CHRISTIAN The woman nodded, still smiling, and lifted the camera, snapping a few shots. “You make a wonderful couple,” she remarked casually. I felt my hand twitch in shock. Couple? “Oh!” Olivia blurted, startling me. She let out a nervous laugh, pointing between us. “Us?” she asked, almost like she was disgusted by the idea. “No, no, we’re not together. Never. Ever.” She shook her head with such force it almost looked offensive. My eye twitched. The woman’s brows furrowed in surprise as she glanced between us, clearly confused. But I barely noticed her. I was too busy glaring at Olivia, replaying her words in my head. Never, ever? I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to scoff. I didn’t want her to see how much those two careless words had gotten to me. But why did she say it like that? Like I wasn’t good enough for her. Many women dreamed to be with me, to spend a night in my bed. So why did she act like she wasn’t one of them? “Oh… I see,” The woman stammered awkwa
CHRISTIAN I paced the suite, restless as hell. I couldn’t shake off my conversation with Olivia, no matter how hard I tried. Her words echoed in my head, going against every belief I held. Kindness. I scoffed, tightening my grip around the wine glass. What the hell was kindness? When I asked Olivia what she looked for in a man, I expected the usual answer I’d heard from most ladies: wealth, power, good looks. The things that mattered. Not… kindness. What the fuck did kindness have to offer? Did it own penthouses? Yachts? Billion-dollar empires? Did it command the sort of respect I did? Did kindness even look half as good as I did? Fuck as good as I did? I needed Olivia to answer that last part, especially. Was she even thinking straight? Choosing kindness over every other advantage a man could offer? Or did she intentionally say that because it wasn’t in my top ten qualities I mentioned? Was she messing with me? I bit down on my bottom lip, my gaze drifting
CHRISTIANThe waiter arrived with a bottle of wine, set it on the table, and stepped back. “Thank you,” Olivia said with a small smile. He gave a curt nod before walking away.I leaned back in my chair, watching her. Why did she thank him like he was doing her a favor? He was being paid. And the smile, was that necessary?“We should order now,” She said suddenly, breaking into my thoughts.I gestured toward the menu. “Go ahead.”She picked it up, flipping through the pages with a slight frown. “I don’t recognize anything,” She muttered, pouting.“Keep looking.” I answered, my gaze still fixed on her. She did, her lips pursed, and brows drawing tighter with every turn of the page. “What’s Kakavia?”I gave her a shrug.She leaned back, exasperated. “You travel often so you must have had one of these before, haven’t you? Just recommend something decent. Please?”“Pick something random,” I said, rubbing my jaw. “If you don’t like it, order something else.”She sighed loudly and waved th
OLIVIA I glanced over at Christian, watching him curiously. He was deep in his usual morning routine—sipping coffee, standing silently by the floor-to-ceiling window, eyes fixed on the view outside. Everything about him looked composed. Calm. Normal. But I could tell something was off. It started right after dinner last night. My gaze shifted away from him as memories of the evening came rushing back. When we’d returned to the suite, he’d suddenly hovered around me, almost too close, his attention focused on my ankle. “Are you badly hurt?” he’d asked, like he was worried. “Hurt at all?” The concern in his tone had caught me off guard. Christian didn’t do concern. Still, he’d crouched down and inspected my ankle like it was the most natural thing in the world. I remembered staring down at him in confusion, trying to figure out what had triggered this shift. Since when did he care enough to check for injuries? Now, seated across from him, I stole another curious glance. S
OLIVIA I scrolled through the photos on my camera, pausing on the ones I’d taken earlier at the beach. A smile tugged at my lips as I stared at the bright, carefree grin stretched across my face in every shot. I looked… genuinely happy. Truly. And Christian? Well, he looked bored out of his mind in every single one. “Why are you smiling?” The voice startled me. I glanced up, almost dropping the camera, my gaze darting toward the closet. Christian stood there, leaning casually against the door frame, wine glass in hand, watching me with hooded eyes. I shrugged, regaining my composure. “Just looking at the pictures we took earlier.” He sighed, like the memory of today was enough to drain him. “I still can’t believe you made me do all that nonsense.” I smirked, tilting my head slightly as I studied him. “Oh, come on,” I said. “You loved every second of it.” I held up the camera with a teasing grin. “And I have proof.” He let out another exasperated sigh, glaring at me. “Don’t
OLIVIAI let out a small breath as I walked through the hallways, a smile tugging at my lips as last night’s memories came rushing back.I could still feel Christian’s hands gripping my waist under the water, the way he thrust into me again and again, each movement sending a wave of pleasure through my body.Sighing, I tried to push the thoughts away. It was over, and I was back here. Whatever happened in Greece was part of the contract, a way to make sure I got pregnant fast. That was it. Nothing else.But as I took a few steps, his words pushed through my mind again. “I love spending time with you, Olivia.” My fingers tightened. I wanted to forget them, to erase the way they made me feel, but I couldn’t.My mind wanted to know why he loved spending time with me. My body questioned why I loved that he felt that way. And every inch of me was distracted.“Get a grip, Olivia,” I told myself.I could’ve stayed home. The jet lag alone was a good excuse. But instead, I came to school, ho
OLIVIAI walked out of the lecture hall, fists clenched at my sides, and my thoughts spiraling with disbelief and frustration.Everything Miss Elowen said during her lectures replayed in my head, my anger rising.All this time, all these years, and she had the nerve to stand there in front of the class and call my work perfect? The hypocrisy burned.“Olivia!” I had just turned toward the cafeteria when I heard my name. I stopped and spun around to see Miss Elowen hurrying up behind me.Talk about the devil. What did she want now? And since when did she say my name without that familiar tone of disdain?“How are you?” she asked as she reached me.I raised an eyebrow.Since when did she care how I was?“I’m fine,” I said casually, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. “Although I have to say, it’s surprising that you even care.”Her brows pulled together. “What do you mean?” she asked, trying to sound genuinely confused.“That was my work, wasn’t it? On the projector?” I said, getting str
MICHAELI stared down at the photos on my desk, rage simmering in my veins. They were photos from Christian’s latest adventure—him and that fake baby-mama-to-be, all smiles like they hadn’t left a trail of lies behind them.With a sharp breath, I slammed my fist against the wood, rattling the files stacked. “Asshole.” I scoffed, my lips curling in disgust.So he had the audacity to jet around while the rest of us were left swimming in his pool of manipulation? After all the lies, deceit and humiliation, he decided to have fun? How dare he?”You should focus on Blackwood Foods…”Grandfather’s voice echoed in my mind and my fingers tightened in anger. Focus? After I handed him hard proof that Christian was a liar and a thief? After he brushed it off as ‘irrelevant’?I bit down on my lip, tapping my foot on the ground. I took one more look at the photos and in anger, I grabbed them, crushed them into a ball, and tossed them into the trash without a second glance.If focus was what
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.” “
OLIVIA I turned to Christian, meeting his gaze after Ophelia’s announcement. “I’ll see you after the exhibit,” he said. “We have a lot to talk about.” My heart skipped. I nodded, slowly letting my hand slip from his shoulder. I should have walked away, but curiosity held me in place. “What do we need to talk about?” I asked, hoping it was about the truth and not something that would break my heart. “Everything,” he said, standing a little taller. “I think I know why you’re unhappy, why you feel alone. And I want to talk about it. I want to make sure you never feel that way again. I want to do better to understand how you feel at this time.” For a moment, I wanted to forget the exhibit entirely, to stay and hear every word. My heart pounded, but I forced myself to nod, smoothing a hand over my dress. “I’ll see you soon,” I murmured before turning and following the other women to the game room. I tried to blend in with the sophisticated women in the game room, holding my he