Chapter 254
(Olivia’s POV)
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I stepped out of Rosewood Haven with Connor Blackthorn trailing behind me. The confrontation with Ethan and Victoria had left
me drained but satisfied. For once, I’d managed to outmaneuver Victoria at her own game.
Lucas Blackwood stood waiting at the entrance, his powerful frame alert despite his casual stance. His gray eyes immediately
found mine, sweeping over me with barely concealed concern.
“Are you alright?” he asked, his deep voice low enough that only I could hear.
I nodded. “I’m fine. Let’s go before Ethan changes his mind.”
Lucas guided me toward his SUV with a gentle hand at the small of my back. Though he had monitored the entire confrontation
from outside, his protective instinct drove him to confirm my safety with his own eyes.
As we reached the vehicle, I felt a prickling sensation at the back of my neck. Turning, I saw Ethan emerge from Rosewood Haven,
his amber eyes darkening dangerously as he watched me.
Our gazes locked for a brief, charged moment before I deliberately turned away and climbed into Lucas’s SUV. Connor slid into
the backseat, and we drove away, leaving Ethan standing alone in the driveway.
“Where to?” Lucas asked, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror to check on Connor.
“Your private residence,” I replied. “It’s the safest place for now.”
Lucas nodded without question, smoothly navigating through the streets of Shadow Creek. The silence in the car was heavy with
unspoken questions.
When we arrived at Lucas’s residence, Connor followed us inside like a man walking to his execution. He sank onto the plush sofa
in the living room, burying his head in his hands.
I sat opposite him, studying his defeated posture. “Connor,” I called, my voice firm.
He didn’t respond, lost in his own thoughts.
“Connor Blackthorn,” I repeated, more forcefully this time.
Still nothing. I sighed, leaning forward.
“I saved you from Ethan’s wrath today,” I stated plainly. “And I expect something in return.”
That got his attention. He lifted his head slightly, his eyes wary.
“I’m not a saint,” I continued, my voice steady and unapologetic. “I wouldn’t protect someone who once tried to kill me without
good reason.”
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Chapter 254
Connor flinched at the reminder of his past crime against me.
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“You have one day to consider what you can offer in exchange for my continued protection,” I said, rising from my seat. “If you
can’t provide anything valuable, I have no obligation to shield you from Ethan’s retribution.”
I placed my business card on the coffee table between us. “My number. Call me when you’ve decided.”
As Lucas and I moved toward the door, I instructed his security team to ensure Connor’s safety. “Don’t let him leave, but don’t
treat him like a prisoner either.”
Connor’s head snapped up, his eyes wide with shock. “How did you know?” he whispered.
I paused at the doorway. “Know what?”
“That I have information about Victoria Frost,” he said, his voice barely audible.
I smiled coldly. “I didn’t. But now I do.”
With that, I left with Lucas, the door closing firmly behind us.
In the car, Lucas glanced at me with newfound respect. “That was clever.”
I shrugged. “Sometimes the best way to get information is to pretend you already have it.”
Lucas chuckled, a warm sound that eased some of the tension from my shoulders. “Where to now?”
“Crescent Moon Medical Center,” I replied. “I need to check on my mother.”
Lucas nodded, already dialing his phone to order dinner for us. I leaned back in my seat, allowing myself a moment of rest.
When we arrived at the medical center, my mother’s face brightened at the sight of us together. Evelyn Winters had always been perceptive, and I could see the approval in her eyes as she observed Lucas’s protective stance beside me.
“You look better today,” I said, taking her hand as I sat beside her bed.
She smiled, squeezing my fingers. “I feel better. Especially now that you’ve brought such handsome company.”
Lucas laughed, the sound genuine and warm. “Mrs. Winters, you’re too kind.”
“Please, call me Evelyn,” my mother insisted, her eyes twinkling.
I watched their easy interaction with a mixture of amusement and discomfort. My mother had never approved of Ethan, even before Lily’s death. She had sensed something in him that I had been too blinded by love to see.
When Lucas excused himself to use the restroom, my mother turned to me with knowing eyes.
“He’s a good man, Olivia,” she said softly. “And he cares for you deeply.”
I sighed, unable to explain the complicated tangle of emotions that kept me bound to Ethan despite everything. “I know, Mom.”
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Chapter 254
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“You deserve happiness,” she continued, her voice gentle but insistent. “After everything you’ve been through.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. “I’ll give it thought,” I promised, relieved when Lucas returned, ending the conversation.
A knock at the door announced the arrival of dinner. The orderly wheeled in a cart laden with covered dishes, the aroma
immediately filling the room.
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