Chapter 84 Sadness
Olivia walked slowly along the small path outside the hospital. The evening breeze brushed against her, carrying a slight chill that made her shiver.
In her hand, she clutched the signed divorce agreement, the edges of the paper crumpled from her tight grip.
Three years of marriage, and it ended just like that, with a light stroke of a pen.
She thought she'd feel happy, relieved even, but her chest felt heavy, like a huge stone was pressing down on it, making it hard to breathe.
Her phone suddenly vibrated, and Emma's name flashed on the screen.
Taking a deep breath, she pressed the answer button, trying to keep her voice steady. "Hey, Emma."
"How are you? Is the divorce finalized?" Emma's voice was urgent, mixed with the noisy background sounds.
Hearing her best friend's voice, the emotions Olivia had been holding back all this time burst out.
Tears fell without warning, landing on the back of her hand, cold and sharp.
She had been so determined when signing the papers with Luca, but now, the pain hit her just as hard.
"It's done... He signed." Her voice trembled with sobs, shaking uncontrollably.
Even though she was the one who forced Luca to sign, at this moment, her heart ached terribly.
Emma went quiet for a moment on the other end. After a couple of seconds, her tone softened with concern. "Baby, are you crying? Did that jerk hurt you?"
"No..." Olivia shook her head, but the tears wouldn't stop. "I just feel so wronged, so unfair."
She sat down on a bench by the roadside and poured out all the frustration she'd been holding in. "He came to the hospital today, didn't even ask what happened, and just hit Jason. I tried to stop him, and he accused me of wanting a divorce because of Jason. I got so mad that I said yes, and he signed the papers. He didn't even look at me when he left. And then there's Windy, and all the mess at the company—I'm so done with it..."
She cried as she spoke, her words a jumbled mess, letting out all her grievances, anger, and unwillingness.
On the other end, Emma was fuming. Even through the phone, Olivia could feel her rage.
"That bastard Luca! Is he out of his mind? Jason was kind enough to take care of you, and he dared to hit him! And that Windy, I swear I'll rip her face off one day!"
Emma cursed for a bit, but her worry for Olivia soon took over, and her tone softened. "Baby, don't cry. Divorce is a good thing. You're finally free from that jerk. He's not worth your tears. You're amazing, and you're going to find someone so much better—like, a hundred times better. I'm coming over right now to keep you company. Let's grab a drink and let it all out."
Olivia sniffled and shook her head. "No, it's okay. I just want to walk a bit and clear my head."
"Then be careful. Call me if anything happens. Don't deal with it alone," Emma said, still worried. She knew Olivia needed someone right now. "If that jerk bothers you again, tell me right away. I'll bring people to shut him up!"
Hearing Emma's words, Olivia felt touched and agreed.
After hanging up, she stuffed the phone back into her pocket, but the tears kept falling.
She walked slowly along the riverbank. The water reflected the streetlights on the shore, flickering faintly.
She thought back to the early days of their marriage, when she naively believed that if she gave her all, Luca would eventually see her worth.
She remembered waking up at 4 a.m. to make him a breakfast he loved, only for him to glance at it and say he didn't have time before walking out.
She remembered being sick with a fever, unable to get out of bed, calling him for help, only to hear he was with Windy and that she should just call a doctor herself.
She remembered countless late nights waiting for him in the living room, only to be met with rumors about him and Windy, or a cold message saying he wasn't coming home.
From start to finish, it was all just her wishful thinking.
In his heart, there was only ever Windy.
Even the divorce—she had to force him to sign the papers.
"What a joke," Olivia muttered with a bitter smile, tears streaming down even harder.
She didn't know how long she'd been walking. The cold seeped deeper into her, the evening breeze feeling like it was cutting into her bones, making her hunch her shoulders.
She decided to turn back, but as she stood up, a warm jacket was suddenly draped over her.
A familiar scent hit her—a faint mix of disinfectant and cedar. It was Jason's smell.
Olivia froze for a moment before turning to look behind her.
Jason stood there, the bruises on his face still visible, especially the dark mark at the corner of his mouth.
"Why are you here?" she asked in surprise, instinctively trying to return the jacket.
Jason held her hand to stop her. "I was worried about you, so I followed you. You're not in good shape, and you just signed the divorce papers. It's not safe for you to be out here alone."
Olivia felt a warmth in her heart, her eyes turning red again. "You don't have to do this. I'm fine."
"Fine?" Jason looked at her red, swollen eyes and the tear stains on her face, his tone helpless. "Your eyes are puffy from crying. This is not fine."
He stepped beside her, standing shoulder to shoulder as they looked at the river. "I know you're feeling awful right now. If you want to cry, just cry. Don't hold it in. But don't stay out here alone so late. It's cold, and your body can't handle it."
Olivia didn't say anything. She pulled the jacket tighter around her, the warmth from it making her feel a little better.
"Luca..." Jason hesitated before speaking. "He didn't mean it. He's just too impulsive. I know deep down he cares about you, he just doesn't realize it himself."
Olivia let out a bitter laugh. "Cares about me? If he did care, he wouldn't have been cold to me for three years. He wouldn't have hurt me over and over for Windy, and he wouldn't have hit you back there. Jason, you don't need to defend him. It's over between us. There's no connection anymore."
Her tone was firm, carrying a sense of finality.
Jason looked at her and didn't push the topic further. "Alright, let's not talk about him. It's getting late. I'll take you home. You've cried so much today, your body won't be able to take it."
Olivia shook her head. "I don't want to go back. That house is full of his presence. It makes me sick."
She didn't want to return to that so-called "home" at all. It held too many of her grievances and disappointments.
Jason thought for a moment. "Then I'll take you to a nearby hotel for the night. We can figure things out tomorrow."
Olivia didn't refuse and nodded.
They walked back along the riverbank in silence, but it wasn't awkward. There was just a strange sense of calm between them.
Meanwhile, Luca returned to the villa.
As soon as he stepped inside, the butler greeted him. "Sir, you're back. Should I prepare dinner?"
"No need. Everyone, go rest. Don't come up and disturb me without my permission," Luca said coldly, his voice laced with suppressed anger.