Chapter 3
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Olivia’s face turned cold in an instant. “Who let you in?”
“Jack did,” Emily replied sweetly, her voice soft as
a
She paused delicately, then added with a smile, “Olivia, why are you always getting hurt like this? You don’t actually think… this’ll make Jack look at you differently, do you?”
She giggled, her smile turning saccharine.
“Poor thing. Your dad’s mine, your house is mine… and Jack?
whers mine too”
-coming in here trying to
Olivia’s gaze sharpened like a blade. “You’re just the bastard daughter of a homewrecker. Who the hell do you think you are- provoke me? Get out.“he ma
her grin widened.
But Emily didn’t flinch. If anything, her grin wi
“Yeah, I’m the homewrecker’s daughter.‘
She tilted her head, looking at Olivia with feigned sympathy.
“But look at me. The daughter of ‘the other woman‘–and I have everything.”
Her voice lowered, amused.
“And you? Daddy’s precious little girl? You’ve got nothing.”
“Isn’t that just… hilarious?”
She pulled a small bottle of ointment from her pocket and placed it gently on the nightstand.
“Here’s the medicine. Don’t forget to use it later.”
Olivia’s arm shot up–but Emily was ready. She stepped back quickly, snatching the bottle up again with mock innocence.
“So, are you gonna yell at me to ‘get out‘ and throw the medicine again?”
She batted her lashes. “Well then… let me help you out.”
Without warning, she hurled the bottle at the floor.
Crash.
Glass shattered everywhere.
Auto–added to the Libian
She stumbled back deliberately, then collapsed onto the shards with a gasp.
Just on cue, the door flew open, and Jack stormed in, boots pounding.
The first thing he saw was Emily on the floor, her knee bleeding, and Olivia sitting stiffly on the bed, face blank.
“Explain,” Jack barked. His voice was cold, razor sharp.
Olívia closed her eyes.
She remembered the last time this happened–Emily pulling the same trick. She’d tried to explain then, and what did it get her?
Nothing
Jack had believed Emily.
So this time, Olivia didn’t bother.
“You saw it all, didn’t you?” she looked up, her smile laced with scorn. “What’s there to explain?”
Jack’s jaw tightened. His eyes turned icy. “You never learn, do you?”
His voice dropped dangerously. “Your punishment–”
“Jack!” Emily quickly grabbed his sleeve, panic in her voice. “Olivia’s still hurt–don’t be too hard on her…”
He frowned, but she tugged gently at his arm, pouting just a little. “Come on, just have her write it down. That’s punishment enough, isn’t it?”
Jack glanced at her, then finally relented. “…Fine.”
Chapter 3
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Olivia watched the scene unfold, feeling her chest twist painfully.
So this was the kind of man Jack really was. He’d bend the rules–for her.
She laughed suddenly, bitter and sharp. “Captain Rivers, you’ve got some real awful taste.”
Jack’s gaze darkened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She was about to say it–to tell him he must be blind to fall for clutching her knee.
Predictably, Jack turned right to her, his anger forgotten.
“What is it?” he asked, crouching beside her.
“My knee… it really hurts…” she murmured, lips trembling,
someone like Emily–but before she could speak, Emily let out a soft “Ouch,” wincing and
wening with tears that wouldn’t quite fall.
Olivia watched in silence as Jack swept her up in his m
my arms without
The door stayed open, and from her seat at the desk, Olivia could se
ointment on her knee.
thought.
on
my desk when it’s done.”
just down the hallway–Jack crouched in front of Emily, carefully dabbing
His movements were so gentle. His brow furrowed, like he was handling something fragile.
So… he could look like that.
Olivia looked away. Her pen slashed hard across the paper.
A few minutes later, Olivia set down her pe
“I’m done,” she said flatly.
She handed over the reflection just as Jack finished wrapping Emily’s bandage. He took the paper, scanned it, and his expression changed in an instant.
“What the hell is this?”
He read aloud:
“My mistake was not catching her when she faked her fall. My mistake make her think twice before pulling this same tired act again.‘
was not
her hand and shoving it into the broken glass, hard enough to
He looked up, furious. Olivia met his eyes without flinching.
“It’s just the truth.”
His temple pulsed. He was about to explode when-
“Jack!” Emily tugged at his arm again. “She’s still hurt. Don’t get upset…‘
##
His anger flared again, but before he could speak, Emily cut in sweetly, “Let it go, okay?”
Then she turned to Olivia, her voice light and warm. “We’re heading to the park today. Picnic and boat ride. You should come, too.”
“I’m not going,” Olivia said flatly.
But Emily was already wrapping her arm through Olivia’s with fake sisterly affection. “C’mon, don’t be mad, Sis. Let me help you walk.”
Olivia tried to pull away, but Jack was standing right there–watching her with that warning look in his eyes.
And suddenly… she was just so tired.
Chapter 3
