Chapter 65 Keep Your Thoughts to Yourself
Olivia didn't notice that the door was locked. After a tiring day, all she wanted was a shower.
As for Luca? She couldn't care less where he was.
Luca tried the doorknob a hundred times, but it wouldn't budge.
It seemed Grandpa was dead set on trapping them together, forcing them to patch things up.
At that moment, the sound of running water came from the bathroom. Luca instinctively glanced over.
Warm steam drifted out through the crack under the door, carrying the faint scent of body wash—the same scent as Olivia's.
Luca swallowed hard, his eyes uncontrollably drifting toward the bathroom.
Through the frosted glass, he could vaguely make out Olivia's silhouette—her slim waist, her long legs.
Memories of their first time together flashed in his mind, and a strange heat stirred in his body.
He lost in thought for a long moment before finally snapping out of it. He got up, unable to stop himself from heading toward the bathroom.
But just then, the door opened. Olivia stepped out in a bathrobe, her wet hair dripping with water.
The neckline of her robe was slightly loose, revealing a glimpse of her delicate collarbone. Water droplets slid down her neck and disappeared under the fabric. Luca felt his mouth go dry.
"Why are you still here?" Olivia frowned when she saw him, her tone wary.
"The door's locked. I can't leave," Luca said, setting down his phone, his gaze openly fixed on her. "You know what Grandpa's trying to do."
Olivia didn't respond. She grabbed a towel to dry her hair, deliberately keeping her distance. She could feel Luca's stare, like a burning flame, making her uncomfortable all over.
"Had enough of staring?" Olivia turned around, glaring at him coldly. "Luca, keep your thoughts to yourself. We're just putting on a show for Grandpa."
Luca stood up and walked toward her step by step, his tall figure radiating an intense pressure.
"A show?" He reached out, his fingertips almost brushing her cheek, but Olivia turned her head to dodge. "If it's just a show, why didn't you lock the bathroom door?"
Olivia frowned. Was Luca out of his mind?
"I forgot," she said, stepping back until her back hit the wall, with nowhere else to go.
Luca leaned down, his nose almost touching her forehead, his warm breath brushing against her face. "Forgot? Or were you actually hoping for something?"
He braced his hand against the wall, trapping her in his arms, his deep eyes filled with undisguised desire.
Olivia's heart raced, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Luca, don't push it."
"Push it?" Luca chuckled, his voice husky. "We're husband and wife. Even if it's just an act, isn't it normal to do what couples do?"
His hand slid down the edge of her robe, brushing against her warm skin.
Olivia shivered and shoved him away hard. "You're shameless!"
"Shameless?" Luca grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.
"Let go of me!" Olivia struggled, the tie of her robe loosening, exposing a large patch of skin.
Luca's gaze darkened, and he leaned down to kiss her.
Olivia's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Do you think I'm easy to bully? That no matter how you treat me, I won't fight back? Or is it because Windy's not around, and you can't help but look for someone to take it out on?"
Her words hit like a bucket of cold water, dousing half of Luca's desire.
He stopped, seeing the mockery in Olivia's eyes, a strange tightness gripping his chest. "I told you, there's nothing going on with Windy!"
Olivia adjusted her robe, her expression still icy. "You don't need to explain anything to me."
Taking advantage of his momentary daze, she pushed him away with force. Luca opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
Olivia looked at his speechless expression, a bit surprised. The old Luca never backed down like this. Right or wrong, he'd always push until the end. But today, just because of her words, he actually reined in his temper?
"Sleep on the couch," Olivia said without pressing further. She turned, walked to the bed, lay down, and faced away from him.
Luca sat on the couch, staring at Olivia's back, his emotions a tangled mess.
Meanwhile, Windy waited at home for a long time, but Luca never showed up.
She called him several times, but no one answered.
A strong sense of unease surged in her chest. Ever since Olivia quit, Luca had been acting more and more off. He was getting more distant with her every day.
"No, I can't let this go on," Windy clenched her fists, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes. She couldn't lose Luca or everything she had now. Olivia had to disappear for good!
Windy took out her phone and dialed an unfamiliar number.
"Hey, it's me," she said, her voice carrying a harsh edge, completely unlike her usual gentle tone.
The next morning, when Olivia woke up, Luca was no longer on the couch.
She walked out of the room and saw Luca downstairs in the living room, talking with Grandpa. The atmosphere seemed pretty good.
"You're up? Come have breakfast," Linus said with a smile, waving her over. "I had the kitchen make your favorite sandwich today."
Olivia walked over and sat down. Luca handed her a cup of hot milk.
"Thanks," Olivia said softly, taking the cup without looking at him. Her fingers touched the warm surface, but her heart felt cold.
Linus watched her sit, set his coffee cup down, and spoke in a sincere tone. "Olivia, I'd like you to come back to the company. We just secured a major international cooperation project, even bigger than the smart tech one. The partners specifically requested you to lead it, saying they trust only your expertise."
Olivia looked up, a bit surprised.
An international project? She'd heard her team mention it briefly before, but she didn't expect the partners to name her specifically.
"If this project succeeds, it'll be a big boost for your future, whether you stay with the company or strike out on your own. It's a solid achievement to have on your record," Linus said, his eyes earnest. "I'm not forcing you. I just think it'd be a shame to pass up such a great opportunity." He sighed and added, "Besides, you've put so much into the company. You can't just walk away like this. You deserve the recognition and honors that come with it."
Olivia bit her lip, her resolve starting to waver. She really didn't want to let go of the team she'd worked so hard with or the projects she'd poured her heart into.
Seeing her expression soften, Luca finally spoke, his tone gentle. "Grandpa's right. The project team is waiting for you to come back. And don't worry, no one at the company will dare to mess with you again." He looked at Olivia. "As for Windy..."
Luca hesitated. He didn't want Windy to lose her job over personal matters.
"If Windy causes trouble again, just fire her. Luca, don't tell me you can't bear to do it," Linus said sternly, his eyes full of seriousness as he looked at Luca.
Olivia stayed quiet for a few seconds before looking up at Linus. "Grandpa, can I take some time to think about it?"
Linus was slightly taken aback, then smiled. If she was asking for time to think, that meant there was hope. "Of course, take all the time you need. But I hope you can give me an answer soon. As for Luca, I'll have someone keep an eye on him. If he dares to play favorites again, I'll be the first to deal with him."