Chapter_9
The next morning, Mrs. Jones didn’t ask about the events of the previous night when Olivia came downstairs. She simply placed a bowl of soup in front of her, her expression unreadable. Olivia, however, couldn’t shake the feeling that Mrs. Jones was watching her, waiting for something.
Olivia felt a quiet dread settle in her chest. The uneasiness of having her privacy invaded, of feeling exposed, made her skin crawl. It was as if the walls of the house had ears, and her every thought and action were laid bare.
She ate the soup mechanically, her mind elsewhere. Once she finished, she stood and said, “I’m going to school now.” She had taken leave earlier in the week, but now that her time off had ended, there was no avoiding the return.
“Alright, go ahead,” Mrs. Jones replied with a nonchalant nod.
No further questions were asked, but the silence between them felt heavy. Olivia said nothing more and quickly left the house, slipping into a taxi. She clutched her phone tightly in her hand, her eyes lingering on the screen. There, she saw Tyler’s name—he had saved his number in her phone the night before for convenience, he’d said.
Her fingers tightened around the device as if it might slip away, as if it might betray her in some way.
At school, Olivia felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was in physical education class, running laps as the teacher’s whistle pierced the air. Her body, usually full of energy, felt sluggish today. After only two laps, she found herself panting, her chest tight, her legs heavy.
She slowed to a walk, trying to catch her breath, but the exhaustion was overwhelming. It wasn’t just physical; it was emotional, too.
The teacher dismissed them, allowing the class to do as they pleased. Olivia sank onto the nearest bench, her body still trembling from the run, and that’s when Sophie Pearce appeared, breathless from her own laps.
“Is it true that you and Jacob broke up?” Sophie asked, her tone blunt.
The mention of Jacob sent a wave of discomfort through Olivia. She didn’t want to hear his name. She didn’t want to talk about him at all. She tried to stand and walk away, but Sophie’s grip on her arm was firm.
“Olivia…” Sophie’s voice softened, and Olivia hesitated, finally stopping.
“Yes,” she answered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sophie’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. “But usually, there’s a reason for a breakup. Is it because of his family? Is that why?”
Olivia shook her head. She had never once complained about Jacob. In fact, she envied him—he had a peaceful, loving family, something she had always longed for. It was part of the reason why she had dreamed of a small house with him, a place where they could live and build a life together.
But she couldn’t share that with Sophie. Not today. Not now.
She didn’t respond to Sophie’s question, too exhausted to give any more of herself. She slumped onto the chair beside her, gasping for air.
Sophie, ever observant, noticed how off Olivia seemed. Her brow furrowed in concern. “Hey, do you want to grab lunch with me? My parents are hosting some big gathering with influential people. Come check it out.”
Sophie came from a wealthy banking family, and her life was one of privilege—gatherings with high-profile individuals, places Olivia had only ever heard about.
Olivia wasn’t interested in those events. She wasn’t in the mood for fancy lunches or high society. But Sophie wouldn’t take no for an answer. She tugged at Olivia’s arm, shaking her lightly. “Come on, Olivia. Just for a little while. It’ll be fun. Trust me. I promise you’ll be surprised.”
With no other way out, Olivia reluctantly agreed. “Okay.”
The moment they arrived at the luxurious hotel, Olivia began to regret her decision. The glittering lights, the sleek glass doors—it all felt so out of place. But Sophie, ever determined, dragged her into the elevator before Olivia could protest.
Before she had a chance to rethink her choice, the elevator doors closed behind them, sealing Olivia into a situation she wasn’t prepared for. Sophie’s smile was mysterious, almost mischievous.
When the elevator doors finally opened, Olivia’s anxiety spiked. She had never been to such a gathering before. The opulence, the polished guests, the air of wealth—it made her feel small, unimportant.
She tried to back out. “Forget it, Sophie. I don’t think I can do this.”
But Sophie, with surprising strength, pulled her into the room. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. Trust me. This is a rare opportunity to meet powerful people. You’ll be amazed.”
Before Olivia could protest further, Sophie swung open a dark wooden door. Inside, Olivia was met with an extravagant sight: a large round table, crystal-clear wine glasses, and a glittering chandelier hanging above it all. The people seated around the table were striking, powerful, their presence undeniable.
But it was the figure at the center of it all that stole Olivia’s breath away.
Jacob. She hadn’t seen him in so long, and here he was, standing in a suit, raising a glass in a humble toast to Tyler. The bright lights of the room made his face seem almost unfamiliar, but there was no mistaking him.
Tyler, dressed in a sharp black suit with a dark blue tie, held his glass in return. His expression was calm, collected, but there was an intensity in his eyes as he met Jacob’s gaze. Jacob, in comparison, seemed small, almost ordinary, standing before Tyler in his simple suit.
Olivia stood frozen in the doorway, unable to move. She was witnessing a clash of worlds—her past and her present, both colliding in front of her. The room, full of power and wealth, felt suffocating.
Sophie leaned in, her voice a low whisper in Olivia’s ear. “I arranged for my parents to introduce Jacob to some of these influential people. Even my parents have to show them respect. But don’t worry—he’s doing great. Remember how arrogant he used to be? Now look at him, so humble.”
Olivia barely heard the words. Her eyes were locked on the two men at the table—Jacob and Tyler. The realization hit her like a tidal wave. This wasn’t the Jacob she used to know. And this wasn’t the world she had imagined for herself.
Suddenly, Tyler turned, his gaze landing on her. From across the room, he called her name. “Olivia?”
Her heart skipped a beat. And just as her name left his lips, another voice echoed through the room.
“Olivia!”
Two men, from two different worlds, calling her name at the same time. And in that moment, Olivia felt more lost than ever.