Chapter 13
Olivia
Standing in front of this door now, my mind was made up–I wasn’t going to go through this again.
Sebastian had done this in my past life, and I refused to relive it. I had no idea he’d sent someone to tail me.
Even with the cold shoulder he’d been giving me, he still wanted to make sure I wasn’t lying, those goddamn photos ruined even the smallest chance I had.
I wanted to curse Phillip. Why did he always have to ruin everything good in my life?
Sebastian’s face held so much resentment, anger, and worst of all–betrayal.
He didn’t say a word, just stared at me like I was a stranger. The silence was louder than any scream–it shattered me in ways words never could.
I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. I stood at the pathway into the room and saw him closing the door behind me.
I had thought for a moment that he wouldn’t do this–that maybe my pleading would’ve done something, anything
But I watched as he slowly closed the door.
Without thinking–without planning–I lunged forward and wrapped my arms around him from behind, burying my face in his back. “Wait!” I sobbed. “Wait, please! The folder–it wasn’t real. The documents I gave Phillip… they were fake!”
Silence.
His hand froze on the doorknob, I could feel the confusion ripple through his body as his shoulders stiffened beneath my grip.
“What did you just say?” His voice was low, he pulled me back slowly, looking into my eyes, confused by what I just said.
I swallowed hard, still clinging to him like my life depended on it. “I said the documents were fake,” I whispered, my voice raw. “Look again. Look at the pictures I sent him. The bidding price–it’s wrong, I made sure of it. I gave a folder, not THE folder.”
“What kind of game are you playing now, Olivia?”
I shook my head, wiping at my eyes as I took a shaky step back. “No games. I swear it. If you zoom in–really zoom in–you’ll see the number’s off. It’s not the actual bidding price. I lied to him.” I handed him my phone, showing him the photo.
He took the phone from my hand, eyes scanning the screen. His brows furrowed as he zoomed in on the image. He didn’t say anything at first.
I watched him closely, searching his face for any sign–anything at all–that he might believe me.
Slowly, like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. His gaze was narrowed, searching my face for any trace of deceit.
“And why would you do that?”
God. Here it was. I guess I can let out some truths, right?
I bit my lip, fingers curling at my sides. “Because… because I want him to lose, I want to destroy Philip.”
Sebastian froze. His brows shot up, lips parted slightly. For a second, his eyes darted–like he wasn’t sure if he misheard or I’d grown a second head.
“You what?”
“Seb, he he cheated on me.” My voice cracked. “Now, i want him to feel what I felt. I want him to think he’s won, only to realize I handed him ashes.”
Sebastian blinked. His anger didn’t vanish–but it shifted. Morphed into something else. Something unreadable,
Thated how exposed I felt. But I needed him to believe me.
After a long moment, he finally looked up at me, eyes dark and unreadable. “How am I supposed to know you’re not messing with me?” His question wasn’t angry–it was quiet. Hurt.
“I wanted to tell you,” I said, voice barely a whisper, “but you wouldn’t listen. You shut me out before I even had the chance, not fair, hubby ” He ran a hand through his hair, stepping back. The tension in the hallway was thick, suffocating
Chapter 13
+25 Bonus
“You really didn’t give him the real files?” he asked again, softer this time.
I stepped closer. “No, I didn’t betray you. Not this time.”
His eyes searched mine for what felt like forever. Then something shifted–his shoulders eased slightly, and his jaw began to unclench.
In my past life, I hadn’t married Sebastian for his money–my family was already wealthy enough that I never lacked anything growing up. I married him because Philip suggested it.
The Davenports and Lancasters had always been close. My marriage was arranged right from the start and I was the only one unaware of it. When my mom first told me, I was devastated. I didn’t want anything to do with Sebastian, let alone marry him…
I’d already given my he’s to Philip, after explaining everything to Philip, he came up with the plan.
Philip wanted to dethrone Sebastian as the leading real estate mogul in the Manhattan. He devised a scheme to take him down from the inside -and like a fool, I agreed. Philip was always so convincing, so calculated… and oh so greedy.
I believed Sebastian had skeletons in his closets, he couldn’t be as good as he seemed, right? Wrong.
Sebastian built LDG from the ground up. Every penny he earned, every bit of respect he commanded—he worked hard for it. Every brick, every deal, every late night–it was all him.
Marrying Sebastian marked the beginning of his torment. I became a manipulative and overbearing partner, yet he endured every one of my misdeeds. He loved me–unconditionally.
There were days he’d come back from work, completely drained, yet I still found ways to make his life a living hell. He never complained. Never raised his voice at me.
I didn’t just help Philip ruin Sebastian. I was the reason he died.
And for all of it -for every lie, every betrayal–Philip and Kaylee would pay. I’d make sure of it, even if it was the last thing I ever did.
Now, all I wanted was to make things right with Sebastian… to love him the way he always deserved.
We just stood there in silence, the entire mansion eerily quiet as he held my gaze with those piercing gray eyes. His face was sharply defined, his skin slightly pale, but still flawless. I’d never met a man as effortlessly commanding, as quietly breathtaking, as Sebastian.
He was everything.
And to think–he was my husband… and I’d never truly seen any of it until now. That realization made me feel sick to my stomach.
I lowered my gaze, unable to bear the weight of his stare any longer. It wasn’t just his gaze–it was the shame. The bitter truth pressing down on my chest.
Ashamed of what I’d been to him.
I wasn’t a wife. I was a monster in disguise.
He walked toward me slowly, each step echoing in the quiet room. When he stood right in front of me, I still couldn’t lift my head.
Then he reached out with one finger and gently raised my chin.
“Look at me, Olivia.”
And I did. I followed his command without hesitation.
“Thank you,” he said, softly.
For a second, I thought I’d heard wrong–but no. He had just thanked me.
His words struck something deep inside me. I wanted nothing more than to be in his arms, to feel his warmth, to bury myself in the forgiveness I hadn’t earned. There was vulnerability in his eyes–raw and exposed.
“I’m sorry I hurt you,” I whispered, my voice trembling, tears brimming.
Chapter 14
