OLIVIA After Mr. Blackwood left to attend to other business matters, I found myself alone with Ophelia and her staff. I couldn’t help but feel relieved. His presence had been… slightly uncomfortable. As if faking smiles and laughing at his jokes after blatantly lying to him wasn’t bad enough, his unexpected kindness, his apology, his insistence on bringing me here—only made me feel worse. Like I was the most deceitful person in the world. At least he’d forgotten about the pregnancy throughout the whole ordeal or he just didn’t care anymore. My revelation about Christian’s mother must have shocked the curiosity right out of him. Plus I didn’t think I had any more lies or excuses left in me anyway. “And… what about this one?” Ophelia’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. She arched a brow, pointing at a diamond-studded necklace displayed in an illuminated glass case. “Do you like it?” I stared at the necklace, mesmerized by the way the diamonds caught the light, sparkling like tin
CHRISTIAN I sat in the backseat of the car, staring out the window, my mind racing. Grandfather had summoned me for dinner again, out of nowhere. These dinners were becoming more frequent than usual and they were always exhausting. ‘Meet me for dinner tonight.’ That was all the text had said. No explanation. No hint. Nothing. It felt like I was walking into a blind date except, in this case, it wasn’t the person that was unknown. It was the purpose. And I didn’t like it one bit. I preferred knowing exactly what I was walking into, preparing myself for whatever lay ahead. Still lost in thoughts, we pulled into the estate, smoothly gliding into an empty parking spot in the garage. The moment the door opened, I stepped out, adjusting my jacket. With careful strides, I crossed the forecourt and entered through the main entrance. As I stepped into the grand lobby, I slowed down, catching the faint murmur of voices drifting from the dining room. Michael was here too? I clenched m
CHRISTIAN“May I speak now, Grandfather?” Michael asked, leaning forward in his seat, barely containing his anger.I was certain he couldn’t. He was about to explode if he kept it in. “Go on,” Grandfather urged, nodding.Michael pushed himself to the edge of his seat, linking his hands tightly. “Didn’t you even look at the report I sent?” he asked, his face contorted with agitation. “Christian lied about Olivia Carter!”“Did he?” Grandfather arched his brow. “Christian never claimed anything about her background. We all made our own assumptions—assumptions born from a narrow, misguided mindset.” His gaze shifted between Michael and me. “A mindset that changes today. We have already lost so much in this family because of it. I want it to end now.”Michael scoffed, his eyes darkening with rage. He looked ready to burst but also shocked at the same time, like grandfather was speaking a new language. Watching him, I felt an irresistible urge to smirk and I did, making sure he felt every
CHRISTIANI said nothing, and he pressed on. “I know I made life unbearable for your mother, Christian. But I was just following orders—my parents’ orders. Back then, there was a strict rule in the family, one made from sheer pride and ignorance.” He exhaled sharply. “I see now that I should have stood up to them. I should have protected my son and his wife. I failed them, and I’ve failed you.” He placed a firm, reassuring hand on my shoulder. “I won’t fail you again. That’s a promise.” I sighed, nodding despite the weight still pressing against my chest. “Thank you, Grandfather.” He patted my back before turning and limping away. As I watched him go, I exhaled in relief, finally piecing together what had happened with Olivia. He had confronted her. But instead of blurting out the truth, as I’d expected, she had taken a different approach. She had used my past, the one I’d indirectly mentioned to her at the desert, against the very man responsible for it. I scoffed, shaking my
OLIVIA I walked down the hallways in one of the fancy dresses Christian bought me, humming along to the familiar tune blasting from a phone somewhere nearby. Ever since I won Mr. Blackwood over in our last impromptu meeting, I had been in an impossibly good mood. Even though I hadn’t told Christian yet, I couldn’t wait to tell him all about it, to see his reaction, to revel in the moment. “Is that her?” The words drifted to me as I passed a group of girls lingering in the hallway, snapping me back from my thoughts. Just as I turned around, I caught one of them pointing directly at me. What did I do this time? It was always something, always some reason for them to whisper, to judge me. “Yes,” another girl confirmed, her voice carrying that cruel tone I had come to recognize too well. “She’s the slut.” The word slammed into me, knocking the breath from my lungs. My heart dropped, the happy mood evaporating in an instant. Slut? Me? “I heard that’s how she affords tuition at o
CHRISTIAN I glanced down at the extravagant gifts piled beside me in the backseat. Flowers. Novels. Perfumes. A whole assortment. Was it too much? A nagging doubt crept in, making me second-guess myself. Maybe I was overdoing it. My gaze lingered on the bouquet, and I suddenly felt hesitant about everything. Were they even necessary? Was it too fucking much? I reached for them, ready to toss them aside, but then I hesitated again. Would she even read into all this? Overthink the gesture? If she did, then maybe she was just naive or narrow-minded, even. Because why would anyone assign deeper meaning to something so trivial? Gifts like these were common. Business associates exchanged them. Friends. Even surrogates… Just like her. So I hoped she wouldn’t misunderstand. I tapped the screen of my phone, expecting to see a reply. But nothing. She still hadn’t responded to my text I sent minutes ago. That was odd. By now, she should’ve been back from her lectures since it was alre
OLIVIA I groaned, rubbing my forehead as I slumped onto the desk in the lecture hall. Of all the days to schedule extra lectures, it had to be today, the day after I drank myself into oblivion. Just my luck. What part of once-a-week lectures did they not understand? Whoever planned this deserved a special place in hell. With a sigh, I kept my head down, hoping to ease the pounding in my skull while still keeping an eye out for a few angry birds. Ivy and her minions. They’d do anything to get their revenge on me after slapping Ivy with my purse. I forced myself to focus on Miss Elowen’s words, but before I could make sense of them, the public address system crackled to life, interrupting her mid-sentence. “Attention, students and faculty,” A bold voice announced, “We are honored to welcome a very important figure to our campus today. In recognition of his esteemed visit, all lectures and academic activities will be temporarily paused.” A brief silence, then the voice continued
OLIVIA My pupils dilated in shock as I stared at Christian on the podium. Was I dreaming? Had I really won? My sample had surpassed Ivy’s and everyone else’s? “What? She won?” Ivy’s voice rang out behind me, laced with disbelief. I didn’t need to look back to know she was fuming. Still staring ahead, I was stunned by the results, but a more pressing thought gnawed at me. Had Christian planned this? The idea had flickered in my mind earlier, but now, with the way everything played out, it weighed heavily on me. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was truly a coincidence that he’d picked my sample over every other person’s? And if it wasn’t, why would he do that? “I can’t believe she won,” Someone muttered behind me, his tone dripping with disdain. “What’s so special about her sample?” As I listened to them, I nearly smirked but held my head high instead, giving them more to look at. For the first time in a long while, I was in the spotlight for something good, not scandalous o
CHRISTIAN “How do these damn binoculars work?” I muttered under my breath, frustration creeping in. Cursing again, I smacked it, trying to make sense of the device. Sighing deeply, I focused intently, eventually figuring out how to work the damn thing. What was I even doing here? Sitting in this car, staked out opposite this restaurant. What was I expecting to find? Lifting the binoculars to my eyes, I positioned them toward the glass fronts of Joe’s Bistro fast food restaurant across the street, leaning slightly back in the seat to avoid being spotted. And as I adjusted the focus, I froze, a jolt of shock running through me. So, Olivia was seriously here? And who was she with? That hair… Nicholas? I adjusted the binoculars again, unease spreading through me, which quickly turned into rage when I confirmed it was really Nicholas Sterling sitting there. I glared through the lens, my jaw tightening as I saw Olivia’s smile, my chest burning with jealousy. I yanked the binoculars aw
OLIVIA I leaned back against the headrest, my eyes drifting past the tall buildings as we sped by. I tried not to think about Christian but the memories kept pushing their way in. Seeing him again yesterday had almost pulled me under. Those feelings I thought I’d buried came rushing back. For a second, I even questioned my decision about the party, until her name popped up again. This morning, I’d woken up with a clear head and a stronger sense of resolve. That part of my life, him, would not affect me anymore. Now, I was on my way to Blackwood Fashion with Greg and Grace to pick out a dress for the dinner party tonight. I sighed, letting my thoughts drift to what I might wear. It wasn’t like I didn’t already have options—I just needed an excuse to get out of my room because I was extremely bored. The car came to a stop in front of Blackwood Fashion. I stepped out, adjusting the flannel shirt I’d thrown on without thinking. As I walked toward the glass doors, I noticed a fain
MICHAEL The door to my office swung open. I looked up to see Lydia walk in like she owned the place, shoulders high and head held even higher. Slowly, I stood, my eyes locked on her as she crossed the room and sank into the couch without a word. “I know what you did,” I said, skipping any kind of greeting. She raised one perfectly shaped brow, pretending she had no idea what I was talking about. “What are you going on about?” “You went to my grandfather,” I said, my voice tight. “You asked him to bring you into Blackwood Hotel by promising an investment from your family, didn’t you?” She held my gaze in silence, like she was waiting for something. For a second, I wondered if I had it wrong. Then she let out a quiet breath, the corner of her mouth twitching like she found it all slightly amusing. “Oh,” she said quietly. “That.” My anger flared fast and I slammed my hand on the desk. “Why?” I yelled. “Why would you do that?” “Why would I do what?” she replied, her tone calm—t
OLIVIA “So,” Liam leaned further into the table, his eyes bright, “I can tell you hate parties, but there’s this…” He paused, twisting his lips, “This dinner.” I raised a brow in response, curiosity piqued despite myself. He smiled in return, clearly pleased with my reaction. “My father’s birthday is tomorrow,” he continued, “And he loves to throw these big, elaborate parties. I was wondering if you’d like to attend.” I chuckled softly, momentarily at a loss for words. This was unexpected, and besides, we’d only just started talking. Showing up at his father’s birthday party felt strange, didn’t it? “I don’t know,” I muttered, shrugging. “I just don’t think—” “Before you say no,” he quickly interrupted, leaning in slightly. “I think you should know that a lot of people from our school will be there, so…” He lifted one shoulder casually, his smile a little more hopeful. Was that supposed to convince me? The idea that people from school would be there didn’t exactly make it more
CHRISTIAN “But after that, I’ll never speak to you again.” Those words kept echoing in my head, distracting, unsettling and confusing me. I ran a hand through my hair, sighing. My head throbbed faintly, probably from staying up all night, replaying Olivia’s unexpected outburst, trying to make sense of the mess she’d left behind. What the hell was that supposed to mean? I leaned forward at my desk, my fist pressing into my jaw, frustration bubbling inside me. “I’ll live my life?” Hasn’t she always lived hers? I scoffed, knocking my knuckles against the desk in irritation, still seething. And what was that crap about never speaking to me again once the contract ended? Did she honestly think it would be that simple to walk away? After everything we’ve been through? What about the baby on the way? Was she implying that one of us wouldn’t have custody? Where the hell did she think she could go on this earth without me finding her? The agitation was shooting straight to my head
OLIVIA I stepped out of the lecture hall, pulling my hoodie tighter around my stomach as I glanced around. No one was paying me any attention, but ever since I found out I was pregnant, I couldn’t shake the feeling that people could tell. Even though my body hadn’t changed much yet, I still felt exposed. Taking a deep breath, I headed toward Mr. Sylas’ office. I should’ve met him sooner about the 30% he gave me on my project—the one I’d poured hours into, only for him to accuse me of using AI. But with everything going on, I didn’t have the time or the energy. Now, I wasn’t in a hurry to go home. If I did, I’d start thinking about Christian. About everything. And right now, I just needed a distraction. So, today was as good a time as any. I knocked softly on his door, and his voice came almost immediately. “Come in!” Pushing the door open, I stepped inside. The moment he saw me, his face lit up with a wide smile. “Olivia Carter,” he said, setting down the paper he was r
OLIVIAI exhaled shakily, trying to steady my breath. Why the hell was he looking at me like that? Like I was crazy? My heart sank. Would he have looked at me this way if I’d been stupid enough to confess my feelings tonight? If I had told him I was jealous of his ex-girlfriend, who he was still hooking up with, by the way? So, he would have scoffed and told me I was overreacting? That he didn’t understand what I was saying? I sighed heavily, silently grateful I hadn’t said a word about how I felt. “Listen,” he began, his voice showing some signs of worry now, “I know you’re still pissed about how I reacted the other day… and like I said, the baby is—” “I’m not pissed, Christian!” I snapped, my voice rising despite my best efforts to stay calm. “I’m not angry at all.” “Then what should I call this outburst?” he shot back quietly, and I scoffed. “You can call it whatever you want, but let me tell you this.” I locked eyes with him, fighting to hold back the tears. “From tonight,
OLIVIA “You need to see my grandfather before you leave.” Christian said. “He’ll be disappointed if you leave without a word.” Numb, I nodded, following closely behind him as we returned to the hall. Staring at his back, my irritation rose. The nerve he had, putting his hand on my body after dancing so intimately with Lydia only minutes ago. The anger simmered inside me, but I kept it in check. As we walked to Mr. Blackwood, his gaze immediately fell on me, his eyes sparkling with warmth. “Olivia,” he said, his voice soft and affectionate. “I hope you enjoyed the ball.” “It was very remarkable, Mr. Blackwood,” I replied, forcing a smile. “I was glad to be part of such a phenomenal event.” He smiled back. “I’m very happy you honored the invitation,” he said before his eyes flicked to Christian, who stood silently behind me, and then back to me. “Are you leaving already?” I pressed my lips together, nodding slightly. “Yes, sir. I have a slight tummy ache, so I can’t
CHRISTIAN A FEW MOMENTS AGO I scanned the hall, searching for Olivia. Where was she? Most of the women had already left the game room, while a few were still trickling out in pairs. But she was nowhere in sight. I scoffed, shaking my head. She was probably caught up admiring the exhibits and completely forgot about everything else. After all, she had a way of getting lost in shiny things. A small smile tugged at my lips as I decided to go search for her. But before I could go far, someone stepped into my path, blocking me. I stopped short, irritation flaring in my chest as I met a familiar face. “Lydia,” I said flatly, my tone cold. “Excuse me.” She planted her hands on her shoulders abruptly, tilting her chin up at me. “Dance with me, Christian. I’ve been waiting all night for you to ask. Since you won’t, I’ll do it myself.” I rolled my eyes and stepped to the side, but she mirrored my movement, still blocking me. My patience thinned. “Lydia, don’t piss me off.” “