Chapter 503 The Lethality of Intimate Forms of Address

Chapter 503 The Lethality of Intimate Forms of Address

It was during her chat with Bianca that Olivia learned she had been set up while trying to save Bianca, which led to her current condition.

Watching Bianca being so well-behaved, giving her massages and wanting to tell her stories, Olivia couldn't help thinking that Bianca was truly precious. Someone like Bianca was worth risking her life for.

The mother and daughter chatted on the bed for quite a while. It was getting late, and Bianca, exhausted, started yawning.

But she didn't want to leave Olivia's side. In the end, while still talking, she fell asleep nestled in Olivia's arms.

When Andrew saw this, he bent down, wanting to carry Bianca away. "Olivia, let me take Bianca. I'll bring her to sleep next door."

Olivia shook her head and said, "No need, just let her sleep beside me. Having her here makes me feel more at ease."

Just as Bianca didn't want to leave, Olivia didn't want to be separated from her either.

"Okay." Andrew didn't insist. Whatever she wanted, he was willing to go along with. "Then you two sleep together, and I'll watch over you both from the side."

Olivia nodded. After a brief hesitation, she said softly, "Thank you for everything, honey."

As soon as those words came out, Andrew froze completely, as if he couldn't believe it. "What did you just call me?"

Olivia looked at him puzzled. "Honey? Is there something wrong?"

Andrew didn't respond, but his deep eyes showed intense emotion.

She had no idea what that word did to him.

When she said it, her voice was soft and warm, with a hint of playfulness that made the usually composed Andrew's throat tighten.

In that moment, he felt like he could give her everything.

Originally, Andrew didn't want to scare her away.

But now, he couldn’t stop himself.

He lifted her chin and leaned in.

As his shadow fell over her, Olivia froze in place until a warm kiss landed on her lips.

The cool, pleasant scent of cedar from Andrew filled her nose, and her mind went blank.

He... was kissing her?

Olivia had no idea how to react. She could only let him deepen the kiss.

But strangely, she didn't find this feeling unpleasant at all.

instead, something familiar stirred deep in her bones.

Olivia slowly closed her eyes and leaned into him, responding without realizing it.

When the kiss ended, both were breathing unevenly.

Andrew's gaze remained tender, and Olivia felt like she was drowning in such tenderness.

Though he was usually aloof and refined, his reddened lips glistening with moisture revealed desire, making Olivia's heart flutter.

Only then did she fully realize what they had just done.

Olivia's face flushed red with embarrassment as she quickly pushed Andrew away.

She had actually kissed a man she couldn't remember?

Although he had initiated the kiss, Olivia couldn't deny that she hadn't refused—she had even responded.

How could this happen?

Olivia's face burned red, her emotions in turmoil, not daring to look at Andrew.

Andrew naturally noticed her shyness. He chuckled softly and answered her earlier question. "You didn't call me wrong. You can call me that from now on."

His tone somehow carried a coaxing quality.

Olivia felt she was overthinking it.

Then again, she felt her instinct was right.

Just calling him that intimately once made him lose control and kiss her so intensely—if she called him that a few more times, who knows how much more he'd lose control.

Though Olivia was a bit curious, she didn't want to experience it right now.

It was getting late, and Andrew didn't tease her further. "Get some rest. Good night."

"Okay, good night."

Olivia nodded and quickly buried herself under the covers.

Andrew smiled gently, said nothing more, then dimmed the bedside lamp and moved to keep watch from the nearby sofa.

As drowsiness came over her, Olivia drifted off to sleep.

Over the next two days, Olivia's condition gradually stabilized.

Although she still couldn't remember anything, at least she wasn't getting headaches all the time.

Developing the antidote wasn't something that could be done quickly.

Even with Rodolfo personally working on it, it was the same.

So on the third day, Rodolfo told Andrew to take Olivia home to care for her.

After all, compared to the research facility's medical room, home would definitely be more comfortable.

And being in a familiar environment would be more helpful for Olivia's memory recovery.

Andrew had no objections and quickly brought Olivia home.

Meanwhile, at the Johnson Group.

Michael had returned to the country.

Although he'd rushed back as quickly as possible, the Johnson Group's losses were still huge.

The situation with the Martinez family was especially serious, people were being detained and investigated.

Many of the Martinez Group's projects were forced to halt. Whether they could proceed in the short term would depend on the results of the official investigation.

They were probably finished.

The Martinez family's bankruptcy was just a matter of time.

Others might not see it clearly, but Michael understood perfectly.

The Martinez family's funds were all tied up in those key projects.

The longer it dragged on, the worse the outcome.

Even the Johnson Group couldn't save them.

As for Chase.

When Robert reported, his tone was helpless. "Chase's situation can't be suppressed. The public outcry online is too big—almost everyone knows what he did. The court has probably been contacted too; procedures are moving very fast. The Johnson Group's lawyers tried to bail Chase out first, but there's no room to maneuver."

To put it bluntly, Chase really had no hope of getting out of this unscathed.

After hearing Robert's report, Michael closed his eyes, hiding the dark emotions within.

Andrew's ruthless tactics were truly fierce!

They'd caught his side completely off guard.

However, fortunately, despite this incident causing the Johnson Group's stock to plummet, it was still Emerald City's top family.

The Johnson family's foundation ran deep. Under Michael’s management, he'd run everything well. After all these years, the Johnson family wasn't so easily shaken.

Michael was an excellent businessman who knew how to weigh pros and cons.

The first thing he did after returning was to immediately cut all cooperation with the Martinez Group.

It was precisely because of his decisive action that the Johnson Group wasn't dragged down by the Martinez family, salvaging some losses.

The Johnson Group's shareholders also approved of his decision.

But the Martinez family wasn't having it.

That evening, when Michael returned home, he saw Amelia and several Martinez family elders there.

The atmosphere in the hall was rather gloomy.

At the sight of him, Elliott and his wife Opal Martinez looked displeased.

"Grandfather and Grandmother, what brings you here? You should have told me in advance. Will you stay for dinner tonight?"

Michael spoke casually, as if unaware of their purpose.

His attitude only fueled Elliott’s anger.

He pounded his cane on the floor, scolding him sharply. "You don't need to play dumb in front of your own family. I know the Martinez family is in big trouble this time, but that's your uncle! How can you not help him? And you cut ties immediately, Michael, that’s betrayal!"
Elliott's son had been taken by the police. Instead of enjoying retirement, he had to step in and to hold things together.

He'd thought he could rely on Michael to stabilize the Martinez Group.

But instead, he got news of Michael cutting ties.

Seeing that Elliott had stated his purpose plainly, Michael stopped pretending. His tone was cold as he replied, "You also know the Martinez Group is in big trouble this time. We can't let the Johnson family get dragged down too, right? Besides, Grandfather, you hid those things from me. If I hadn't acted decisively, the Johnson Group would have been implicated as well."

Elliott knew he was in the wrong and could only soften his tone, continuing to persuade. "But our two families are ultimately one. Your uncle watched you grow up and loved you so much. You can't be so cold."

Michael interrupted him. "Since we're one family, then accept the current outcome. Only by protecting the Johnson Group is there any possibility of turning things around."

Elliott was left speechless, his face flushing with anger.

Amelia, who had been crying quietly, finally spoke up., "What about Chase? You won't help him either? Chase is also part of the Johnson family—you have to protect him!"

At the mention of Chase, Michael's mood grew even more irritable.

"There's no way to help him. Don't you all know this better than I do? There's no room to maneuver. The Johnson family has been disgraced because of him, stock prices plummeted, we've lost so much—I haven't even settled accounts with him yet. Now, we can only try to find a good lawyer to reduce his sentence."

Amelia nearly choked with anger.

Chase's whole life was ruined!

"Why did everything turn out this way?"

She collapsed onto the sofa, suddenly cursing like hysterically. "It's all Olivia's fault! That jinx! Ever since she came to the Johnson family, she's caused nothing but chaos. She's a jinx! A disaster! She's so ungrateful, and you still think about her. Now Chase is ruined too! I'm telling you, from now on, she's not allowed to step foot in the Johnson family again!"

She cursed loudly like a madwoman, completely losing the composure a wealthy family's lady should have.

Robert couldn't help twitching at her words.

He was too lazy to remind her that Olivia didn't care about the Johnson family at all.

If the Johnson family hadn't provoked her this time, Olivia wouldn't have even returned to Emerald City.

Ultimately, the disaster that befell both families was caused by them.

And yet, instead of reflecting on themselves, they had the nerve to blame everything on her.