To say that Olivia was upset would be an understatement. She had sensed Lauren's ulterior motives when she left the office earlier, and now, seeing her in Ethan's arms only confirmed her suspicions. Despite the seething anger and hurt bubbling inside her, Olivia felt a flicker of pride. She had managed to hold her ground, refusing to buckle under the weight of insecurity, and instead, she had boldly asserted her confidence in the face of adversity.
But beneath her outward strength, Olivia's heart was in turmoil. The sight of Ethan and Lauren together had ripped open old wounds, stirring up a storm of doubt and insecurity. Did Ethan still harbor feelings for Lauren? Did he long for what they once had? The uncertainty gnawed at Olivia's insides, threatening to consume her.
And yet, as she grappled with her own emotions, Olivia couldn't help but acknowledge the messy complexity of human relationships. Just like her lunch with Daniel earlier had stirred unexpected feelings for her, she realized that matters of the heart were rarely straightforward. Caught in the tangled web of emotions, Olivia knew that navigating this situation would require strength, patience, and, perhaps, a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
A relentless banging at the door disrupted Olivia's thoughts. "Go away!" she yelled in frustration. She wasn't in the mood for confrontation, especially not with a raging bull on the other side of the door.
"Olivia, open the damn door," Ethan's voice demanded, cutting through the tension.
With a heavy sigh, Olivia remained seated on the couch, stubbornly refusing to give in to his demands. She just needed some time alone with her thoughts, away from the chaos that seemed to follow her everywhere. For a moment, there was silence, and she allowed herself to hope that Ethan would respect her need for space and leave her be.
But her relief was short-lived as she heard the sound of keys jingling outside the door. Panic surged through her veins as she realized Ethan wouldn't give up so easily. "What the hell?" she muttered under her breath, bracing herself for whatever was about to come next.
Ethan burst through the door at that moment, his shirtless form catching Olivia off guard. His sculpted abs glistened with a faint sheen, and his face bore the signs of exhaustion. Despite the anger burning within her, she couldn't ignore the vulnerability in his eyes. He was still recovering, the fresh scar on his side a stark reminder of his recent surgery. But even so, he had hurt her, and she felt entitled to her anger.
Avoiding his intense gaze, Olivia felt a pang of guilt for acting so coldly toward him. She knew he was struggling, but that didn't excuse his actions. She looked away, her voice tired as she spoke. "Ethan, go home. We can talk about this later."
But Ethan was having none of it. "Like hell," he retorted, his tone firm. "We're going to talk right now."
As Olivia moved to leave, he commanded her, "Don't." Frozen in place, she felt the weight of his words. "Don't you dare walk away from me, Olivia."
Olivia clenched her jaw, her anger bubbling beneath the surface. She wanted nothing more than to storm away from him, to put as much distance between them as possible. But Ethan's soft words and gentle touch were like a balm to her frayed emotions.
"Baby," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as his hands traced down her arms. "I didn't know. I don't even know how she got my address. I only want you," he breathed into her ear.
His words penetrated her defenses, stirring a tumult of conflicting emotions within her. Despite her anger, she couldn't deny the pull he had over her. A shiver coursed through her body as he drew her closer, his arms enveloping her in a comforting embrace.
"Baby, don't cry," he urged, his voice filled with concern as he held her tight. Sobs wracked Olivia's body as she struggled to find the right words.
"Ethan, I..." Her voice trailed off, choked with emotion, unable to articulate the whirlwind of feelings swirling inside her.
"Shhh," Ethan murmured softly, silencing her with a gentle touch of his finger against her lips. "I get it, Olivia," he whispered, his voice filled with understanding. "I feel the same sense of desperation every time I see that asshole ex around you. It's vulnerable and uncomfortable, but at the same time, it makes me feel alive. It makes me realize how deep my emotions are for you."
With tender care, Ethan guided her to the couch and settled her onto his lap, enveloping her in his warm embrace. "Ethan, your surgery..." Olivia began, her voice wavering with concern.
"It's okay, sweetheart," he reassured her, his arms encircling her protectively. "Being here with you is just the medicine I need."
Olivia nestled closer to Ethan, seeking comfort in his warm embrace. His steady heartbeat beneath her touch offered a sense of security amidst the turmoil of her emotions. She brushed her fingers across his chest in swirling patterns, and it felt like home in his arms.
"Ethan," she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper, "do you still love her?"
Ethan's sigh resonated through the room, his chest rising and falling beneath her fingertips. "Olivia," he began, his tone laced with vulnerability, "I don't love her in that way anymore. But I'd be lying if I said her being around didn't bring up memories."
His confession hung in the air, heavy with the weight of the past. Olivia listened intently, her heart aching for the pain he must have endured.
"We had a lot of good times, Olivia," Ethan continued, his voice tinged with regret. "I was going to marry her. I thought what we had was real. I'm not sure if it hurt more finding out it wasn't real or the fact that I was too shallow to think it was."
Silence enveloped them, each word lingering in the air, begging for understanding. Ethan held his breath, awaiting Olivia's response, hoping their honesty would pave the way for healing and a deeper connection.
Olivia sighed and said, "I can't fault you for that, Ethan. I had lunch with Daniel today." Ethan's muscles tensed at the mention of Daniel's name, his reaction portraying the turmoil within. "Olivia," he growled, his voice tinged with jealousy and frustration.
Olivia held him tighter, feeling his tension, seeking to convey her sincerity through her embrace. "I ran into him in the lobby," she explained softly, "and we went next door."
She felt Ethan's body relax slightly, his grip on her softening as he listened intently to her words. "I know what you're saying, Ethan," Olivia continued, her voice steady with conviction. "With Daniel, it's easy. We have a past and a history together, and of course, we had a lot of good moments, too. But that was my past. I'm done looking back."
Her words hung in the air, laden with determination and a newfound clarity. "When I look at you," she confessed, her voice trembling with raw emotion, "I see my whole future wrapped up in your arms. And that scares the hell out of me."
As the weight of her confession settled between them, Ethan gazed into Olivia's eyes, a mixture of tenderness and gratitude reflecting in his own. At that moment, amidst the vulnerability and uncertainty, a spark ignited—an understanding and trust that flowed through them like an electric current. And with that look came a promise of a memorable night ahead.