CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 83

Olivia’s POV

At first, I was completely confused, wondering if Maxwell was having some kind of memory lapse. Hadn’t he literally arrested me just yesterday? Had he somehow forgotten that little detail where he’d had me dragged off to the station and thrown in jail?

But I decided to go with the flow for peace’s sake. So I accepted being "sick" and needing to go home to rest, playing along with whatever bizarre alternate reality we’d apparently slipped into.

"Congratulations, Alex and Vanessa," I said, forcing a smile as I looked at the newly engaged couple. "I’m so happy for you both."

Alex beamed, his arm tightening around Vanessa’s waist. "Thank you so much, Oliver. I’m glad you actually made it."

Vanessa smiled politely, "Thank you for honoring our invitation, Oliver. It means a lot to me that Alex’s friends are here."

I nodded politely, not knowing what else to say.

That’s when Maxwell decided to drop his next bombshell.

"So, Oliver," he said with an infuriating smirk, "how’s your girlfriend doing? I don’t see her by your side. Did you leave her at home?"

The total nerve of this man.

Alex’s eyes widened in surprise. "Girlfriend? Oliver, when did you start dating? The last time we spoke, you were single and talking about waiting for the right one."

I opened my mouth to respond, but Maxwell beat me to it.

"Oh, he definitely found the right one," Maxwell said with a nod. "This lady was quite protective of our Oliver. Very... passionate about defending his honor."

"Really?" Alex looked genuinely thrilled. "I’m so happy for you, Oliver, and I can’t wait to meet your girlfriend."

"Actually," Maxwell continued, clearly enjoying himself, "I was thinking of inviting you and your girlfriend to dinner tomorrow night. You know, in honor of the bride and groom here."

I stilled. What!? *What the hell is wrong with this man?*

Just as I was about to give some ridiculous excuse about Kira having a sudden case of... I don’t know, bubonic plague, Gabriel’s voice cut through the conversation.

"Dinner sounds perfect," he said smoothly, stepping in to join us. "What time should we be there?"

Alex’s face lit up with genuine joy. "Gabriel! I’m so glad you made it. I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show."

Gabriel nodded, his expression neutral. "Congratulations on the engagement, Alex. And Vanessa," he added, his voice sounding strained. "I’m... very happy for you both."

The words sounded like they were being dragged out of him with pliers.

Vanessa’s cheeks flushed pink. "Thank you, Gabriel. That... that really means a lot."

The air was suddenly filled with awkward tension that it could be cut with a knife.

"You know," Maxwell cleared his throat, clearly deciding the silence needed breaking, "this reminds me of that trip we took to the lake house during our freshman year. Remember how we all..."

"No," Gabriel said flatly.

"We don’t need to..." Vanessa started at the same time.

"That was different," Alex added quickly.

Nobody smiled. Nobody laughed. We just stood there in the most uncomfortable silence known to mankind.

And that’s when the universe decided things weren’t chaotic enough yet.

"Gabriel? Gabriel Fisher?"

We all turned to see my mother approaching, her face lighting up as she spotted Gabriel in our little group.

Oh, no. No, no, no.

I didn’t even think. I just moved, slipping behind Maxwell’s large body like he was some kind of human shield.

"Mrs. Hopton!" Gabriel’s previously numb face transformed into a genuine smile. "How wonderful to see you again."

"Oh, it’s so good to see you too, dear," Mom gushed, reaching out to squeeze his arm affectionately. "Tell me, have you heard from my daughter Olivia lately?"

I pressed myself further behind Maxwell, praying to whatever gods might be listening that she wouldn’t notice me. Maxwell, to his credit, didn’t move or give me away.

"Actually, yes," Gabriel said, his voice suddenly warm and dreamy it made my stomach flip. "I can’t wait to see Olivia again. We bonded so well last time, and I’m really excited to see how things develop between us."

What the hell?

My mother clasped her hands together in delight. "Oh, how wonderful! I was hoping you two would connect. Thank God it worked out."

"Olivia’s incredible," Gabriel continued, and there was something in his voice that made me peek around Maxwell’s shoulder to look at him. "Smart, funny, beautiful... I feel like we’re going to do so well together."

Vanessa suddenly voiced out, "Gabriel, I’m so happy for..."

"It’s amazing how someone can just walk into your life and change everything," Gabriel went on, his eyes finding Vanessa’s even as he cut her off. "Makes you realize what you’ve been missing, you know?"

Oh my God. He was trying to make Vanessa jealous. Using me - or rather, his supposed relationship with me - as ammunition in whatever twisted game they were playing.

Alex looked confused, glancing between his brother and my mom. "I didn’t know you were seeing anyone."

"Yeah, it happened very recently." Gabriel replied. "Sometimes the best things happen when you least expect them."

That’s when another voice cut through the conversation.

"Well, well, what do we have here?"

We all turned to see Damien approaching with his bodyguard - Kira, no Kyle. My heart nearly stopped. God, anything could happen right now. My mother could easily identify us and everything will fall apart.

I noticed Kira also trying to hide her face as she saw my mother.

"Alex!" Damien called with a grin, his hand outstretched. "Congratulations on your engagement."

"Thank you," Alex replied proudly, accepting Damien’s outstretched hand.

"And you are?" Alex asked politely, nodding towards Kira who now looked like she wanted to disappear.

"Kyle works with me," Damien said vaguely. "Security consultant."

My mother, still focused on Gabriel, continued gushing. "Gabriel, you simply must come around for dinner. And also bring Olivia with you."

"I’d love to," Gabriel said, and I could hear the way he was playing it up, his voice getting warmer and more affectionate. "She means a great deal to me, Mrs. Hopton. More than I think she realizes."

Wow... I couldn’t believe Gabriel had been playing twisted games with me all these while. Did he even mean any of the things he’d said in the car that night?

This dude was plain cold.