Chapter 99
OLIVIA’S POV
I stood up from the couch, my footsteps soft against the floor as I made my way to the far corner of the room. I didn’t want them to hear this conversation, especially not now, when things were just starting to feel a little normal. I took a deep breath and answered the call, pressing the phone to my ear.
I didn’t say anything at first. I wanted him to speak. Let him be the one to break the silence.
“Hi, where are you?” Adrian’s voice came through, calm but clipped–too calm for someone who rarely called.
“Should that be your concern?” I shot back, my tone colder than ice. If he called just to play games or to assert control, he was going to get exactly what he gave. I wasn’t in the mood for his usual power plays.
“Yes, I have every right to know the location of my wife,” he replied, his tone firm, almost defensive.
A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it. I didn’t even realize I’d laughed aloud until I turned around and caught my mother and Julian staring at me with curious expressions. Their eyes were sharp, attentive–they could probably sense the shift in my energy.
“I know you didn’t call just to find out my location, Adrian. So, what do you really want?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“I need you back home,” he said without hesitation, like it was the most natural request in the world.
“I’m busy where I am right now. When I’m done, I’ll come back,” I replied coolly.
“Cancel whatever you’re doing and come back home. We don’t have all day,” he ordered, the authority in his voice turning the heat in my chest into pure irritation.
“No, I can’t do that,” I responded firmly. “You haven’t even told me why you want me back so urgently. And I’m sure it’s just another one of your ridiculous deals you expect me to smile through. Whatever it is can wait until I get home. We live in the same house, remember? I’m not running away.”
“Here’s the thing,” he said, his voice turning sharp. “Like I said, it can’t wait. And I wasn’t asking. That was an order.”
My grip on the phone tightened. I bit down on my lower lip to hold back the stream of words bubbling at the edge of my tongue. The way he talked to me, like I was one of his employees or a contract he could just dictate terms to—it made my blood boil.
“Fine,” I said at last, my voice tight with restraint. “At least give me an hour. I’ll be back in an hour.”
“Not more than an hour,” he replied, and then–just like that—the line went dead. No goodbye. No explanation.
I stared at the phone for a second, my hand trembling slightly from how hard I’d been gripping it. I wanted to scream, or throw the phone, or just disappear for a day. Maybe all three.
“With that look on your face, I’m guessing that was Adrian,” Julian’s voice broke through my storm of thoughts.
I turned slowly and gave a small nod.
“And who’s Adrian?” my mom asked, her brows drawn together as she looked from me to Julian.
“My darling husband,” I said, lacing every word with sarcasm so thick you could cut it with a knife.
“The same person who is cheating on you?” she asked, her voice cold and her posture straightening with fury.
“Unfortunately, yes,” I sighed, collapsing back onto the couch beside her.
“So, what did he want this time?” Julian asked, arms folded as he leaned forward, his expression unreadable but clearly concerned.
I stared at the floor for a moment before answering. “He wants me home. Immediately. Said it couldn’t wait. And of course, he didn’t bother telling me why.”
“Oh no, that is no longer your home,” my mom said firmly, her voice cold with disapproval
I sighed, running a hand through my hair before responding. “As much as I want to leave that house, I can’t… not just yet.”
She looked at me with disbelief. “Why not?” she asked, her tone a mix of concern and frustration.
“Well, let’s just say he has her tied down,” Julian chimed in from beside me, arms crossed. “In a sort of blackmail situation. And now, she can’t leave. Not until we untangle that mess.”
1/2
11:35 AM
Chapter 99
My mother’s eyes flicked between us, clearly upset by what she was hearing.
“It’s really complicated, Mom. But Julian’s been working on it. And I’m sure he’s doing his best to get me out of there, right?” I turned to look at him, silently pleading for some reassurance.
Julian gave me a nod. “Of course. We’re almost there. There’s just one more person we need to get–someone who holds a key piece of the puzzle. Once we have their confession, Adrian won’t be able to hold anything over you anymore.”
The relief that flooded through me was indescribable. After all the chaos, all the fear and silence, hearing that gave me a flicker of hope. And now that I had found my biological family, I felt stronger, no longer alone.
“Who’s this person you’re after? And why is their confession so important?” my mom asked, clearly trying to piece everything together. Her expression had shifted to that of a protective lioness.
“I’d love to fill you in on everything, really,” I said apologetically, checking the time on my phone. “But Adrian only gave me an hour to be out. Maybe Julian can explain it all while I’m gone?”
My mother nodded slowly, but then a soft smile tugged at her lips, surprising me.
I tilted my head. “Did I say something funny?”
She shook her head gently, her smile widening. “When you were little, you and Julian couldn’t stand each other. Well, you didn’t like him, to be more specific. You cried every time he tried to carry you. We used to laugh so much because we couldn’t figure out why. Even when you could barely speak, you made it known–loud and clear–that you didn’t want to sit next to Julian.”
I blinked in surprise and looked at Julian, who raised an eyebrow as if to say, Well, that explains a lot.
“Really? I didn’t like him?” I asked with a chuckle. “I mean, what’s not to like about this guy? He’s fun, smart, and always ready to help. Honestly, anyone who doesn’t like Julian is an enemy of the state.”
Julian rolled his eyes playfully, and my mom let out a warm laugh. It was one of those rare, genuine family moments–something I had never experienced growing up.
“And how did you two meet later on?” she asked curiously, folding her arms as she leaned in a little.
I smiled at the memory. “It’s actually kind of funny. We ran into each other three times–like fate kept throwing us together. The first time was at the airport. I swung my handbag a little too hard and accidentally hit him. I had no idea he was standing behind me.”
Julian chuckled at the memory.
“The second time was at a coffee shop. I was in a rush and accidentally grabbed his coffee instead of mine. I was almost out the door when he came up to me and told me. We laughed about it, and eventually, we exchanged numbers. I never imagined that I was about to become best friends with my brother.”
My mom looked between the two of us, tears glistening faintly in her eyes. “It’s incredible… watching you two now, after all this time apart. You’ve come back to each other like pieces of the same soul.”
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