A week had passed, but for Olivia, each day felt like another chapter in a novel she hadn't written herself. Ever since she signed the contract, Liam appeared in every corner of her life like a shining shadow. He showed up at her office at the end of the day, took her to dinners, to the suite where he was staying, to her family's mansion. Sometimes there were even kisses. Everything had to look real. From the outside, they looked like a solid, loving couple. On social media, photos began to appear of their intertwined hands and frozen smiles. A discreet caption: "A new beginning." Anna proudly showed them to her friends. Fabian seemed calmer. Even Victor kept saying she had made the right choice. But inside, Olivia felt suffocated by the performance. Every rehearsed gesture reminded her of the contract, the blackmail, the baby growing inside her. And yet, there were fleeting moments, almost imperceptible, when Liam's mask seemed to crack. Sometimes there was a a lingering look or t

Later, Olivia slipped away to a dressing room beside the hall. She needed to rest. She sat down in the armchair, eyes closed, trying to catch her breath. She heard the door close. She opened her eyes and stood up. "Peter? What are you doing here?" she asked, stunned. Peter took two steps toward her. "Olivia, forgive me. Walk away from this wedding. Come with me." Her eyes widened. "Are you insane, Peter? Have you forgotten everything you did to me? You're married. MARRIED!" He moved closer. "I made the biggest mistake of my life, but it can be fixed. I don't love Camilla. I love you, my love." Tears welled up in Olivia's eyes. Her voice shook. "Now you remember that you love me? After all the suffering you put me through?" Peter held out his hands. "I couldn't stand knowing another man touched you, got you pregnant. I never should've left you alone in that suite. I was so anxious about our first time, but I lost my head when they called saying my mom was sick.

Olivia stopped in the middle of the hall. The cold marble beneath her feet clashed with the heat rising through her body. She lifted her eyes to the imposing staircase, trying to make sense of the scene unfolding before her. From the top of the steps, a woman descended slowly. The white silk robe seemed to glide along with her. The suggestive smile on her lips looked rehearsed. Every step felt like a blow. Olivia's breath caught. Her heart raced. Barbara reached the last step and, without hesitation, threw herself into Liam's arms. The intimate gesture sliced through the air. She leaned against his chest and kissed him lightly, as if Olivia were nothing more than a shadow in the corner of the hall. "You took so long, love," she murmured. "I missed my handsome dark-haired man." Liam replied coldly, without even looking at Olivia. "Good thing you're here, Barbara." Olivia's stomach twisted. She didn't know if she was shaking from anger or humiliation. She took a deep breath

The room was silent when Olivia opened her eyes. She had slept barely two hours, yet it felt like she had lived through an entire night. The torn wedding dress was still on the floor, a reminder of everything that had happened. Her head throbbed from all the crying. A soft knock on the door broke her thoughts. "Ma'am… I brought your snack," a female voice said from the other side. Olivia blinked, still groggy. "Just a minute, please…" she murmured, slowly sitting up. She felt the comforter slide off her body. She froze, confused. "How did this comforter get here?" she whispered to herself. She went to the closet, grabbed a robe, and put it on. With a deep breath, she opened the door. The maid came in with a tray and set it on the small table in the room. "Here you go, ma'am," she said gently. "Thank you… but I didn't ask for anything," Olivia replied, her voice still rough with sleep. "Mr. Holt asked us to bring it. I came earlier, but you didn't answer," the maid

Liam was sitting in the armchair in Olivia's bedroom. His body leaned forward, elbows resting on his thighs, his hands clasped and partially covering his mouth. His gaze was fixed on the carpet, as if trying to burn through it. The noise of his own thoughts was so loud it felt physical. When he heard her voice, he slowly lifted his eyes, like someone coming back from very far away. "Why did you attack Barbara?" Olivia's eyes narrowed. Her breath came out short. Disbelief and pain mixed in her expression. "Are you serious right now?" she shot back, her voice shaken with anger. "I think the real question should be, 'Are you okay?' I'm pregnant, and she pushed me to my limit." He watched her in silence. Olivia turned and walked to the door. She grabbed the handle firmly and pulled it open, trying to keep control of herself. "We have nothing to talk about. You can leave now, please. It's late, and I'm exhausted." Liam stood up. The movement was slow and deliberate. His step