Ethan held Olivia close, his arms wrapped protectively around her, but his mind was far from settled. He knew he had to tell her, but the thought of worrying her even more was eating him up inside. He sighed, stroking her hair gently as she nestled against him, her breathing steadying from the day's emotional rollercoaster.
"Ethan," Olivia murmured, her voice soft yet firm. "There's something else, isn't there? I can feel it. You're still holding back."
Ethan stiffened slightly, realizing that he couldn't hide the truth anymore. She could always sense when something was wrong—when he was off. And today, he had been more than off. He had been distant, secretive, and now he owed her an explanation.
Taking a deep breath, he gently pulled away and looked into her eyes. "You're right. There's more to this, and I didn't want to burden you with it. But... you deserve to know."
Olivia's brows furrowed in concern as she sat up straighter, her heart pounding in her chest. "What is it? Please, tell me."
He hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke, his voice low but steady. "It's Jenna."
The mere mention of her name made Olivia's stomach tighten. Jenna, the woman who had tried to tear them apart, who had drugged Ethan and nearly destroyed their relationship.
"She's been bailed out," Ethan continued, his eyes dark with frustration. "Someone bailed her out, and I've been hearing rumors that she's already plotting her next move."
Olivia's mouth dropped open, and her pulse quickened. "Bailed out? But how? And by whom?"
"I don't know," Ethan admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "But that's not all. I heard from a reliable source that Jenna was spotted in the next town over... with Jessie."
Olivia's face turned pale at the mention of Jessie. Jessie had been a troublemaker in their past, always stirring up drama. The fact that she was now in league with Jenna only made things worse.
"Jessie?" Olivia asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What are they planning?"
Ethan shook his head, his jaw clenched tightly. "I don't know yet. That's why I didn't want to tell you earlier. I went by myself to find out what's going on. I didn't want to drag you into this... mess."
"You went alone?" Olivia asked, the hurt evident in her voice. "Why didn't you tell me? We're supposed to be in this together, Ethan."
He looked at her, regret flooding his eyes. "I was trying to protect you. After everything that's happened, I didn't want you to worry. I thought if I could handle it, if I could get things sorted out before it escalated, you wouldn't have to deal with it."
Olivia's heart ached as she stared at him, understanding his intentions but still feeling the sting of being shut out. "Ethan," she said softly, her voice trembling. "I love that you want to protect me, but I need to know these things. We're partners. I don't care how messy it is, we face it together."
Ethan reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly. "I know," he whispered. "I know I should've told you. I was just trying to fix it before it could touch us again. But you're right. I shouldn't have shut you out. I'm sorry."
Olivia nodded, her eyes filling with tears once more, but this time they weren't from fear or anger. They were from the overwhelming love she felt for this man who, despite his mistakes, always had her best interests at heart.
She took a deep breath and steadied herself. "So, what now? What do we do about Jenna and Jessie?"
Ethan's expression hardened. "We keep our guard up. I'll have our security team double down. I'll make sure they can't get anywhere near us, especially you."
"And what about the police? Can't we take further action against Jenna?" Olivia asked.
"I'm already working on that," Ethan replied. "But legally, we can't do much more until she makes her next move. All we can do is stay prepared."
Olivia leaned into him, feeling the weight of the situation but also the strength they had together. She knew they would face whatever came their way, side by side.
Ethan kissed the top of her head, holding her close. "I promise you, Liv, I'll always keep you safe. But I need you to know that we're in this together. I won't shut you out again."
She looked up at him, her eyes bright with love and determination. "Good. Because we're stronger together. No matter what comes next, we'll face it head-on."
Ethan smiled softly, pressing his forehead against hers. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"You'll never have to find out," she whispered, and with that, the weight of the day slowly began to lift.
They sat together in the quiet, knowing that whatever Jenna and Jessie had planned, they would face it as one. And no matter how dark the storm that was brewing, their love and trust would guide them through.