CHAPTER 141: THE SECRET LOVER

"Don’t forget," Olivia said coldly, "I already have someone I love. And we’ve made up. We’re getting married soon. Whatever was between us—it should end now."

Aiden let out a low, mocking laugh. "End? Olivia, when you got together with me, it was only to make yourself famous and crush Sophia under your heel. And now you’re talking about ending things? You really think it’s that simple?

"I do like you—a lot, actually—but if you’re serious about cutting ties, fine. I only have one condition: sleep with me ten more times."

Olivia froze, disbelief flashing across her face. "What did you just say? Ten times?"

"Yeah," he said casually. "I invested money in you, didn’t I? I pulled strings, made calls, got you all those connections. You think you can just walk away now, like none of that happened?

"Without me, you wouldn’t have landed that variety show, let alone the new drama I just lined up for you. The role’s perfect for you—it’ll put you right back in the spotlight."

Olivia’s brows drew together. She knew every word he said was true.

If she refused him, things could get ugly fast.

She needed him right now—his network, his money, his influence.

But if she turned her back on him completely, it would end in disaster for them both.

Still... Ethan...

"I know what you’re thinking," Aiden said smoothly. "You’re worried about Ethan, right? Don’t. He’s tangled up with Sophia now—there’s no way he’ll come out clean.

"On the surface, the Trump family fortune looks steady, maybe even growing. But I’ve already heard whispers—Hilton Group has started moving against them. Sophia’s not going to spare anyone."

Olivia’s eyes widened. "What? She’s targeting Ethan too?"

Aiden smirked. "Isn’t it obvious? You think she doesn’t know what you two did? Otherwise how would I know?

"Look, I’m not here to stop you from being with him. You can keep your romance—do whatever you want in public. I just want you. Be with him if you must, and be my secret lover on the side."

He said it so plainly that Olivia’s stomach turned. He didn’t want love, or partnership—just possession.

Aiden was in his forties, but his appetite hadn’t dulled. And Olivia—beautiful, ambitious, fiery—fit every one of his tastes perfectly.

He thought of her as a prize, something far better than the controlling wife waiting for him at home.

"I... I can’t," she whispered. "I won’t do it."

Aiden leaned closer, his tone dark and certain. "Oh, you will. You just haven’t accepted who you are yet.

"You want to destroy Sophia, don’t you? And the only one who can help you is me. You really think Ethan can? He’s sinking fast—barely keeping his own head above water.

"But go ahead. Wait. You’ll see I’m right."

Every word hit her like a hammer. He wasn’t lying. He never lied about things like this.

And the truth was, she couldn’t afford to lose his support—not now.

Olivia shut her eyes, her hand loosening from his wrist—a silent surrender.

Aiden’s grin widened, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "That’s my girl. Smart and realistic. Don’t worry, sweetheart—I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of."

—Hilton Group Headquarters.

Lucas stared at the contract in front of him, his sharp eyes narrowing before he finally shut the folder. Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes and asked in a low, steady voice, "How’s the acquisition going?"

Alex immediately responded, "We’ve secured forty percent already, sir. Another ten percent, and the Trump Family’s company will be completely under our control."

Lucas’s tone darkened. "And how many days has it been? Why is it taking this long?"

"Mr. Hilton," Alex said cautiously, "we’ve been following your exact orders—to make sure they don’t find out. So we’ve had to move quietly, one step at a time."

Lucas didn’t reply. His expression was unreadable, but his silence was heavy.

After a pause, Alex ventured, "Mr. Hilton... are you doing all this because of Mrs. Hilton?"

Lucas’s eyes snapped open, glinting coldly. "Since when did you start talking so much? My woman was bullied. You think I’d just stand by and watch?"

Alex smirked faintly. "Knew it. You can’t stand to see the boss lady suffer. But to be fair, the Trump Family really is slow to react. We’ve been buying up their assets for days, and they still haven’t noticed a thing.

Can you imagine their faces when the head of the Trump Family realizes some of their people sold off company shares just to pocket extra cash?"

Lucas’s tone stayed calm, but the danger in his voice was unmistakable. "Don’t celebrate too early. You’re still too slow.

I’m giving you three days—if the last ten percent isn’t done by then, dissolve the entire team and hire a new one."

Alex blinked, stunned. Harsh, even for Lucas. Then again, this was Lucas Hilton—he’d never tolerated inefficiency.

"What about the Wrights?" Lucas asked. "Any movement from the Wright Family?"

Alex straightened. "Mr. Hilton, do you remember Brody from City A?"

Lucas nodded once. "The pharmaceutical tycoon?"

"Yes, sir. He’s been getting close to the Wrights lately. Last I heard, they’re cooking something up together—probably targeting us."

Lucas’s mind flickered to what Ryan had mentioned—the Wrights were plotting something. He hadn’t known the details, but clearly, it wasn’t just a rumor.

Still, he couldn’t help but scoff. "Let them try. They’re overestimating themselves. Annoying as gnats—too small to threaten me, but still worth swatting."

He leaned forward, his voice low. "Find Brody’s biggest rival. Bring them in."

Alex nodded instantly. "Understood, sir. Leave the rest to me.

Oh—by the way, I heard Mrs. Hilton might be going out of town in a few days."

Lucas’s brows shot up. "She’s going where? And why don’t I know about it?"

Alex froze. He had no idea how to answer that without digging his own grave.

Lucas’s tone dropped to a deadly calm. "Speak. What are you hiding from me? You know something I don’t? Then you’d better give me an explanation so convincing I won’t feel the urge to kill you."

A clear, bone-chilling threat.

"Boss, you’ve got it all wrong! I’d never keep secrets from you! I’m just a loyal, hard-working man trying to survive under your leadership—living every day in pure terror! You can’t threaten me like this!"

"Three seconds," Lucas said evenly. "Explain."

"I—I ran into Mrs. Hilton by accident! She was meeting someone, said she’d be traveling in a few days!"

He blurted it out so fast it barely took three seconds.

Lucas raised an eyebrow, lips curving into a cold smile. "You’d better not be lying to me. Otherwise..."

He flexed his fingers.

Crack. Crack. The sound of his knuckles snapping echoed through the office like a warning shot.