Chapter 151

Chapter 151
"We need to talk," Ethan growled as he slammed the door behind him.

Olivia barely glanced up from the window, her arms crossed over her chest. “You’re wasting your breath, Ethan. I’ve already told you, I’ve got this under control.”

“Under control?” Ethan stalked toward her, his eyes blazing. “You kidnapped Bernice’s son, and Rafael is back in the picture. That’s not control; that’s chaos.”

Slowly, Olivia turned her head; her eyes were now cool. "You think Rafael's going to be a problem?"

Ethan snorted. "I know he is. You have no idea how bad it just got because he's in cahoots with Bernice. He's sniffing. If he already finds out that Luca is-"

Olivia cut him off mid-sentence, her tone even, a trifle forced in its calm. "Relax," she said. "We are already ahead. He won't be able to do anything.”

Muscles worked in Ethan's jaw. "You don't take him seriously.

"And you're overreacting," Olivia snapped, stalking past him, the heels clicking on the floor as she made a beeline for the door. "I need to get some air."

"You're not going anywhere," Ethan replied, catching hold of her wrist. "Not until we figure out what we do next."

Olivia snatched her arm free, narrowing her eyes. "I know precisely what I am going to do."

"Oh, really?" he returned, his voice tacked onto thick sarcasm. "Because from where I'm standing, it would appear you're onto waiting on everything imploding."

Olivia smiled; the warmth never touched her eyes. "If you don't have a stomach for this, Ethan-merely feel free to walk away.”

He stared at her, incredulous. "You're insane if you think I'm walking away from this mess you created."

Olivia shrugged, as if it was all just beneath her. "Then stop whining and just follow my lead."

Before Ethan could utter a word in his defense, Olivia's phone buzzed. She looked down to see who it was on screen. Her brow furrowed.

Ethan caught it. "Who is it?" he asked.

"None of your business," Olivia snapped, but Ethan snatched the phone right from her hand.

He skimmed the message. "The hospital?" He looked up, an image of confusion and fear. "Why are you getting updates from the hospital?"

Olivia snatched the phone back, tucking it into her pocket. "It's Mia. She's been admitted."

Ethan's eyes went wide. "Mia? As in Rafael and Bernice's daughter? What happened?"

Olivia breathed slowly out, her demeanor changing. "I don't know. But this changes things.”

Ethan scrunched his brow. "You really think Rafael might put it together? If he is at the hospital with Bernice, then he does have to know something."

"We should go find out," Olivia replied, pulling on her coat.

Ethan was unmistakably uneasy. "You want to go there? Now?”

Her eyes were cold as steel. "They are, for one reason or another, in the hospital. If Rafael really does know they are his twins, then we are, for sure, a little late.

Despite every fibre of his being screaming that this was a bad idea, Ethan found himself nodding. "Fine. Let's go."



They burst into the hospital, the strong smell of disinfectant hit them the moment they went inside through sliding glass doors. Olivia strode in front of him while Ethan hewed closely behind, his eyes scouting around in surveillance of their surroundings.

"There," Olivia whispered low, her head nodding toward a hall.

Ethan followed her gaze down, and Rafael and Bernice came into view as they stood near a room. Rafael's hand was on Bernice's shoulder as his face was tight with concern.

"They look. close," Ethan muttered, his stomach twisting.

Olivia's eyes darkened. "Closer than they should be."

Ethan crossed his arms, his voice low. "You think he knows?"

"If he doesn't, he will soon," Olivia said shortly. "And if he does, he'll start looking for Luca…"

The implications hung in the air between them heavily as Ethan didn't need her to finish it.

Rafael leaned into Bernice, still whispering. She nodded, wiping away tears from her eyes.

Ethan furrowed his brow. "Mia really must be ill. Both seem a little shaken up."

Olivia's lips thinned. "We can't afford any feelings clogging our judgment. We must think ahead.

Ethan shook his head. "You're talking like this is just another business deal. There's a child involved, Olivia."

"Exactly," Olivia snapped. "Which is why we cannot afford to lose control."

Ethan watched as Bernice stepped into the room, leaving Rafael standing alone in the hallway. He turned to Olivia. "We need to leave. Now."

"Not yet," Olivia persisted. "I want to see what Rafael does next."

Ethan's hold on her arm was surprisingly firm. "You're pushing it. If they catch us here—"

They won't, Olivia countered, yanking her arm free. "Stop being so paranoid."

"Paranoid?" The rough edge in Ethan's voice carried. "Do you listen to yourself? This is not some freaking game. We're dealing with the brink of our disaster.”

Olivia grumbled. “Will you calm down and leave this to me.” 

Ethan stared hard back at her. "You think I can do that without knowing the plan. I need to know what you are doing.  What are you hiding in the closet?"

Olivia spun, her face cold. "I don't owe you an explanation."

Ethan sidestepped to block her path with an easy block. "Actually, you do. We're in this together, remember? If you have some kind of plan, I need to know about it.

Olivia's jaw had tightened. "Believe me, Ethan. I can handle it."His 

"Believe?" The laugh that burst from Ethan was short, brittle. "After what I have seen tonight? You give nothing for me to build trust on."

Olivia returned his regard unblinkingly. "You will know in due time."

Ethan's accusation now suspiciousness gnawing in his gut, he said to her, "I got this feeling that you are keeping a big secret from me.”

Olivia smiled-cold, calculated. "Because I am.”

As Olivia walked away, Ethan watched with his heart falling, a sense of dread falling over him. Whatever it was Olivia had in store, it was far from over.