Chapter 56 Hope Hurts
Olivia was exhausted, but she managed a faint smile for everyone. "Alright, you guys go back to work. No need to get upset over my issues."
After calming her team down, Olivia turned and headed to the restroom.
Sitting on the toilet, Olivia let out a deep breath. Once she composed herself, she stood up to leave, but then she heard sobbing from outside.
Another woman's voice was offering comfort. "It's okay, Amy. Olivia really crossed the line this time. Don't worry, I won't forget how she treated you. I'll make sure she learns her lesson."
It was Windy's voice.
Olivia froze for a moment, a cold smirk forming in her mind.
Just moments ago, Windy had apologized publicly, but it was all an act for others to see.
This was Windy's true colors.
Without giving them any face, Olivia flung open the stall door and walked out.
Outside, Amy was leaning on the sink, wiping her tears. Windy stood in front of her, gently dabbing at Amy's face, looking caring and considerate.
The door behind them suddenly swung open, startling both of them.
Windy looked up and saw Olivia. Her body stiffened, and her expression turned awkward.
"Nice." Olivia pushed past them and went to the sink to wash her hands. "Go ahead, keep plotting how to deal with me. I'm game."
Windy quickly adjusted her expression, trying to explain, "Olivia, you've misunderstood. I was just comforting Amy since we're close…"
Olivia cut her off, turning her gaze to Amy. "Comforting her by promising to teach me a lesson? That's a special kind of comfort."
Amy felt guilty under Olivia's stare, but the anger of losing her job surged up inside her.
As Olivia finished washing her hands and started to leave, Amy rushed to the restroom door, blocking her way. "Olivia, it's your fault I lost my job! Go to Luca right now and tell him to keep me, or I won't let this go!" Amy's tone was aggressive and unreasonable.
Olivia sneered, "You lost your job because of what you said and did. You embarrassed me in front of an important partner. That's on you. Now get out of my way!"
Amy was at a loss for words. Then she remembered what Windy had told her in private—Olivia wasn't feeling well and was on sick leave. A vicious thought popped into Amy's head. Since she'd already lost her job, why not get even?
Olivia tried to walk past Amy to return to her office.
"Olivia, stop right there!" Amy chased after her and suddenly reached out, grabbing at Olivia's hair with force.
Olivia reacted quickly, dodging to the side to avoid Amy's hand, then raised her own hand to slap Amy across the face.
Smack!
The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the hallway.
Amy's head jerked to the side, a red mark instantly appearing on her cheek. Screaming, she lunged forward and grabbed Olivia's hair tightly.
"Ah!" Olivia winced in pain as her scalp burned, tilting her head back.
"Stop! Break it up!" Windy finally rushed over, looking like she was trying to pull Amy away, but her hands subtly pushed Olivia instead.
Soon, people outside heard the commotion and ran over. They were stunned to see the three of them tangled in a fight.
"Pull them apart!"
"What's going on? Why are they fighting?"
The scene turned chaotic.
Olivia's scalp throbbed as Amy yanked at her hair. Struggling, she raised her elbow and struck backward at Amy.
"Ah!" Amy screamed in pain and stumbled back a few steps.
She crashed right into Windy.
Windy was standing near the stairwell. The impact threw her off balance, and she fell backward.
"Windy!"
"Watch out for the stairs!"
Under everyone's horrified stares, Windy tumbled down the stairs, finally crashing at the landing and lying motionless.
Everyone froze.
Amy was stunned, standing rigid in place.
Urgent footsteps approached from outside the crowd.
Luca arrived after hearing the noise and immediately spotted Olivia on the stairs. Her hair was a mess, and she was leaning against the wall, breathing heavily.
Luca's heart tightened. He rushed to her side, grabbed her shoulders, and asked anxiously, "Are you hurt? Who hit you?"
His eyes dropped to her neck, noticing finger marks as if someone had grabbed her. His face darkened instantly.
Olivia was taken aback.
His first concern was for her, not Windy.
But before she could process it, panicked shouts came from below. "Windy's bleeding! There's so much blood!"
Luca's grip on Olivia's shoulders loosened. He turned to look down the stairs, where a crowd had already gathered.
Instinctively, he started to move, but then he heard a faint, cold laugh behind him.
Olivia found it almost funny. So, he hadn't noticed her first—he just hadn't realized Windy was hurt too. Between the two of them, Luca's first choice was still Windy.
Luca paused. He turned back and saw the mocking smile on Olivia's face. Her hair was disheveled, but her eyes were calm.
For some reason, Luca felt a heavy sinking in his chest. He hesitated, then reached out awkwardly to tuck a stray strand of hair behind Olivia's ear.
"Stay here. Don't move," he said in a low, soothing voice. "I'll check on her. I'll take you to the hospital after."
With that, Luca turned and headed down the stairs toward Windy, who was surrounded by the crowd.
Olivia stood on the steps, staring at his back as he walked toward another woman. A coldness spread from her heart through her entire body.
She was always the one left behind. It was painfully clear who mattered more to Luca.
At the stairwell, Windy lay with her eyes closed. Blood trickled from her forehead down her cheek, staining her white collar. She looked badly injured.
She lay still, seemingly unconscious.
"Windy!" Luca rushed to her side, kneeling to check on her.
He frowned, then snapped at the stunned assistant nearby, "Call an ambulance now!"
The assistant fumbled for their phone to dial for help.
Luca tried to lift Windy, but realized she was completely out cold.
Amy, crying nearby, shouted, "It's Olivia! Olivia pushed Windy down!"
Everyone's eyes turned to Olivia, filled with shock and blame.
Luca paused as if he hadn't heard Amy, then bent down and picked Windy up. "Move!"
Holding Windy, he quickly pushed through the crowd that parted for him, heading toward the elevator.
From the moment he went downstairs to when he stepped into the elevator, Luca didn't look back at Olivia even once.
Olivia leaned against the wall, quietly watching him carry another woman away as the elevator doors closed.
The murmurs around her were loud, but she couldn't make out the words. All she could see was Luca's back as he left without turning around.
Her scalp ached terribly, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.
Some hopes should never have been held in the first place.
She took a deep breath, ignored the stares around her, and walked away silently.
Back at the project department, the atmosphere was heavy. Noticing Olivia's messy hair, her colleagues cast worried glances her way.
A coworker whispered to comfort her, "Olivia, don't be too upset. None of us believes you pushed her. It must've been an accident…"
"Thanks," Olivia cut her off, her voice steady. "I'm not feeling well. I'm heading out."
She grabbed her bag and left the company.
Whether others believed her or not, she didn't care anymore. Luca probably already thought she was the one who hurt Windy.
Olivia walked to the roadside to hail a cab when her phone rang.
It was Jason.
"Olivia? Why didn't you show up? Today was your third nebulizer treatment," Jason said gently.
Olivia then remembered that with everything going on these past few days, she'd completely forgotten her appointment. "Sorry, Jason, I got held up with something."
Jason immediately sensed something was off in her tone.
"If you're free now, come straight to the hospital. I'll wait for you."