Chapter 2 The Third Party's Provocation
Olivia propped herself up, the clear bite mark on her shoulder still dark and bruised.
She walked to the living room, picked up the agreement, and looked over the terms.
The terms were generous—several properties and a hefty trust fund, enough to let her live extravagantly for the rest of her life.
Luca had indeed tried his best to meet her demands.
He probably thought money could buy off these three years, allowing him to move on to his "little sister" without any guilt.
Fine, let it be.
Ten years of secret love, three years of marriage—it was time to wake up.
Luca stood not far away, watching her. When he saw her pick up the pen, his eyes darkened.
"I told you, we'll divorce after the family gathering," he said lazily, snatching the agreement from her hand. "You're pretty eager to cut ties with me."
Olivia laughed. "Aren't you just as eager to finalize this agreement?"
Luca stepped closer, his deep blue eyes piercing. "Last night…"
"Nothing happened last night," Olivia cut him off. "Just normal adult needs. No need to feel burdened. I'll sign the agreement, take the money, and we're done."
"Done?" Luca tasted a strange bitterness on his tongue.
His gaze swept over the faint red marks on her neck, and an unexplained irritation surged within him.
"I'll move out," Olivia said.
"Not so fast. Until the gathering next month is over, you'd better stay here," Luca said coldly. "Linus is really focused on our marriage. I still have to deal with the family elders, and I don't want any surprises."
Olivia smirked. "Afraid my acting skills aren't good enough, that I'll slip up and ruin the public image you're building for you and Windy's upcoming happy news?"
"Olivia!" Luca's voice deepened. "I've told you, don't drag Windy into this. She has nothing to do with what's between us."
Olivia found his words absurd. "Besides this divorce paper, what else is there between us?"
Luca's jaw tightened. After a long pause, he said stiffly, "Anyway, until the family gathering is over, you stay here. After that, do whatever you want." With that, he turned and left.
For the next two weeks, Luca rarely came home.
Even when he did, it was usually late at night, and they barely saw each other.
But Olivia's phone kept receiving messages about him.
For instance, a photo of Luca and Windy having dinner at a fancy restaurant. Windy was smiling brightly in the picture, with a caption: [Luca said the steak here is great, so he brought me to try it. Dear, aren't you lonely eating alone at home?]
Another was a photo from a private theater box, with a message: [Thanks to Luca for coming with me to see the ballet. He said I dance better than the lead dancer on stage.]
Then there was a picture of shopping bags piled in the back of a luxury car, captioned: [I accidentally tore my skirt, and Luca insisted on buying me a new one.]
Olivia blocked one number, only for another to pop up soon after.
She knew this was Windy showing off, telling her in this way: Look, you fool, the man you've held onto for three years now belongs to me.
Olivia felt a wave of nausea. Unable to hold it in, she covered her mouth and rushed to the bathroom, vomiting until she felt dizzy.
The frequent vomiting lately made Olivia suspicious of her condition. She grabbed her bag and headed straight to the hospital.
The check-up was quick. The doctor handed her the results with a smile. "Congratulations, Mrs. Vettel, you're pregnant."
Olivia's mind went blank.
Damn it! This was such overwhelming news.
Pregnant after just one night?
The timing of the pregnancy couldn't be worse.
In their three years of marriage, she had always wanted a child with Luca, but he had never been willing to have sex with her.
Now, with their marriage about to end, she was pregnant.
Leaving the consultation room, Olivia walked down the hallway in a daze, her mind wrestling with thoughts.
Keep the baby, or get an abortion?
Keeping it meant the child might grow up in a loveless family.
Abortion…
Her fingertips trembled slightly, crumpling the report in her hand.
Lost in thought, a familiar tall figure suddenly came into view.
Luca.
He was standing in the waiting area near the gynecology department.
Olivia froze. Why was he here?
The next second, the door to a nearby consultation room opened, and Windy walked out, holding some papers.
Olivia stood rooted to the spot, her face pale.
Was Windy pregnant? Was that why Luca was so eager to divorce her?
At that moment, Luca noticed her.
Their eyes met, and he clearly froze too.
He quickly strode over, concern in his eyes. "Why are you at the hospital? Are you unwell?"
Olivia clenched the report tightly in her palm, holding back tears. "What, you can be here, but I can't? Do you own this hospital?"
Luca's face darkened at her sharp tone, but his gaze stayed on her. "You look terrible. Why didn't you tell me you were sick?"
He reached out to touch her forehead, but Olivia stepped back sharply. "I don't need your concern. You should worry more about the person behind you."
Windy pretended not to hear, walking over and asking, "Olivia? What a coincidence. Are you here to see a doctor, too? Are you okay?"
"Does it concern you?" Olivia looked at her coldly. "Windy, drop the fake concern. It makes me sick."
Windy's eyes instantly teared up as she leaned closer to Luca for support. "Luca, I was just worried about her…"
"Olivia, don't go too far." Luca frowned, his tone harsh. "Apologize to Windy."
"Apologize? Why should I apologize? You're so eager to ditch me for a mistress, and I haven't even asked for an apology from you two!" Olivia laughed, her eyes stinging with tears. "Luca Vettel, as long as we're not divorced, showing up with her in any public place makes her a disgusting homewrecker! Do I need to call the reporters to help you see that clearly?"
"You!" Luca's temple throbbed with anger.
Olivia ignored him and walked away.
Back in her car, she locked herself in the confined space.
Unable to hold back any longer, she gripped the steering wheel, buried her face in it, and let the tears flow uncontrollably.
After some time, her phone buzzed.
It was her best friend, Emma.
Olivia wiped her tears, steadied her breathing, and answered.
"Liv! Did you see the news? That jerk Luca and that witch Windy are in the gossip columns again! Do they have any shame?" Emma's fiery voice came through.
"Emma, I was just about to tell you… Luca and I are getting a divorce."
There was a two-second silence on the other end, followed by an even louder outburst. "Holy crap! I've always said that cold-hearted jerk doesn't deserve you. Congrats, babe, you're finally getting out of this mess!"
"Emma."
"Yeah? What's up, babe?"
"I'm pregnant."
"…What the heck?!" Emma thought she had misheard. "It's Luca's?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, honey, that's terrible news. So, what are you gonna do? Tell him?"
Olivia didn't answer. She looked outside and saw Luca helping Windy into the passenger seat of his car, gently shielding her head with his hand as she got in.
That kind of tenderness was something she hadn't experienced in their three years of marriage.
A cold, dull pain gripped her heart.
"No," Olivia gripped her phone tightly, her voice resolute. "I won't tell him. I'm not keeping this baby."