Chapter 22
586words
"I'm not talking about courts yet," I replied. "I'm talking about the truth. And I will find it, no matter what it takes."
Victor studied me for a long moment, then nodded slightly. "You always were stubborn. Like your mother." He straightened his tie. "We'll discuss this later. In private."
As he walked away, I felt a chill run down my spine. The casual mention of my mother—who had died when I was ten—was no accident. It was a reminder of everything he could take away from me, of how powerful he truly was.
But he had miscalculated. There was nothing left for him to take that mattered—except Olivia. And I would not let him hurt her again.
I returned to her room to find Rebecca sitting beside her bed, both women looking up expectantly as I entered.
"What did you find?" Olivia asked.
"Evidence," I said simply. "That someone went to extraordinary lengths to keep me away from you that night. And that your procedure was deliberately botched to create complications that could be triggered later."
Olivia's face paled. "Triggered? You mean... my hemorrhage wasn't an accident?"
"I don't think so," I said gently. "I think it was a warning—or an attempt to silence you—when you started investigating Lily's case too deeply."
Olivia's hand moved instinctively to her abdomen, where the surgical incision from her hysterectomy was still healing. The realization that her inability to have children was not just a medical complication but a deliberate act of cruelty seemed to hit her anew.
"Your father did this to me?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "He took away my chance to ever have children?"
The raw pain in her question tore at my heart. I moved to her side, taking her hand in mine. "I'm so sorry, Olivia. So incredibly sorry."
Tears filled her eyes, spilling over. "All these months, I thought it was just bad luck. Just one more cruel twist of fate. But it was deliberate. Someone chose to do this to me."
I sat on the edge of her bed, gathering her carefully into my arms as she began to sob—deep, wrenching cries that seemed to come from the very core of her being. Eight months of grief, anger, and betrayal poured out as I held her, my own tears falling silently into her hair.
I looked at Olivia, at the woman I'd never stopped loving despite everything that had happened. The answer, for me at least, was simple.
Forward. Together. If she would have me.
Nathan's POV
The lake house was exactly what we needed—remote, peaceful, and unknown to Victor. Nestled among pine trees with a view of the water, the modern cabin offered both security and comfort. I had purchased it during a particularly difficult period in our separation, imagining it as a place where Olivia and I might someday reconnect.
"It's beautiful," Olivia said softly, taking in the panoramic view of the lake. Despite her attempt at strength, I could see the exhaustion in her face, the way she leaned heavily on my arm.
"Let's get you inside," I said, supporting her weight as we walked up the path. "You need to rest."
The interior was modern but warm—open-concept living space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water, a stone fireplace, comfortable furniture in neutral tones. I had furnished it with Olivia in mind, choosing pieces I knew she would love.
