Chapter 9: I Only Trust You
Back in Beverly Hills, Nathan returned to the house after Olivia left. It was still early, and he hadn’t had breakfast yet, but he poured himself a glass of wine and drank it down in one go. Olivia’s icy words echoed in his ears: “The child isn’t yours!”
She had lived under the same roof with him since she was seven, and no other boy had dared to approach her. Not mine? He sneered darkly, the corners of his mouth curling upward as he finished the wine in his glass.
At that moment, the sound of a car engine outside broke his thoughts. Emily Johnson hurried inside, her sharp gaze scanning the room before locking on Nathan. She demanded, “Where is she? Emma said that woman came back. Is it true?”
Nathan didn’t answer. He casually set the wine glass down, but Emily’s expression darkened as she processed the situation. “It seems true!” she spat. “How dare she return?” Her hatred for Olivia hadn’t faded in the five years since she left.
Nathan remained silent, his emotions unreadable. Emily glared at him and warned sternly, “Let me remind you, Nathan, you’re already engaged to Emma. Even if that woman really is back, she has nothing to do with you! She’s forbidden from stepping foot inside Carter Manor!”
Nathan felt an unfamiliar irritation rise within him as he listened. He thought about Olivia, how she had refused to enter the villa even when invited. My mother’s being overcautious, he thought. Olivia wouldn’t even step foot inside Carter Manor if he personally asked.
Not wanting to endure Emily’s nagging any longer, Nathan left without having breakfast. As Ethan drove him to the company, Nathan stared out the window, his gaze distant. “Investigate where Olivia is staying,” he instructed, his voice low. “Keep an eye on her. Report to me immediately if she plans to leave the country. And… find out who the man with her is.”
“Understood,” Ethan replied respectfully.
Meanwhile, after returning to the hotel with Benjamin, Liam, and Mr. Valtor, Olivia planned to return to Germany that night after they freshened up. She had already made up her mind. Liam, however, seemed worried. He was troubled, hoping to find a way to make Olivia stay longer. Olivia, fully aware of her son’s feelings, deliberately ignored him. She quickly showered and went to bed, her exhaustion weighing on her.
She awoke around two in the afternoon to the sound of her phone ringing. She glanced at the caller ID before answering, “What’s up, King?”
A warm, magnetic voice came through the line. “I heard you returned to the country?”
“Yes,” Olivia replied as she sat up in bed. “I was in a rush, so I forgot to tell you. I’ll make up for the work I left behind when I return.”
She rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. She hadn’t slept well, plagued by restless dreams. Now that she was awake, her throat felt dry.
“You didn’t sleep well?” King Hawthorne asked, concern evident in his voice.
Olivia pulled her hand away from her face. “I’m fine. Is there something wrong?”
King didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “The company is planning to open a branch in Emberfall, but we haven’t found the right person to manage it. Since you’re already there, I need you to stay for six months. After that, we’ll transfer you back to Germany.”
Olivia was momentarily stunned. She wanted to refuse, but before she could say anything, King cut her off. “Olivia, I only trust you.”
Olivia’s protest died in her throat. She couldn’t turn down King’s request—not when so much of her success had come from the opportunities he had given her. “I understand,” she replied quietly.
After hanging up, Olivia sat on the edge of the bed, her mind racing. She sat there for a long moment before getting up to find Benjamin and Mr. Valtor in the room next door. Liam was there as well. As soon as he saw her, he ran over and hugged her tightly, his babyish voice filled with affection. “You’re awake, Mommy. Did you sleep well?”
“I did,” Olivia answered softly, lifting her son in her arms.
Benjamin approached respectfully and reported, “Ms. Olivia, the flight tickets back to Germany have been booked. We’ll leave at eight o’clock tonight.”
