Chapter 27
Olivia
I opened my eyes, and it was already morning. Falling asleep in Sebastian’s arms was one of my favorite things. His presence–warm, comforting, like a shield from everything else–was always the best way to end a day.
But this morning, I rolled over in bed—and he wasn’t there.
I sat up instantly, my body stiff from the sudden wakefulness. My head ached just a little, but I think the tea from last night really helped. It had been so damn strong, my senses were still tingling from it.
The memory of how I threw myself at him last night played in my head, instantly bringing a smile to my face. Seems like my shamelessness was on full display whenever he was near.
Suddenly, the door creaked open. I jerked out of my thoughts, Sebastian walking in dressed in a crisp suit. He looked far too serious for such a lazy morning.
“Good morning,” he greeted, his pearly whites on display, looking effortlessly perfect.
“You’re up early, hubby,” I said, stifling a yawn. My tone was suspicious.
I thought we would spend the entire day together–celebrating last night’s victory… over those two clowns. So, why the sudden rush?
“I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice sounding too gentle, too apologetic for a morning like this.
“For…?” I asked, confused, groggily rubbing my eyes. “It’s fine. It’s just work, and you’ll be back. Just make sure you come home early,” I said, trying to brush it off, pretending I didn’t care as much as I felt.
But his expression changed as he walked over and sat beside me. There was a quiet urgency to his movements, something off that made my stomach churn.
“I’m not going to work. I’m traveling to Japan for a while… for uh, business,” he stuttered. The unease in his voice sent a flicker of concern through me.
“What?”
“I’m sorry, Olivia. It just came up urgently, and I have to go. It’s important.”
“But… but… we had plans.” I tried to hold back my sad tone, but the tears that suddenly stung the back of my eyes betrayed me. Gosh, why did I want to cry? Was I really that addicted to him? To needing him around?
Yes. I actually was.
“It’s just a few days, I promise. And when I get back, I’ll make it up to you,” he said casually. But when I looked into his eyes, I saw something –worry. Like he was hiding something from me. My heart beat faster as I tried to rack my brain for anything–anything–that could explain his tense energy this morning.
“Don’t go…” My voice came out low as I stared down at my hands, avoiding his gaze.
He gently leaned down and wiped my tears away with his thumb, his touch warm and soothing. He placed a soft kiss to my forehead, and I closed my eyes at the sensation of his lips on my skin.
“Just a couple of days. I promise.”
“Okay…” I nodded slowly. My heart was heavy, and I didn’t expect to wake up to such sad news. He was leaving, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right somewhere, call it a sixth sense?
I met his eyes again, silently pleading with him to stay. It was already hard when he went to work and came back late–but a business trip? It felt like I couldn’t breathe without him around. He was my oxygen. Heavens, I probably looked like a lost puppy right now.
In my past life, his business trips were the happiest days of my life. I’d bring Philip over, and we’d spend time together. But now? The thought of being apart from him made my stomach twist into painful knots. And the thought of Philip even coming over or being near me made me want to throw up.
I could still see how bothered Sebastian was, but about what, exactly?
I walked him to the car. His driver opened the door, and before Sebastian got in, he pressed another long, lingering kiss on my forehead.
“I don’t want you to go. I know you have to, but I still don’t want you to,” I whispered, snorting lightly in an attempt to cover up how raw my voice sounded.
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“I know,” he murmured, his voice soft and warm, and I could feel the subtle laughter in his tone, I glared at him, and he surrendered, kissing both my cheeks.
“Stay safe,” I said, my voice faltering as I waved, watching the car drive away.
Walking back to the house, I wondered what I’d spend my entire day doing. The emptiness of the house felt a little too loud without him. it. But there was actually a lot to do, especially since I’d only just gotten started with Philip and Kaylee.
It felt a bit fishy how they both hadn’t been blowing up my phone since last night. Were they cooking up another scheme?
Even while trying to distract myself, I prayed in my heart that Sebastian would be safe. Because if anything happened to him… No. Why the hell was I even thinking like that? He was fine. He was coming back in a few days. But that same feeling of trepidation clung to me.
I paced back and forth around the house, my mind spinning. The memory of what happened last night brought a satisfied look to my face. Philip didn’t see that coming, and the look on his face when he was searching for me like a crazed animal was so damn satisfying.
My phone rang, cutting through my thoughts.
Finally, they decided to call. This was likely Philip.
Picking up the phone, the voice that came through wasn’t Philip.
It was Nathan instead–the man I had asked to keep an eye on Philip and Kaylee.
“Hello, ma’am.”
“Nathan, what have you got for me?”
“I just saw Philip and Kaylee with your family’s lawyer. I thought you should know.”
I froze slightly. My voice came out stiff. “Thank you, Nathan. Please don’t let them out of your sight.”
“I won’t.”
“Good.”
Then he cut the call. Nathan was the kind of man you called when you needed a job done. He worked under Dad for a while before starting his own security company. He didn’t ask questions—he just made sure the job was done.
But hold up. Philip and Kaylee? What the hell were they doing with my family’s lawyer? This was why they’d been so damn quiet after yesterday?
My parents. I thought as I paced the room. Philip was branching out to my family now? He wasn’t even wasting time, as expected.
Well, he was playing the wrong kind of game.
But Philip didn’t know my family’s lawyer–this could only mean Kaylee’s idea was at play.
The Davenports were one of the richest families out of the five main families in Manhattan, but what exactly was our lawyer doing with those two?
This wasn’t good. Something was seriously fishy.
My parents weren’t just regular tycoons–they had their fingers in nearly every major economic pie you could think of.
Certainly, their lawyer knew all about it.
Oh. It suddenly clicked in my head. Philip, you fucking bastard.
I needed to think–and I needed to do it fast.
Pulling on a pair of high–waisted cashmere joggers and an oversized ivory knit, I let my hair fall over one shoulder in loose waves. Slipping into my soft leather flats, I grabbed my keys and made my way to my parents‘ place,
I drove to one of my parents‘ five–star hotels–The Vellaris Crown. I knew that was exactly where I would find my mother. But what was I going to tell her? I knew this intel was from the right source, but I didn’t know how to present it.
I just needed to know what those two were up to. They wouldn’t meet with my parents‘ lawyer for no reason.
As I was about to step through the grand marble archway of the hotel lobby, I saw my mom coming out–looking so beautiful. Sometimes I wonder how she keeps getting younger with age.
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“Hey, Mom.”
“Olivia!” She squealed, pulling me into a tight hug.
“You’re suffocating me, Ma,” I said playfully.
“How’s Sebastian?” Of course, he was the first person she asked about. Typical–she loved him just as much as I did. Maybe more, adorably so.
After pulling back, she scanned me from head to toe.
“Olivia, what happened to your sense of fashion? Don’t get me wrong–I love the new Olivia. The old one was kind of a bitch,” she said plainly. Silence followed, and then we burst out laughing after two seconds.
“But did you lose your style completely, dear? I mean, who wears such an oversized knit these days?” She pointed at what I had on.
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
P
“Oh… nothing, sweetheart. Once you’re okay with looking like you shop from the Salvation Army still.” We both burst out laughing again.
But I was here on a mission, so I began to casually ask her some questions. I wasn’t going to tell her anything about Kaylee or the lawyer–I didn’t want to worry her.
My parents had never been a part of this mess since I was reborn, and I intended to keep it that way.
We walked toward her car.
“Mom… what can you tell me about Mr. Silver?”
“Oh, he’s been the family lawyer for years,” she replied, unbothered, searching through her purse for something. “And we plan to keep it that way.”
“Why do you ask?” Hazel eyes, similar to mine, looked up at me curiously.
I stared at her blankly for a moment before finally coming up with a lame excuse. “I was planning on going into something… and I needed a good lawyer.”
“Don’t tell me you plan on divorcing Sebastian, Olivia,” she narrowed her eyes.
“What? No, Mom, when did I say that?”
“Okay, as long as it isn’t that,” she hummed. “Well, Mr. Silver is the best of the best.”
“So… you trust him?”
“Of course. He’s been handling all our asset documents for over thirty–plus years now. He’s a good man.”
I froze after her last sentence. The gears in my head turned sharply. That couldn’t be why Philip and Kaylee wanted to see Silver… could it?
Were they planning to…steal from my family?
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