CHAPTER 078
OLIVIA’S POV
The whole place still fela battlefield–tension clung to the walls like thick smoke, and the last thing I wanted was to face any of them. Emotions were still raw, and I had no desire to say something I might regret. So I made up my mind: I’d wait until morning. Maybe, the dust would settle a little by then, and we could all breathe again. Or at least pretend to..
That evening, I quietly grabbed my purse and slipped out, making my way back to Adrian’s place. I hoped he wasn’t entertaining any funny ideas, that we might be heading back together.
I knew he would likely be late at the hospital. That gave me the perfect opportunity to go through the wardrobe undisturbed. I pulled out a small luggage bag I had purchased some time ago, just in case. Well, now was the “just in case” moment.
Opening the wardrobe, I carefully began folding the clothes he’d bought for me. It was ironic, really. I had come here with nothing for the second time, and now I was leaving with items he gifted me. The first time I moved in, I at least had a few things of my own. But now, even those were gone. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dora had something to do with it–she always had a quiet but sinister way of making her presence known.
I placed each piece of clothing in the bag, one after the other, trying to keep things neat and orderly, though my mind was anything but calm.
There was something that continued to nag at the back of my mind–something I couldn’t quite wrap my head around. If my family is somehow involved in his mother’s death, why would he still care for them so much? Why would he stay behind and look after my father–the very man responsible for causing him so much pain?
I had walked away, but Adrian chose to remain. Why?
So many thoughts swirled through my head. It was as if everything in my life had started spiraling the moment I met him. Ever since our paths crossed, peace had been. a stranger to me. And yet, for reasons I still didn’t fully understand, he married me. Why? Especially knowing what my parents had done. What was his motive?
I folded the last of my clothes and zipped up the bag, the sound echoing in the stillness of the room. Julian was getting closer–closer to finally getting me out of this place, this chapter of my life. That’s why I had to be ready, little by little, preparing to leave. Slowly, quietly, I was packing up my past.
Once everything was in order, I went into the bathroom to rinse my face. The cold water helped clear my mind a bit successfully unlocked: all the emotional chaos. Morning came faster than expected. I hadn’t even realized I had fallen asleep until Adrian’s alarm blared through the room. I groggily opened my eyes, only to be greeted. by the sight of him stepping out of the shower.
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CHAPTER 078
Water dripped from his toned, muscular body, glistening under the warm light. For at moment, I caught myself admiring him. When was the last time I actually felt his touch? It had never been out of love, not really, but even so, there had always been a spark. A physical connection that somehow lingered in memory.
I quickly looked away, embarrassed by my wandering thoughts. But it was already too late–he’d noticed.
“Don’t make it too obvious that you’re drooling,” Adrian said with a teasing smirk as he ran the towel through his damp hair. Then, unexpectedly, he added, “How was your night?”
I blinked, unsure if I heard him right. Did he just ask me how I slept? Since when did Adrian Westwood care about how I felt, let alone how I slept?
I stared at him, my face clearly showing disbelief. My brows furrowed, lips parted slightly–I couldn’t hide the shock even if I wanted.
Adrian had just asked me something he never had before. Simple as it was, it left me frozen.
“How was your night?”
That question alone made my heart stutter
“It was, hmm… not that bad,” I finally stammered, still caught off guard.
He gave a small nod, his eyes scanning me for a moment. “Looks like the ointment is really effective. The bruises… they’re almost completely gone.”
I glanced down at my arms instinctively, and to my surprise, he was right. The bruises that had once been shades of purple and blue were now fading into nothing but a memory. I hadn’t even realized it, not with everything else clouding my mind.
“Yeah,” I muttered, nodding. “Guess it is.”
A part of me wanted to keep the conversation short. I didn’t want him picking up on my plans or asking questions I wasn’t ready to answer. And yet, there was this small, -stubborn ache deep inside that just wanted to scream at him–to demand answers for
everything I’d been through. For everything he let me go through.
He cleared his throat as he picked up a T–shirt, sliding it over his still–damp, chiseled body. His hair was a mess from the shower, and he ran his fingers through it as he spoke again.
“I don’t really know how to say this,” he started slowly. “But I know you’re going through a lot right now. And, uh… I just want to say, don’t think too much about it. That‘ s how they are…the Graysons. Heartless to the core.”
He paused, then glanced over his shoulder at me.
“The original Graysons, I mean.”
I raised a brow. Was that his attempt at separating me from them? From my own
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CHAPTER 078
adoptive parents?
“Are you trying to console me?” I asked, arms folded defensively across my chest.
“Is that a bad thing?” he responded, sounding almost genuine.
“It’s not,” I admitted. “But… you’ve never done it before. None of this. The way you’re talking to me right now…it’s different.”
There was a long silence after that. The kind of silence that made the air feel heavier. He turned toward the mirror, combing his hair with slow fingers, deliberately avoiding my gaze now.
Then, casually he said, “I’m guessing you won’t be showing up today?”
“I will actually,” I replied, trying to sound neutral. “I want to speak to my dad.”
He turned around, shirt now clinging to his chest, and I was sure that was the end of it. But he surprised me yet again.
“We could go together,” he offered. “If you want.”
I blinked, completely taken aback. Is that suggestion coming from him? Adrian never liked riding with me. Even when we had to, he made it feel like I was just extra baggage–never gave me an option.
And now here he was. Offering.
Something was off. He was either sleepwalking through kindness or… something had.
changed. I couldn’t tell if he’d woken up on the wrong side of the bed or the right side.
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