Chapter 272

His sudden appearance sent shockwaves through the room.

Margaret Whitmore recovered first. Seeing her potential son-in-law Dominic slipping away, she immediately latched onto Ethan instead.

"Ethan, darling! Olivia has been talking about you nonstop. There's just been a silly misunderstanding between you two. You should really sort it out now!"

She continued eagerly, "The thing is, Olivia was so young and inexperienced back then. She didn't understand real love—"

"Mother!" Olivia Sinclair cut her off sharply, humiliation burning her cheeks. Both men who once adored her now wanted nothing to do with her. If her mother kept groveling like this, she'd lose every ounce of dignity.

Dominic remained unfazed. He casually clapped Ethan on the shoulder. "I'll leave this to you. I trust you'll handle it... appropriately."

His calm demeanor made Ethan look like the runaway groom instead.

Ethan didn't waste time. "Olivia, can we speak privately?"

She bit her lip and nodded coquettishly. "For you? Always."

Once inside the private ward, Ethan shut the door firmly. When Olivia tried closing the distance between them, he took three large steps back.

"You nearly drowned," he said coolly. "You should be resting."

The rejection stung. Olivia retreated to her bed, but when she met Ethan's gaze, she saw unexpected warmth there.

"So you're not completely heartless after all," she observed. "I still matter to you, don't I?"

"Of course you do," Ethan admitted frankly. "You were someone I loved deeply. One of my closest confidantes. I'm not made of stone—you'll always be important to me."

"Were? Loved?" Olivia's bitter smile couldn't mask her anguish. "Sometimes I wish you'd never loved me at all. This pain of losing you... it's unbearable."

The memory of his love made its absence excruciating.

Ethan rubbed his temples in frustration. When had the strong, independent Olivia Sinclair become this lovesick shadow of herself?

"Enough," he said sharply. "Dwelling on the past will only ruin what's left between us. Do you want to destroy even our friendship?"

"So that's it?" Tears spilled down Olivia's cheeks as her composure shattered. "Even though we're both free now, there's no chance for us?"

"None," Ethan stated firmly, holding her gaze. "My feelings are gone. Whether you marry Dominic or not—it doesn't concern me."

The words shattered Olivia's heart. But this time, no suicidal thoughts followed.

'Men aren't worth dying for,' she thought bitterly.

Wiping her tears, she composed herself. "If you don't care, why bother coming here?"

Ethan got straight to the point. "Just answer me one thing—did Vivian really push you?"

Olivia's tearful expression transformed instantly. She burst into hysterical laughter, as if hearing the world's funniest joke.

Ethan's frown deepened. "What the hell is so funny?"