Chapter 27
575words
"Nathan?"
I turned to find Olivia standing in the doorway, wrapped in a blanket against the morning chill. The sight of her—hair tousled from sleep, face soft in the early light—made my heart skip.
"Good morning," I said, moving to her side. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," she said, and I could see it was true. There was a clarity in her eyes that had been missing before. "Who was on the phone?"
"Marcus. They found Lily. She's safe."
"Thank God. Where is she? Can we see her?"
"Are you sure you're up for it? You're still recovering."
She nodded firmly. "I need to see her, Nathan. I need to know she's really okay."
"Then we'll go," I promised. "After breakfast."
As we prepared for the day, I noticed a new energy in Olivia's movements, a sense of purpose that had been missing since her surgery. The thought of seeing Lily had given her something to focus on beyond her own pain.
Over breakfast, Olivia asked the question that had been on both our minds. "What happens to Lily after all this? When your father is exposed, when the truth comes out?"
"She'll need protection during the legal proceedings," I said. "And after that... she'll need a permanent home."
Olivia nodded, pushing her food around her plate. "She's already lost so much. Her parents, her sense of safety. She deserves stability, love."
"She does," I agreed, watching Olivia carefully. I could see where her thoughts were heading, but I wanted her to be the one to say it.
"I've been thinking," she said hesitantly. "About what you said last night. About different ways to build a family."
"Yes?"
"I know it's too soon to make any decisions. We're still figuring out... us. But I can't help thinking about Lily. About whether we could give her what she needs."
My heart swelled at the "we" in her statement—the first time she had spoken of us as a unit, a potential future together. "I think we could," I said softly. "If that's something you want to consider."
"It is," she said, meeting my eyes. "Not right away. But... eventually. When things are more settled."
"One step at a time," I agreed, reaching across the table to take her hand. "First, let's focus on keeping her safe and bringing my father to justice."
We were almost ready to leave when my phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number:
You can't hide forever, son. The girl is the key. Bring her to me, and perhaps we can still salvage something from this unfortunate situation.
I showed the message to Olivia, watching her face harden with determination.
"He's afraid," she said. "Afraid of what Lily knows, of what she can testify to."
"Yes," I agreed. "But we won't let him near her. I promise you that."
Olivia took my hand, her grip surprisingly strong. "We're going to end this, Nathan. All of it. For Lily, for my father, for our baby. No more running, no more fear."
"Together," I said, bringing her hand to my lips. "We'll end it together."
