and a tired yet relieved look on his face.“Hey,” he greeted, his voice softening as his gaze landed on her. “Hey,” Olivia replied, brushing a stray curl off her face.Christian’s eyes shifted toward the patio. “She looks happy,” he said, nodding toward Eunice, whose laughter floated through the air.Olivia smiled faintly. “She had a good day. Her scrapbook is coming along. Glitter everyw
Chapter 82The dawn of a new week painted the Massachusetts skyline in hues of gold and rose. Inside the Mason estate, a tranquil scene unfolded. Olivia, with a gentle hum, prepared Eunice’s breakfast. The little girl, her usual sparkle dimmed by the post-graduation blues, was greeted with a plate of whimsical star-shaped pancakes. The sweet aroma of maple syrup filled the air, a comforting reminder of simpler times.Eunice’s eyes lit up, her frown melting away. She took a bite of the fluffy pancake, a smile spreading across her face. Olivia watched her daughter with a fond smile, relieved to see the return of her cheerful spirit. As they sat together, the warmth of the morning sun and the joy of a shared meal filled the room. It was a simple start to a new week, but it was a start filled with love and hope. Of course, threats from Carey and other unknown sources lurk behind the shadows somewhere.Christian entered the kitchen, already dressed in a sharp charcoal suit. He stopped to p