INFIDELITY

INFIDELITY
CHAPTER 59
Olivia;

Mr. Kingston ushered us into his office, while Wendy kept throwing worried glances my way as we walked in. The air was cool, almost too calm, and the faint ticking of the wall clock filled the silence between us.

"You don't look well, Olivia," Wendy finally spoke as we got into the office. "I'm actually kind of nervous and I don't know why." She gave a soft chuckle, though her tone carried unease.

I tried to give a reassuring smile, but my heart was pounding so hard I could almost hear it. My palms were clammy, and I had to force my fingers not to fidget in front of them.

They weren’t going to like this.

"I’m in love with your son."

Wendy blinked in confusion, her lips parting before curling into a warm smile. "Oh, that's great, honey. I’m sure Marcus loves you too."

Despite myself, the corner of my lips pulled into a half smile. God, if only it were that simple.

"No. It’s—"

"Not Marcus," Mr. Kingston interrupted. His tone was quiet but certain, like a man who already knew the ending to a story before it began. "I think she’s referring to Damon."

I blinked, caught off guard. How did he—?

"Damon?" Wendy looked at him with furrowed brows and then at me. "Damon??" she repeated, her voice rising slightly. "You’re in love with Damon? I don’t... I don’t understand..."

My gaze flickered back to Mr. Kingston. His eyes were on me, sharp and unreadable, like he could see through every layer of my soul.

How much does he know?

"And how’s my granddaughter doing?" he asked calmly. "I’ve been wondering if I’d ever get a chance to meet her in person."

The color drained from my face. I froze, every muscle in my body going stiff.

"Ho...how did you know that?" My voice came out in a whisper — trembling, shocked, completely thrown off balance.

This wasn’t how I’d planned this conversation to go. Not that I’d actually had a solid plan, but I hadn’t expected... this.

"Can someone fill me in real quick?" Wendy’s voice broke through my daze, high-pitched and shaky. "What is going on? How the hell am I totally clueless here?"

Mr. Kingston leaned back in his chair, unbothered by her tone. "Go on, Olivia," he said in that calm, gravelly voice of his. "Say what you need to say."

My head spun. I could barely make sense of any of this.

"I’m sorry," I said slowly, my eyes on him. "You... you knew about Damon and me?"

He tilted his head slightly, lips twitching in what almost looked like amusement. "Should I have said something?"

My mouth parted. I didn’t have an answer.

"You’re a grown woman, Olivia Ferguson," he continued evenly. "And you’re smart enough to figure out what you want and make the right decision."

My brows furrowed. Smart decisions? What did that even mean?

Wendy stood abruptly, looking more confused than ever. Her voice quivered, her hands gesturing helplessly as if she could physically grab hold of an explanation.

"What is going on?" she enunciated each word anxiously. "There’s something between you and Damon? Am I the only one who’s oblivious to this? And you have a child together? What the...?" She exhaled sharply. "Is that why Marcus came in angry earlier? Did he just find out as well? How long has this been going on?"

"Calm down, honey," Mr. Kingston murmured.

But Wendy shook her head, her palms raised like she was trying to stop the world from spinning too fast.

"I’m sorry, but if that’s true, then I do not understand why you led Marcus on all this while."

I stared at her in disbelief. "Led him on? Me?"

"Yes, you," she said firmly. "We know it’s an arranged marriage, but you just said you’re in love with his brother — and your wedding with Marcus is in what, three days? This is so messed up."

I shook my head, scoffing softly, the disbelief turning into frustration. "I’m sorry, Wendy, but I don’t think Marcus deserves an ounce of pity from anyone. If anything, he laid his bed, and he should lie in it."

She gave me a blank look. Mr. Kingston remained still, his fingers resting beneath his chin as he studied me — like a judge waiting for my final statement.

"As you probably already know," I gestured toward him, "Damon and I dated in the past. Years back. We have a daughter together. But we had a huge misunderstanding that tore us apart — and I never even knew he was related to you. I didn’t even know his last name then. But I love him."

Wendy’s brows knitted together. "Then why—"

"Let her finish, Wendy," Mr. Kingston said quietly.

"Like I said," I continued, my throat tight, "I had no idea he was related to Marcus. And I’d already agreed to proceed with the marriage before Damon came back. But prior to that, I tried to believe Marcus was real with me. That he was honest."
A bitter laugh slipped out. "But that wasn’t the case. The night he was rushed to the hospital... Damon was actually the one who put him there."

"What!?" Wendy gasped.

"Yeah." I nodded slowly. "Marcus spiked my drink. He and his friends tried to take advantage of me in the club that night."

Wendy’s eyes went wide as saucers. Her hands flew to her mouth, shaking her head over and over. "No, that can’t— Olivia, that’s... that’s not possible..."

I felt my throat tighten again. "It happened, Wendy. And Damon was the one who stopped it."

For a moment, silence blanketed the room — thick, heavy, suffocating.

"I didn’t plan to lay our dirty linens out like this," I added quietly, "but I can’t keep pretending. I know how this sounds — I do. But I’m asking if there’s anything that can be done. I don’t want to marry Marcus. I love Damon. I’ve always loved him. It’s only right we get married instead, isn’t it?"

Wendy looked between me and her husband, clearly battling herself. She opened her mouth, closed it, then finally spoke.

"I’m sorry, but it sounds like you’re making excuses just to be with him, which is... concerning. I mean, why now? Why wait until days before the wedding? You want to switch to the next brother — is that really what you want?"

Her words hit like a slap. I couldn’t believe it — she actually believed Marcus.

"I know how this sounds," I said through clenched teeth, "but Marcus knows everything. I have no interest in marrying a man I don’t love — especially one who’s having an affair with his own stepsister."

The air went still. Even Mr. Kingston’s expression hardened at that.

Wendy gasped audibly. "What did you just say?"