Chapter 8
“I’m a doctor,” Emily cried, her voice cracking under pressure. “I make medical judgments based on medical expertise—not baseless accusations like you, Olivia!”
The tears flowed faster, her trembling frame painting the perfect picture of a woman wronged.
And it worked. The whispers around them grew louder.
“Harrison was too good for her anyway.”
“She’s always been a drama queen—now she’s smearing doctors?”
“No wonder she got dumped.”
“Olivia, seriously—apologize. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
“Emily’s a good person. Just because you lost doesn’t mean you burn the whole thing down.”
…
At Harrison’s signal, the bodyguards stepped forward and pinned Olivia’s arms behind her back.
“Emily,” Harrison said coolly, “you hit her back.”
Emily shook her head, feigning compassion. “I… I can’t.”
“Then let someone else settle the score,” Harrison replied lightly, as if offering party favors. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and glanced at the crowd. “Anyone who wants to stand up for Dr. Emily, go ahead. I’ll cover the consequences. One slap, ten grand. That’s the deal.”
Gasps swept through the hallway. Then, chaos.
A teenage girl—once rescued by Olivia from an illegal factory—stepped forward first. Without hesitation, she slapped Olivia hard across the face, her eyes full of scorn.
Back then, the same girl had clung to Olivia, sobbing and vowing to repay her forever.
Next came an elderly woman Olivia had once helped escape from abuse in a care facility. Olivia’s report had garnered public attention and led to the woman being reunited with her daughter.
That woman had once called Olivia kind, brave, and blessed.
Then came a third. A fourth. A fifth…
They lined up like it was a fairground attraction, eager to cash in and slap the villain of the day.
And Harrison? He lounged back in a velvet chair, cradling Emily like they were watching an opera—Olivia’s public unmaking as the main act.
He didn’t react. Didn’t flinch.
Emily, however, couldn’t stop smiling—her lips curled into a satisfied grin, eyes gleaming with vicious joy.
“Alright, I’m over it,” she said sweetly. “She was your ex-wife, after all. No need to humiliate yourself anymore.”
“As long as you’re happy,” Harrison replied. “If you say it’s over, it’s over.” He waved a hand, and the bodyguards stepped in to scatter the crowd.
Olivia crumpled, her knees giving out. Blood trickled from her mouth, but her lips remained sealed—a final act of defiance.
Harrison rose and walked over, dabbing at her bleeding lip with a clean white handkerchief.
“My patience has limits,” he said quietly. “Don’t make me teach you again.”
“I hate you,” Olivia whispered, each word torn from her throat like a blade. “I regret ever letting you into my heart.”
Harrison’s body jerked slightly. His eyes darkened, rage flaring behind them. He dropped the handkerchief and straightened.
“I want to see just how far you’re willing to go with this,” he said coldly. “As of today, you’re not allowed to come near Lily, and you’re banned from being involved in the Deans’ funeral.”
He stormed off with Emily, forbidding even a doctor from tending to Olivia’s wounds.
As he passed her, Olivia grabbed the hem of his pants. He glanced down—and met a pair of lifeless eyes.
Something in his chest clenched.
“You’ve gone too far this time,” he said tightly. “Once you realize that, come find me. We’ll talk about the funeral then.”
“You’ll never see me again,” Olivia rasped. “There’s no room for me in your world—and there never will be.”
She let go, collapsing onto the floor like a marionette with its threads snapped, she collapsed and didn’t move again.
Harrison faltered—only for a moment.
“You know I’ve never liked you challenging me,” he muttered.
And then he left, arm in arm with Emily, leaving two bodyguards stationed to watch Olivia closely.
He didn’t believe she had it in her—to leave, to survive, to fight back.
Didn’t think she had the strength to.
The next morning, she was still lying there, motionless.
No one dared help her. Not without Harrison’s order.
Each report the bodyguards gave—She’s still there—only fed Harrison’s ego. She still loves me. She’s just being dramatic.
By the third day, he dismissed the guards. “No need to waste more time on her.”
He waited, fully expecting Olivia to come crawling back with an apology.
But deep into that same night, Olivia stirred.
Bit by bit, she pushed herself off the cold tile floor.
She didn’t return to the estate.
She went straight to the airport.
There was nothing left for her here.
No reason to stay.
“Sis, Lily, Dean… I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears tracing down her bruised cheeks. “I can’t take you with me now, but one day—I swear I’ll come back for you.”
“Harrison Lowell… this is goodbye. And one day—mark my words—you’ll beg for mine.”
