Chapter 191 Olivia Encounters Alton
The next evening, Olivia sent Nora a message. She still had no idea what had happened to Nora and simply assumed Steven was away on a business trip.
Olivia: [Nora, I'm heading to the Regal City. If the container the company ordered arrives, please sign for it.]
The supplier in Regal City was unwilling to supply goods to small companies, so Olivia planned to negotiate in person.
For the past month, Olivia had been contacting her old suppliers to purchase products.
Dragging her suitcase, Olivia boarded the plane.
To her surprise, her seat was already taken—occupied by a small child traveling with a pregnant woman. Since the woman was accompanied by her whole family, the flight attendant apologetically upgraded Olivia to first class.
"Miss, this way please." She led Olivia down the aisle toward the forward cabin.
And there, in first class, was Alton. He sat composed in a dark suit, his striking features set against a cool, unreadable demeanor.
Their seats weredirectly beside each other.
For a moment, Olivia was stunned.
Alton noticed her as well. Her skin glowed with health, and the silk blouse she wore lent her an air of quiet competence laced with sensuality.
The long wavy hair, the vivid red lipstick—everything about her had changed since the divorce. The soft, gentle style of before was gone.
Her eyes—distant yet magnetic, brimming with a newfound, quiet charm—betrayed the woman who had finally broken free from an unhappy marriage.
"Mr. Bridges,” Olivia murmured, offering the faintest of smiles as she lowered herself into the seat beside him.
Alton returned a small smile of his own. "You got the divorce papers, right?"
"Yes, got them the day before yesterday."Olivia paused briefly. “It went smoothly.”
That day, when she and Willie had gone to the courthouse to get the divorce papers, Hazel had watched them the whole time, as if afraid they they might rekindle their romance.
Willie kept calling her privately. Annoyed, Olivia finally blocked him.
"Congratulations on being single again." Alton's gaze swept over her. "You look really good now."
“Thanks,” Olivia replied, her tone polite but brief.
"What are you going to Regal City for?" Alton asked. Since they were on the same flight, he already knew Olivia was traveling for business.
"Visiting a supplier." Olivia picked up an in-flight magazine and began flipping through it, clearly signaling she wasn’t interested in prolonging the conversation.
Alton was perceptive enough to take the hint and look down at his own book, and the two of them sat in companionable silence, each quietly reading.
When the plane hit turbulence, Olivia woke with a start.
She realized her head had been resting on Alton’s shoulder; she must have fallen into a deep sleep.
Startled, she sat up straight and met his gaze—he had been watching her face, his eyes dark and intense.
"Sorry,” she murmured, cheeks warming with embarrassment as she straightened her posture, suddenly very aware of the closeness between them.
"It's fine,” Alton said, looking away with a faint smile, clearly in a good mood.
"Did you ask the flight attendant to bring this blanket?" Olivia asked. A thin blanket now covered her, though she was certain she hadn’t requested one.
"Yes." Alton leaned close to talk to her, his warm breath brushing her ear. "It gets cold when you're asleep."
Olivia's body trembled slightly. She moved her head away uncomfortably. "Thanks."
When they finally deplaned, she pulled her suitcase from the overhead bin and headed out of the cabin without another word. Regal City was far colder than South City—currently 30.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
Olivia was so cold her teeth chattered uncontrollably.
Alton walked a few paces behind her. With long, easy strides, he caught up and draped his coat over her shoulders. "Here, borrow it."
Olivia glanced at him. Beneath the coat he’d just given her, he wore a perfectly tailored three-piece suit, looking elegant and distinguished.
He probably wasn't even that cold.
Olivia hesitated only a moment before pulling the coat closer around herself. "Thank you. Which hotel are you staying at? I'll have someone return it to you later."
"It's fine, I have plenty of coats like this,” Alton said casually. He truly didn’t seem to mind.
They walked together toward the airport entrance. A sleek black car waited at the curb, engine quietly idling.
Alton glanced at Olivia. "Let me give you a ride? It's already 2 AM, and you're not familiar with this city, and it’s easy to get scammed here—especially someone as beautiful as you.”
Olivia stood shivering in the biting wind, arms wrapped tightly around herself beneath his coat. She was indeed a bit nervous. At only 26, she wasn’t as experienced with late-night arrivals in unfamiliar cities as she might have liked to appear.
"Thank you then!" Olivia said, sliding into the warm car. Her long lashes trembled slightly from the lingering cold.
Alton thought she looked so pitiful like this, making him want to hold her in his arms.
"Which hotel?" he asked, voice low and steady.
"Sunrise Hotel." Olivia gave him the detailed address.
Alton leaned back against the seat, a faint smile touching his lips. "What a coincidence, I booked the Sunrise Hotel too."
The driver up front looked confused—hadn't Alton booked the five-star Silver Lining Hotel? How did it become the chain Sunrise Hotel?
"We're staying at the same hotel?" Olivia was a bit surprised.
"Yes, same hotel." Alton smiled.
"Perfect, then I can return your coat when we get to the hotel,” Olivia said. She didn’t want any further connection with him.
Alton felt a bit helpless, but he couldn't push her too hard.
When they arrived at the hotel, Olivia immediately shrugged off his coat and handed it back. "Thank you, goodbye!"
She turned and walked straight to the check-in counter without looking back.
Alton stood behind her, silently watching as she went.
If it were any other woman who had crossed paths with him like this, she would have slipped him her room key by now.
But Olivia ran from him like he was the devil, as fast as she could.
The next day, Olivia went to visit the supplier, Dina Morris, but Dina wouldn't see her.
Dina's people had called Apex Technologies Corporation and learned that the couple had divorced and Olivia had started her own small company. So the supplier refused to see her. The secretary kept her outside and told her Dina was away on business.
Olivia refused to leave and waited in the reception room all day until it got dark and too cold, then finally left.
She went to the mall to buy a coat, then called Dina's secretary. Earlier, she had secretly slipped the secretary a gift card.
The secretary told her. "Ms. Morris will be entertaining an important client at the Silver Lining Hotel tonight."
Having learned the location, Olivia hurried over by taxi.
But as soon as she entered, she ran into Hazel and Willie, who had brought a large group of relatives to dinner.
Hazel's parents and relatives all worked in Regal City. After Willie's divorce, Hazel had persuaded him to meet her parents.
Willie was here on business anyway, so he agreed.
Hazel was surrounded by relatives, wearing a bright red coat, looking just like a bride.
All the relatives from back home were complimenting her, saying she'd found such a handsome and successful man, and would be happy in the future.
Hazel's face lit up with a smile.
Yes, Willie was perfect except for being divorced, successful in his career, and now living separately from his brother. Just thinking about it made Hazel happy.
Once she married Willie, she would be the real Mrs. Reed.
She had no idea that Eleanor didn't want Willie to marry her, and Willie had no plans to marry her either.
Willie had been talking to Hazel's parents when he accidentally caught sight of Olivia in the distance. His smile froze.
His eyes fixed on her, unmoving.
After the divorce, Olivia had become so beautiful—so strikingly sexy.
"Willie, Willie..." Hazel called him. "Our number's up, we can go in to eat now."
Willie snapped back to attention. "Hazel, you take your parents in first."
Only then did Hazel notice Willie was staring at Olivia. She stood in the distance, wearing a dark coat that accentuated her great figure and long legs.
Hazel's face turned cold.
Willie walked over. "Olivia."
Olivia had already seen them but couldn't be bothered to acknowledge them, pretending not to notice.
"What are you doing in Regal City?" Willie asked, his voice low, eyes lingering on her with unmistakable longing.
“Why am I here?” Olivia replied coolly. “Isn’t it because you told Dina not to accept my orders, forcing me to come all this way in person?”
Willie shifted, guilt flickering across his face. "Our companies are separate now. If Dina doesn't want to take your orders, there's nothing I can do."
"Don't bother explaining." Willie was just a hypocrite—privately texting her sweet words every day while afraid she'd steal his business, always guarding against her.
In truth, Willie was doing this, hoping Olivia would come begging him. If Olivia would just soften toward him a bit, he could be her supplier. Then she wouldn’t have to work so hard, constantly flying back and forth to Regal City.
Willie stared at her intently and said in a low voice, "If you'd just be nicer to me, I could be your supplier. Women don't need to work so hard running around all the time."
If Olivia would just behave, he could give her some business.
Olivia said with a sneer, "Willie, were you born a jerk?"
When she was still his wife, he couldn't care less about her. Now that they were divorced, he kept pestering her.
Willie looked at her, his expression almost pleading. "After we split up, I've been really uncomfortable. I miss having you take care of me."
When Olivia was his wife, she had indeed taken care of him wholeheartedly.
But Willie had never acted like a real husband. Compared to Steven, the difference was like night and day.
That's just how the world is—some people are selfish, only caring about their own happiness, not considering their partner's feelings.
While others are very considerate of their partners.
Willie was the selfish type. Living with someone like that brings no happiness because they don't provide emotional value, only wanting others to sacrifice and give for them.
Olivia said calmly, "Willie, once was enough of a mistake. I won't make it a second time. Also, what you need is a servant—or a free prostitute—not a wife.”
After settling her family inside, Hazel immediately ran back out.
Willie and Olivia were still talking outside when Hazel’s eyes blazed with fury. She rushed forward and shoved Olivia hard.
"You bitch! Already divorced from Willie and still won't leave him alone? He's my man now. You're the homewrecker! If you dare interfere with our happiness, I'll make you pay!"
Olivia wasn’t prepared for the sudden attack and stumbled backward, falling to the ground.
"Olivia!" Willie glared at Hazel and stepped forward to help her up.
Olivia raised a hand to stop him. "Don't touch me. The only reason I've been unhappy in this life is that I knew you."
Willie's expression darkened. Hazel tried to rush forward again, but Willie grabbed her wrist in a firm grip, staring at her with cold warning. "Hazel, I'm warning you, don't you dare hit her again."
Hazel’s eyes blazed with hatred as she yanked against his hold. "Willie, did you regret divorcing her? Do you remember what you used to tell me? You said Olivia was like a dead fish, that she didn't interest you at all!"