Chapter 45: Making Up for Lost Love
If Nathan had not intervened, Sean and the vice principal might have continued to cause trouble.
Although Olivia was not afraid and could handle it herself, Nathan’s appearance undeniably made things easier.
Hearing her, Nathan furrowed his brow. His voice was colder than usual. “I’m Liam’s father, and these matters are my responsibility! Spare me the polite niceties!”
He hated her aloof demeanor and distant tone.
Olivia met his gaze calmly. His deep-set eyes were cold, flickering with a hint of displeasure.
Still, she was not intimidated. Instead, she smiled, saying, “Mr. Carter, you misunderstood! I’ve never acknowledged your identity, so this thank you is necessary!”
“Olivia!” Nathan’s expression showed a hint of anger.
Undeterred, Olivia’s countenance remained unyielding. Her words were hurtful. “Mr. Carter, why so angry? Don’t tell me you think your single intervention today is enough to compensate for all the shortcomings of the past. To be blunt, even if you hadn’t stepped in today, I could have handled it! After all… I’ve navigated similar situations before, and this time is no different!”
While her words sounded abrasive, a closer listen revealed nuanced emotions.
Today’s incident not only rattled Liam. It also affected Olivia.
She had raised Liam as a single mother over the years and encountered many instances of prejudice, especially during the first two years abroad. Still, she had always protected Liam well.
But seeing Liam being beaten up today triggered emotions she had always kept well hidden in her heart. She felt prickly, and her words were sharp, as if wanting to hurt Nathan.
Nathan remained silent, but his expression darkened. He stared at Olivia intensely, and his chilling aura was palpable.
Olivia instinctively held her breath and tightened her grip.
Nestled in her arms, Liam made a muffled sound of discomfort that snapped her back to reality. She immediately loosened her grip and gently patted his back.
Then, Liam rubbed his face and found a new comfortable position before slipping back into a peaceful sleep. He seemed as docile as a kitten.
Olivia’s gaze softened. The tense atmosphere in the car also dissipated because of Liam.
Seeing this scene, Nathan also lessened his cold demeanor. He removed his jacket and covered the child before taking the driver’s seat.
Before starting the car, Nathan said from the driver’s seat, “Olivia, regardless of what happened between us, Liam is my son. You hid him from me back then, causing me to miss out on being a part of his life. Now that I know he exists, I’ll make up for the years of paternal love he missed out on. If you truly love Liam, you should recognize his needs and not hinder my relationship with him…”
Nathan paused abruptly at this point. The scene of Olivia meeting Lucas during the day replayed in his mind. His gaze turned colder, and he said with a measured tone, “Or are you planning to let another man be his father?”
Olivia thought she had misheard. When had she ever considered getting another man to be Liam’s father? What did he take her for?
An inexplicable anger gripped Olivia, prompting her to grit her teeth. “Why not? Liam now carries my surname, and I’m not married. If I found a man, he would be Liam’s father figure!”
Those words were purely spoken in frustration. Her focus was currently on work, and she had no intention of finding a father figure for Liam.
However, the dissipated chill returned inside the car. The frigid temperature made it feel like one had plunged into an icy dungeon.
