Chapter 21
Jack’s eyes swept over Charlie–the so–called husband. A simple man. Clumsy. Naive. There was no way someone like him could make Olivia happy.
She must’ve been enduring this place for a long time.
And once they got back to the city, Jack was going to do it right. He’d propose. Officially. Publicly. He wasn’t going to lose her again.
His fists clenched at his sides. He couldn’t stand the idea of Olivia married to someone else—especially some backwoods farmer with mud on his boots.
Olivia walked out of the field, brushing dirt from her palms as she came to stand beside Jack.
“Jack, you should go,” she said calmly. “I’m married now. That was my decision.”
Jack’s chest tightened.
“This was Richard’s doing!” he snapped. “He forced you into this—he’s the one who sent you out here to rot in the middle of nowhere. You don’t have to do this anymore. I’ve already pulled every string I could. You can come home.”
The sting of hearing her married hit him like a gut punch. His voice faltered, the pain slipping into his tone.
But Olivia’s face stayed blank, unreadable. The moment she decided to come to Lakewood, Jack had lost any say over her life. She stared at him, voice
cool.
“I chose this. And I’m not suffering. Charlie’s good to me. Please leave. You don’t have to come looking for me again.”
Her composure made Jack angrier. How could she possibly say she was doing fine?
She used to demand a hot shower after every drill. Wouldn’t let anyone touch her hair, hated the heat. There was no way she was genuinely happy living in a rundown farmhouse, boiling water for baths and working fields like a peasant.
“Olivia,” he said, stepping closer, voice rising, “everything’s been taken care of. Even if you’re mad at me, come back to the city and be pissed there.”
Then, before she could react, he grabbed her wrist–ready to pull her away from this place.
But Charlie was there in a flash. He shoved Jack back with surprising strength.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Charlie’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was firm. “Just because you’re a captain doesn’t mean you can come in here and push people around.”
He was a quiet man, a humble man–and if Olivia wanted to leave, he would’ve respected that. What he couldn’t accept was someone trying to force her.
Charlie stepped between them protectively, shielding her with his body.
Olivia’s heart softened. She hadn’t expected Charlie to jump in like that, to defend her so fiercely. It only affirmed what she already knew–she’d made the right choice.
She smiled slightly and looked straight at Jack.
“You see that? He’s my husband now. Captain Rivers, whatever we had… it’s over.”
Jack’s expression darkened, his entire body coiled like a loaded weapon. His jaw clenched. He forced himself to lower his voice.
“Olivia… I know you’re upset. But if you come back with me, I’ll propose. Officially. I mean it this time. I looked into everything–Emily lied to me. I know what she did. I blamed the wrong person. You left because of that, didn’t you?”
It was the first time Jack had ever admitted he was wrong. He never apologized to anyone–ever. But now, he was practically begging for her forgiveness.
Olivia almost laughed. Bittersweet.
So now he cared. Now, after everything. Now, when it didn’t matter anymore.
A cold, mocking smile tugged at her lips.
“Jack… it’s too late.”
The words hit him like a sucker punch to the ribs. He staggered slightly, disbelief crashing over him.
Too late?
He’d jumped through every hoop to get the government off the Harts’ back, driven all the way out here just to bring her home–and she was telling him it didn’t matter.
“Olivia, no. It’s not too late,” he said desperately. “Emily means nothing to me now. That chapter’s closed. I paid back her debt, she won’t come near us Chapter 21
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again. I won’t let you go through this alone anymore. Please just come home with me.”
He wasn’t a man who begged. But now, he was begging.
And still–Olivia didn’t flinch.
She looked him dead in the eyes.
“No. I’m happy here. Charlie treats me well. I’m his wife now. Captain Rivers, please don’t come here again.”
Her words didn’t just reject him–they shattered something inside.
His gaze snapped back to Charlie. Covered in dirt. Calloused hands. Poor. Lacking in everything Jack could offer her.
How could a man like that be better than him?
“Don’t be stupid,” Jack hissed. “You didn’t have a wedding. You’re not even legally married. If you want out of this, I can take care of everything. Just say the word. You really want to spend the rest of your life in a place like this? With someone like him?”
Chapter 21
