CHAPTER 058
OLIVIA’S POV
“That’s actually what happened,” I said to Adrian, my voice steady but my heart racing beneath my chest. I hoped, desperately, that he would believe me.
Adrian’s eyes darkened with suspicion, his brows furrowing deeper. “So even after everything I told you about seeing Julian, you’re still seeing him,” he said, stepping closer to me. His presence was always overwhelming, but at this moment, it felt suffocating.
“No! I didn’t go to see him directly,” I defended quickly, shaking my head as panic threatened to creep into my voice. “Like I said, my main goal was to get this from the hospital.” I pulled out the small tube of ointment that Dr. Jay had given me earlier, holding it up like evidence in a courtroom.
Adrian’s gaze narrowed as he eyed the ointment, but he didn’t speak right away. Instead, he asked, “Then why did you lie?”
I felt my throat tighten. The answer danced on the edge of my tongue, but I couldn’t give it to him. I didn’t want to admit that my real reason for going to the hospital was to check if I was pregnant. That was too personal, too vulnerable to confess in this
moment.
“I… I can’t seem to remember why,” I said, forcing a straight face, pretending like I was indifferent.
His jaw clenched visibly, and his eyes hardened. “Are you serious right now?” he raised his voice, frustration dripping from every word.
“Why wouldn’t I be serious about something like this?” I shot back, trying to sound confident, but even I could hear the slight tremble in my voice.
He let out a small sigh and without another word, Adrian stepped even closer, his eyes fixed on the ointment in my hand. He took it from me, inspecting it like it was the key to unraveling a mystery. After a beat, he raised his eyes to mine and said firmly, “Take off your top.”
My heart stopped for a second.
I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Was he serious? Fear crawled up my spine as a thousand horrible scenarios flashed through my mind. Was he going to punish me again? My hands trembled slightly, and I hesitated.
His voice came again, sharper, leaving no room for argument. “I don’t want to repeat myself.”
Successfully unlocked!
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. Slowly, reluctantly, I reached for the down of my top and pulled it over my head, leaving me in just my bra. Even though he had seen me naked countless times before, this time felt different–like I was more exposed, more
1/3
CHAPTER 058
vulnerable than ever. My arms instinctively crossed over my chest, trying to shield myself from the cold air and his penetrating gaze.
Adrian’s eyes didn’t linger where I feared they would. Instead, he stepped behind me, and I braced myself, shutting my eyes tightly, expecting the familiar sting of the belt or a harsh slap across my skin.
But then something unexpected happened.
I felt a cold sensation on my back, making me flinch slightly. “What’s that!” I exclaimed, startled by the sudden chill on my bruised skin.
“It’s the ointment,” Adrian replied, his voice calmer now, almost gentle.
My eyes fluttered open in surprise. He wasn’t hurting me. Instead, he was carefully rubbing the soothing ointment into my back. His hands were surprisingly soft and warm against my skin, massaging the bruises with an unexpected tenderness.
“Just relax,” he said, his tone softer than I’d heard in a long time.
For a brief moment, I actually did. His touch, though firm, carried a certain care that I hadn’t felt from him since… well, since before everything fell apart. It was strange and unfamiliar, but comforting in a twisted way. As his palms went over my back, down to my waist, and then gently up to my wrists, I felt my body slowly release the tension it had been holding.
I could hardly believe it. This man, who had inflicted so much pain on me, was now tending to my wounds with an almost delicate precision. I hated to admit it, but part of me liked the feeling–maybe it was the human need for comfort, or maybe it was the small sliver of hope that he still cared in some way.
His hands lingered just a moment longer, and then, as if sensing that I was enjoying the moment he pulled away abruptly.
“Okay, that’s enough,” he said, his voice returning to its usual firm tone. “You can put your top back on.”
Snapping out of my daze, I reached for my top and slipped it over my head, feeling the warm relief of the ointment already working its way into my skin. The bruises didn’t sting as they had before, and I found myself glancing back at Adrian with a strange mix of emotions.
“How does it feel now?” he asked, his expression unreadable.
“It feels… better,” I admitted softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
Was that it? What of the consequences he was talking about back at the cafe?
My mind was anything but at ease. His actions confused me and twisted my thoughts into knots I couldn’t untangle. Was this a moment of kindness, or was it just another tactic in his complicated game of control? I couldn’t tell. And that uncertainty scared me more than any bruise ever could.
CHAPTER 053
“It says here that you should wash off after 45 minutes,” he said still reading the instructions on the ointment
“Why did you do that?” I asked him.
“Do what?” He replied.
“Why did you put ointment on me when you clearly were upset with me a few moments ago?” I asked.
He cleared his throat and just as he was about to answer the question his phone rang and it was from James, he picked up the call and walked out of the room, it almost seemed that he didn’t want to answer the question, but the main reason was that he was trying to avoid it.
“Hey, James.” He said.
“Yes they should get going as soon as possible” He added walking out of the room
That was weird, well thankfully I got away without any more bruises today, I let out a small sigh as I adjusted my top.
Speaking of bruises I should probably call Julian and find out if he’s ok, I reached for my phone beside me and dialed his number
Ring Ring, he picked after the second ring
“Olivia, are you okay?” I heard him speak.
“I should be the one asking you that Julian, but am fine, you took a very heavy hit, are you okay?” I asked him.
I heard him let out a sigh before saying “Yes I’m doing good.” He said
“Well you didn’t look too good back there, I thought you knew Kung Fu so what happened,” I said jokingly.
“Very funny Olivia, I see what you’re trying to do.” He replied.
“Anyways I’m glad you’re fine,” I said.
“Why didn’t you tell me he did that to you?” Julian with a serious tone, I forgot I still had to explain this to him.
