bChapter /bb145 /b

OLIVIA’S POV

b“/bSee, I knew you would be alright. And we’re almost at the airport,” Damian said with a rxed smile as he remained seated beside meb, /bbhis /bvoice calm.

I gave a small nod and leaned back, trying to rx my shoulders. “Yeah… I guess I just panicked a little. This was my first time I admittedb, /bletting bout /ba breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

“It’s alright,” he said kindly “It’s natural to panic in situations like this. But you handled yourself well.”

There was a short pause before Damian turned to me, his tone shifting into something a little more curious. “So tell me a little about yourself. Are you and Julian in a rtionship? I couldn’t help but notice how protective he was when I tried speaking to you outside.”

His assumption almost made meugh out loud. I gave him a half–smile and shook my head. “No, it’s nothing like that at all. He’s just… always been that way with me. Very protective.” I paused, watching his brow furrow slightly. “Honestly, I’m surprised you don’t know, considering you’re his best friendb.” /b

Damian’s head tilted to the side. “Know what?” he asked, clearly intrigued now. “He’s been keeping a lot from me these past few months, so please fill

me in.”

I leaned in a little, lowering my voice to a near whisper, even though there was no one else around to hear. “Well… I’m actually his long–lost sister.”

For a second, Damianughed as if I had just told the punchline of a joke. But when he realized I wasn’tughing along bwith /bhim–when he saw bthe /bsteady look in my eyes–his expression dropped. His eyebrows raised in disbelief.

“Wait… you’re not joking?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper now.

I shook my head. “Not even a little.”

“Holy fuck!” he blurted, standing up so fast the seat squeaked beneath him. His hands flew to his head in disbelief. “You’re…wait, that actually makes so much sense now! Your name is Olivia… and the way he was acting, of course! Wow!” He sat back down slowly, still stunned.

“Yeah, it’s a lot to process,” I said casually, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “But we’ve kind of passed the shock stage already. It’s old news to bus /b

now.”

Damian blinked at me. “Still, this is incredible. You’re a ke. Julian and his family… they mourned you. Everyone thought you were dead.”

I gave a faint smile. “That’s what life does sometimes. Throws unexpected reunions at you.”

Damian leaned in again, the curiosity in his eyes growing. “But wait–at least tell me something. Where’ve you been all this time? How did byou /bbsurvive/bb? /bYou can’t just drop something this huge and not tell me the story.”

bout /b

I let out a quiet sigh and looked out the ne window for a moment before turning back to him. “Honestly? There’s not much to tell. A bnice /bborphanage /btook me in. Then I got adopted by some people who turned out to be… pretty horrible. I didn’t even know I was adopted until recently, when! that Julian was my brother. So yeahb, /bthat’s how we got here.b” /b

I spoke the words like they were no big deal, like thest week hadn’t been one of the most traumatic yet life–changing periods of my life. But deep down, I knew I was still processing it all.

Damian stared at meb, /ba mix of concern and disbelief on his face. “You’re leaving out the important parts, Olivia. What happened to Mom? What happened to you guys?b” /bHe rubbed his forehead, clearly overwhelmed. “I woke up one day, and Julian was calling me from a payphone with an unknown number, sounding like a different person. I didn’t push him for answers then, but now you both show up here–with bruisesb, /bno less—and no real exnation. bI /bwas hoping you could exin that part.”

I looked at him, my expression sobering. This wasn’t something I could keep brushing off anymore. The truth needed to be /bbout /bbat /bleast bsome /bbof /bbit/bb. /b

“How about we exin everything when we get off this ne?” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m still btrying /bbto /bkeep bit /bbtogether/bb, /bbhonestly/b.

Damian gave a small nodb, /bsensing the heaviness in my wordsb. /bb“/bOkay, sureb,/bb” /bhe said gently, leaning back in his seat and bclosing /bbhis /beyes, bgiving /bme son il

bspace. /b

bJust /bthen, the ne hit a pocket of turbulence. The sudden jolt made my heart leap into my throat. Instinctively, I gripped the armrest btightly/bb, /bbmy /bknuckles turning white as the aircraft shook beneath us. I sucked in a few shaky breaths, trying not to panic. My other hand moved bprotectively /bbover /bbmy /b

stomach.

“Am guessing…” Damian’s voice cut through the tension with an attempt at lightness. “That’s not just a big lunch belly?i” /i

Despite everything, a small smile tugged at my lips. I nced down at my baby bump, which was bing more visible by the day. “No,” Freplied bsoftly/bb. /b“I’m expecting.”

His brows rose in surprise. “I didn’t know you were married.”

I turned my gaze away from him, staring out at the clouds drifting past the window. “Well… I’m no longer married,” I said, the ache in my chest bgrowing /bsharper with each word. The sting of Adrian’s betrayal still lived inside me like a wound that refused to heal.

There was a short pause before Damian spoke again, his voice softer this time. “Sorry to hear that. I just assumed you were married because–well, who in their right mind would leave you… especially in a condition like thisb?/bb” /b

I gave a sad chuckle, but there was no humor in it. “He left me like this,” I said inly. “And he did far worse than just leave. He did things I’ll never forgive him for.”

Damian didn’t try to press further. He simply nodded in quiet understanding, his eyes filled with empathy. “I’m sorry you went through that. I hope this new journey you’re on–this new chapter–helps you find peace. Helps you heal.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, offering him a small smile, even though my heart was still heavy. “I hope so toob./b”

I leaned in the soft, leather seat and let my body finally rx. It felt like I hadn’t truly rested in weeks–maybe months. Between the chaos of escapingb, /bthe trauma of what had happened, and the emotional weight I’d been carrying, my body and soul were on the brink of copse.

Closing my eyes, I allowed myself to drift off, lulled by the soft hum of the ne’s engine. Sleep for the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to let go.

came quickly, like a warm nket pulling me under, and

I hadn’t had a proper night’s rest in a long while, and theck of sleep was starting to wear on me. Not to mention, I hadn’t eaten a decent meal either. My appetite had vanished somewhere between fearb, /bstress, and heartbreak. My stomach growled asionally in protest, ibut /iI didn’t have the energy or will to feed it.

Still, there was a small spark of hope flickering in me.

I’d heard Mexico had incredible food–spicy dishes, fresh fruits, rich stews. Maybe, once we settled in and I had a moment to breathe, bI /bcould treat bmyself /bto something good. Something nourishing for me… and for the baby. A tiny slice of peace.

The thoughtforted me, even if just a little.

By ithe /itime wended in Mexico, the sun was casting a golden glow across the tarmacb. /bI looked out the window as the ne touched downb, /band bto /bbmy /bsurprise, a sense of calm washed over me.

One **

hile pre

Ever

AD

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