Chapter 4: She Shouldn’t Even Be Alive
Olivia’s breath caught in her throat as she recognized the voice. It had haunted her dreams for years. Every time she heard it, it was colder, more ruthless than the last, sending a chill down her spine. Hearing it in person was even more unsettling. After a brief silence, she replied icily, “I have every right to take my child away. There’s no need for further discussion.”
“Heh. Is that so?” Nathan’s voice was frosty as he sneered, “Well, he’s my child too!” With that, he grabbed the phone from Mr. Valtor’s hand, and before Olivia could respond, he hung up.
Olivia’s limbs went numb as she heard the dial tone echo in the car. She didn’t want to face Nathan, but now he was using Liam to blackmail her. Was he still unwilling to let her go? It made sense. He hated her and her parents. After all these years, he still believed that she owed the Carter family everything.
But Olivia knew better. She was just seven years old back then, orphaned after her parents were tragically killed. The Carter family had treated her like a criminal, branding her the daughter of a murderer. They made her feel like she shouldn’t even be alive.
The heartless expulsion from Carter Manor five years ago had pushed Olivia to the brink of death on multiple occasions. She no longer owed them anything. Now, Nathan was trying to take her son away, and she wasn’t about to stand idly by.
Her expression hardened, but her emotions quickly settled into a cold resolve. She turned to Benjamin, her assistant. “Let’s go,” she ordered. She would face Nathan herself. She had nothing to fear.
The two swiftly hailed a cab and made their way to Beverly Hills. Forty minutes later, they arrived at Nathan’s private residence. It stood like a serene oasis amidst the bustling city, offering privacy and tranquility to its privileged residents. The grand courtyard gates were imposing yet elegant.
As Olivia stepped out of the vehicle, she gazed up at the intricately designed iron gates. Standing tall at thirteen to sixteen feet, they were as imposing as they were beautiful. Beyond them lay a spacious courtyard with a grand fountain and meticulously manicured greenery. Further ahead, the opulent, palace-like mansion loomed.
Every detail of the estate felt painfully familiar, etched into Olivia’s memory. Her blood ran cold, and her heart skipped a beat. It felt as though time had stood still. She could almost hear the echoes of that fateful night five years ago—the rain, the insults, the humiliation, her desperate pleas… and the cold figure of the man she once loved. Her heart raced as she stood frozen, unable to move.
She didn’t ring the doorbell. The weight of her past kept her rooted in place.
It was then that a black Bentley slowly pulled up beside her. Emma had arrived early for breakfast with Nathan. As she approached Carter Manor’s gates, she noticed two figures standing there, one of whom seemed vaguely familiar.
Thinking they were just guests, Emma didn’t pay much attention. But as she stopped the car and rolled down the window, her eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you here to see Nathan?” she asked.
The sound of Emma’s voice snapped Olivia back to reality. She turned and locked eyes with Emma. The recognition was instant, and Emma’s expression turned to shock. She took a step back, staring at Olivia as though she had seen a ghost. “Are you… Olivia Monroe?” Emma asked, her voice trembling with disbelief. Panic gripped her. Olivia’s back? Isn’t she supposed to be missing?
Five years ago, Emma had orchestrated a car accident that had supposedly taken Olivia’s life. Olivia had vanished without a trace, and Emma assumed she would never see her again. With that assumption, Emma had pursued her own desires, never thinking that Olivia would return.
But now, here Olivia stood, at the gates of Carter Manor, in the early morning light. Emma’s heart raced with a mix of fear and excitement. Does Nathan already know she’s back?
Emma’s emotions boiled over as she stepped out of the car and approached Olivia, her eyes full of disdain. “Olivia Monroe,” she sneered, “It’s been a while. How do you have the nerve to come back?”
