Chapter 354
(Ethan’s POV)
“Liv, I beg you, don’t give Lucas a chance, don’t be with him, give me another chance, okay?” I softened my tone, humbling myself before her.
My wolf whined pitifully inside me. The arrogant Alpha I once was had disappeared the moment I discovered she was my Little
Orange. Pride meant nothing now. All that mattered was keeping her from Lucas Blackwood.
“Please, Liv,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I’ll do anything.”
Olivia stared at me with those emerald eyes that once held such warmth. Now they were cold, distant–looking at me like I was a
stranger.
“Anything?” she repeated, her voice hollow. “Can you bring Lily back?”
The question hit me like a physical blow. I had no answer that could satisfy her.
“I can’t bring her back,” I admitted, my voice thick with regret. “But I can spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Please,
Liv.”
I dropped to my knees before her, something no Alpha would ever do. My wolf howled in distress, but I silenced it. Nothing
mattered except winning her back.
“Hit me,” I begged, taking her hand. “Scold me, punish me however you want. Just don’t reject me.”
I pressed her palm against my cheek, then used it to slap myself hard across the face. Again and again, I struck myself with her hand until her palm was red and stinging.
Despite the pain, I gently brought her hand to my lips and blew on it softly. “I’m sorry, Liv:”
Olivia yanked her hand away, her expression unchanged. “My love for you died with Lily.”
The words cut deeper than any physical wound. I surged forward, wrapping my arms around her slender frame, holding her
against me.
“You’re mine, Liv,” I declared desperately. “Only mine. I won’t let you go.”
She remained stiff in my embrace, unresponsive. Her heart was as still as a frozen lake against my chest. I felt her stillness and
trembled, yet I couldn’t release her.
The sudden ringtone of my phone shattered the silence between us. Maxwell’s name flashed on the screen.
I hesitated, not wanting to break this moment, but I couldn’t ignore my Beta. I answered on speakerphone, making no effort to
hide the call from Olivia.
“What is it, Maxwell?” I asked, my voice rough with emotion.
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Chapter 354
“Alpha Stone,” Maxwell’s voice came through clearly. “Victoria Frost is on the line. She says it’s urgent–about Emma.”
+25 Bonus
Before I could respond, Victoria’s voice replaced Maxwell’s. “Ethan! Thank goodness. Emma’s having a terrible nightmare. She’s
calling for you, and I can’t wake her up.”
I heard Emma’s distressed cries in the background. Victoria switched to a video call, and the screen showed Emma thrashing in
her bed, tears streaming down her face.
“Alpha! Alpha!” Emma cried out, her small body shaking with sobs.
Victoria’s face appeared on screen, her expression frantic. “Please, Ethan. She’ll listen to you. I’ve tried everything.”
I looked at Olivia, torn between my duty to Emma and my desperate need to fix things with Liv.
“I’ll be right there,” I said finally, my voice heavy with concern.
Olivia scoffed, stepping away from me. “Of course you will. Your precious Emma needs you.‘
“Liv, she’s just a pup-”
“And what was Lily?” she cut in, her voice sharp as a blade. “Your kindness to Emma is a disservice to Lily, especially after the
lies Emma told today.”
Her eyes flashed with anger. “Get out. Now.”
“Liv, please, let me explain-”
“There’s nothing to explain. Leave!”
I stood frozen, caught between two impossible choices. Emma’s cries continued from the phone, while Olivia’s cold rejection cut
through me like ice.
“I have to go,” I said finally. “But I’ll come back. We’re not finished, Liv.”
“We were finished the day Lily died,” she replied, her voice devoid of emotion. “Now get out.”
I moved toward the door, pausing with my hand on the knob. “I’ll explain everything later.”
“Don’t bother,” she said, turning away from me.
(Third person’s POV)
“Get out!” Olivia shouted, unable to bear the sight of him any longer.
Ethan, his heart torn between the two females who needed him, finally left. Olivia slammed the door shut behind him and locked
it with trembling hands.
She touched the crystal pendant around her neck, the one containing Lily’s ashes. “It’s okay, baby,” she whispered. “Mommy’s
here.”
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