Chapter 139

Olivia’s POV

The night was an unbearable maze of restlessness and anxiety. Alexander stayed with me, watching over me. In the dim light of my room, he was a fortress of strength. I couldn’t remember when I’d last felt so vulnerable, so dependent on someone else's protection. His arms wrapped around me like a protective cocoon, warding off the relentless tidal waves of dread that kept crashing against my consciousness.

Closing my eyes, I nestled closer into his chest, feeling the rhythmic beat of his heart—a calming counterpoint to my own erratic pulse. Despite the comfort his presence offered, an insidious worry gnawed at my insides. Could he really protect me? Not just from external threats, but from the demons of my own making?

Alexander’s fingers traced gentle patterns on my back, and his breath was warm against my ear. "It's going to be alright, Olivia," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves.

"I know," I whispered, though my voice quivered with uncertainty