Chapter 85 Preparing to Go Abroad
The butler froze for a moment, noticing his terrible mood. Not daring to ask more, he quickly nodded and led the other servants out of the room.
The villa instantly fell silent, so quiet that you could hear your own breathing.
Luca walked straight to the liquor cabinet, opened the door, and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. Without even bothering with a glass, he twisted off the cap and poured it directly into his mouth.
The sharp liquid slid down his throat, burning painfully, yet it cleared his muddled mind a little.
In his head, the scenes from the hospital played over and over.
Olivia, crying, said it was all because of Jason, accusing him of only knowing how to lie and delay.
The slap she landed on his face was sharp and loud, full of disappointment and hatred.
And her signature on the divorce agreement, each stroke like a cut severing every tie between them.
He thought he wouldn't care, that he might even feel relieved.
After all, it was a marriage of convenience, with no real feelings from the start.
But why did his heart hurt so much? It felt like someone was squeezing it tightly, making it hard to breathe.
He took another big gulp of whiskey, his vision starting to blur.
Every corner of the living room seemed to hold Olivia's shadow.
In the dining room, she had once prepared breakfast for him, sitting there with hopeful eyes watching him.
On the living room couch, she had curled up, waiting for him to come home late at night.
Even on the liquor cabinet, there was a bottle of fruit wine she bought last time, saying she wanted to drink a little now and then.
Back then, he thought none of this mattered, and he even found it annoying.
But now, these memories surged like a tide, suffocating him.
He remembered her when she was sick, lying in bed with a pale face, still forcing herself to tell him she was fine.
He remembered her at the company, handling work with efficiency and determination, her eyes shining with confidence.
He remembered how she stood in front of Emma to protect her.
Turns out, without him realizing, this woman had left so many marks on his heart.
He always thought he cared about Windy, about that so-called life-saving debt.
But only after losing Olivia did he realize that the one he truly cared about was the wife he had ignored for three years.
"Damn it!" Luca cursed, smashing the bottle onto the floor.
The bottle shattered, whiskey splashing everywhere, glass fragments scattering across the ground.
Looking at the mess, the anger and frustration in his heart grew stronger.
He thought of Olivia's last look at him, so cold, so final.
She must be with Jason now, right?
Jason would comfort her gently, take care of her, and treat her like a treasure.
And here he was, like an idiot, drinking and breaking things.
Jealousy gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake, driving him crazier.
He swept all the bottles off the liquor cabinet, the sound of breaking glass piercing the quiet villa.
"Olivia, you're mine! You can only be mine!" he growled, his voice hoarse, filled with obsessive possessiveness.
He couldn't lose her, absolutely not.
Divorce agreement? So what if he signed it?
As long as he didn't want it, they couldn't divorce!
He stormed out of the villa, desperate to find Olivia right away, to tell her he regretted it, that he didn't want a divorce, and that he wanted to start over with her.
At that moment, Jason was dropping Olivia off at the hotel entrance.
"Go up and rest well. I'll pick you up for breakfast tomorrow morning," Jason said.
Olivia nodded and handed him his coat. "Thanks for the coat, and for helping me today."
"No problem," Jason said, taking the coat and smiling. "Call me anytime if you need anything."
Olivia turned and walked into the hotel. Just as she reached the elevator, Jason suddenly called out, "Olivia."
She turned back to look at him.
Jason hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I'm going abroad next month for an exchange program, for about three months. I know you're not in a good place right now and don't want to stay in this city. Do you want to come with me? A change of scenery might help you clear your mind and get away from all the drama here."
Olivia paused, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.
Go abroad? Leave everything behind?
The idea was indeed tempting.
She really didn't want to stay in this city full of painful memories, didn't want to see Luca again, didn't want to hear Windy's name anymore.
A fresh start in a new place might actually help her begin again.
"The environment abroad is great. I can arrange everything for you. You can work if you want, or just relax and take it easy," Jason added. "I'm just worried about you being here alone, overthinking things, or Luca coming to bother you again."
Olivia looked into Jason's sincere eyes and made up her mind. "Okay, I'll go with you."
Her voice was soft but carried a newfound determination.
Instead of staying here, hurting and grieving, it was better to go out and see the world. Maybe she could find a new life.
Jason smiled. "Great, I'll arrange the tickets and accommodation right now."
Olivia nodded and stepped into the elevator.
As the elevator doors slowly closed and the numbers ticked up, she suddenly felt a lot lighter.
Let the past stay in the past. She wanted to live for herself this time.
Three days later.
Olivia sat at the hotel desk, opened her laptop, found the company's email, and sent the resignation letter she had prepared long ago.
As soon as she hit send, she didn't feel any regret—just pure relief.
Vettel Group, the place that once filled her with hope but ended in disappointment, was finally something she could say goodbye to.
She shut down the laptop and packed her last few things.
Her suitcase was small, holding just a few changes of clothes and some essentials.
She didn't want to take anything related to Luca, not a single thing.
At the hotel entrance, Jason was already waiting, holding two plane tickets.
"All set?" Jason asked.
"All set," Olivia nodded, a faint smile on her face.
In these three days, Luca hadn't come looking for her. Maybe he regretted it, maybe he was still angry, but none of that mattered anymore.
She just wanted to leave this place and start a new life.
"Let's go, it's time to head out," Jason said with a smile, taking her suitcase.
Olivia nodded and followed him toward the airport.
The sunlight fell on her, warm and comforting.
She looked up at the sky, so blue, not a single cloud in sight.
Just like her future, finally free from the shadows of the past, shining bright.
She knew the road ahead was still long, and there might be challenges, but she was no longer the Olivia who only revolved around Luca, who only knew how to compromise.
She would live for herself, live brilliantly, live freely.
As for Luca, as for that failed marriage, let them stay in this city, never to be looked back on.
The airport announcement sounded, reminding them to board.
Olivia followed Jason toward the gate, her steps firm, without a trace of hesitation.
A new life had begun.