Semua Bab DEAR EX-HUSBAND, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ME BACK: Bab 41 - Bab 50

OliviaThe air in Robert Miller’s office was heavy with anticipation. I had spent the morning going over every possible scenario, rehearsing my pitch, and convincing myself that I was ready for this. Nexus needed this deal, and after everything that had happened, I needed a win.I stepped out of the elevator, my heels clicking against the polished marble floor as Robert’s assistant greeted me with a polite smile. “Mr. Miller is expecting you, Ms. Smith. Please, follow me.”Ms. Smith. It was the name I had chosen to use professionally—the name I had taken from my mother. But as I walked into the spacious office, and saw the infamous Robert Miller sitting confidently behind his massive desk, I had the unsettling feeling that it was going to be a long day of negotiations. “Olivia,” he greeted me warmly, standing up and extending a hand. “It’s been a long time.”I hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand. “Mr. Miller, thank you for meeting with me.”“Robert, please,” he said

OliviaI inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself. The encounter with Preston had left me shaken, and my hands still gripped the contract a little too tightly. I had spent months avoiding him, and now, in one afternoon, I had been forced to sit across from him, listen to him speak, and acknowledge that our lives would be entangled again—at least professionally.I exhaled and walked toward my car, my heels clicking against the pavement. I needed to get out of here, away from the weight of his presence, away from the suffocating reality that we would be working together again.I slid into the driver’s seat and inserted the key into the ignition. I turned it. Nothing.Frowning, I tried again. The engine gave a pathetic sputter before falling silent. My heart sank. Not now. Not here.“Great,” I muttered under my breath, slumping against the seat.A soft knock on my window made me stiffen. I turned my head, already knowing who it was.Preston stood outside, hands in his pockets, watc

OliviaThe hospital air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and something else—something heavier. Fear. Worry. It clung to me, seeped into my skin, and settled in my chest like a weight I couldn't shake.Aiden was inside, and we had no idea what was happening to him. Vivian had been with the doctor for what felt like forever, and I couldn’t sit still. My legs bounced restlessly, my fingers clenching and unclenching around my phone. I had texted her twice. No response.Lucas sat a few seats away, his posture relaxed, but I wasn’t fooled. His fingers tapped against his knee in an uneven rhythm, and he kept glancing at the doors like he expected someone to burst through them at any second.The silence between us stretched, uncomfortable but familiar. We had shared too many moments like this before—waiting rooms, tense breaths, uncertain futures.I didn’t want to think about that.The doors finally opened, and Vivian stepped out. Her face was pale, her eyes red-rimmed. She looked sm

Olivia’s POVMorning came too soon. My head ached from the restless night, and the influence of exhaustion pressed against my body as I forced myself out of bed. The past few days had drained me completely—Aiden’s condition, Vivian’s struggles, and Lucas’s unexpected presence in my life again.I sighed, rubbing my temples as I pulled my blazer over my shoulders. I barely had the energy to go to work, but I didn’t have the luxury of taking a break. The deal with Preston Robotics was at a crucial stage, and I needed to stay focused. I headed to the hospital to check up on Aiden before going to the office.I walked down the hallway of the hospital with the heels of my shoes clicking against the tiled floor as I approached Aiden’s room. It had been two days since he was admitted, and though his condition had stabilized, the fear still clung to me like a second skin.Pushing open the door, I found Vivian sitting beside Aiden’s bed, her fingers gently brushing over his forehead as he sle

Olivia’s POVThe drive home was smooth. The moment I stepped into my apartment, exhaustion weighed down on me like a heavy blanket. The tension in my shoulders ached from the stress of the past few days. I kicked off my heels and walked toward the couch, collapsing onto the soft cushions with a deep exhale. My body felt drained, and my mind was running on fumes.I let my head fall back against the couch, closing my eyes for a brief moment. The events of the day replayed in my mind—Aiden’s surgery, Vivian’s worries, Lucas’s interference. It had all been too much. But at least the surgery was successful. That was what mattered most.I inhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside me. I had spent so much time worrying about others that I hadn't stopped to check in with myself. My chest felt tight, my thoughts tangled. Maybe I just needed a moment to breathe.But, of course, that moment didn’t last long.My phone vibrated beside me, the sound slicing through the quiet.