Chapter_26
Jacob stepped closer to Olivia, concern written across his face. He reached out, as if to comfort her, but she stiffened as his hand came near. When he finally wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight, a sense of dread washed over her. She felt drained, both physically and emotionally, unable to reciprocate his affection.
Meanwhile, Tyler had driven a good distance away from the school, but as he waited for a red light, his eyes flickered to the rearview mirror. He saw Jacob and Olivia standing close to each other. The sight of their embrace, while brief, triggered something deep inside him. His grip tightened on the steering wheel, but he didn’t linger on the thought. Instead, he focused on the road as the light turned green.
Back with Jacob, he was solely focused on Olivia’s well-being. “Come on, let’s go to the dorm,” he said, gently pulling her along. Olivia hesitated for a moment before she quietly spoke up, “I’m hungry, Jacob.”
Jacob’s expression softened at her words, eager to fulfill her request. “Sure, let’s eat,” he replied, as though feeding her would fix everything.
At the restaurant they used to frequent, Jacob busied himself with placing the utensils and napkins around her, trying to make her comfortable. He placed a slice of meat onto her plate with the care he used to show her. “Eat more meat, Olivia. You need protein,” he urged.
But Olivia didn’t move to eat. Jacob frowned, confused. “You said you were hungry. Why aren’t you eating?”
Instead of answering directly, Olivia’s voice turned cold, as she said firmly, “Stop looking for me, Jacob. We’ve broken up.”
There was no hesitation this time, no second thoughts. She knew if she showed even the slightest uncertainty, he would latch onto it, and she had no intention of giving him false hope.
Jacob’s hands froze as he held the utensils, a look of disbelief crossing his face. He stared at her as if trying to process the words. Olivia didn’t wait for him to respond. She stood up, pushing her chair back, ready to leave.
Jacob reached out and grabbed her hand, his expression now serious. “Can you tell me the reason?”
“I’ve fallen in love with someone else,” Olivia answered without blinking, her voice steady.
Jacob’s eyes searched hers, a pang of hurt flashing through them. “Who is it? Will you tell me?”
Olivia shook her head, her words sharp. “You don’t need to know.”
She yanked her hand free from his grasp, her heart pounding. She turned to leave, but Jacob moved in front of her, blocking her path. His voice was now colder, more bitter. “I don’t believe you. You’re not telling the truth.”
Olivia didn’t flinch. She pushed his hand away with more force than she intended and met his eyes head-on. “You want the truth? Fine. What’s the point of your hard work? No matter how much you try, you’ll always be at the bottom. You’ll never be enough. What’s the point of marrying you? To compete? Stop dreaming, Jacob. Wake up.”
Her words cut through the tension, and she couldn’t believe how easily they spilled out. It was as if the weight of everything she’d been carrying finally found its release.
Jacob took a step back, his face drained of color. The hurt was palpable in his eyes. “Is that your truth?”
Olivia nodded, her voice unwavering. “Yes.”
Around them, the sounds of the busy restaurant fell silent as students began to notice the confrontation. Olivia didn’t care. She didn’t care about his pride, his feelings, or anyone else’s. She had to say it. She had to be free.
With that, she turned, pushed her chair away from the table, and walked out. Jacob stood frozen in place, still processing the shock of her words, but Olivia didn’t look back. She walked out with a sense of finality, the weight of the past few days lifting from her shoulders with every step she took.
But as soon as she stepped out into the cool evening air, she faltered. Her body felt weak, and the emotional release left her feeling drained. She found herself crouching down at a street corner, her hand pressed to her mouth to stifle the sobs that racked her body.
She allowed herself a brief moment to cry—just a brief one. She knew Jacob was still inside the restaurant, and he might come looking for her. She needed to regain control before that happened, before anyone saw her like this. But for that brief moment, Olivia let herself break, the tears falling freely as she let go of the weight of everything she had been holding inside.