Chapter 129 I Don't Want to Leave
Olivia's POV:
It was past twelve-thirty in the morning, and sleep refused to find me.
My body begged for rest, but my mind raced relentlessly. My head felt heavy, almost stuffed with cotton, that peculiar foggy sensation you get after recovering from a serious illness. After returning from Alexander's club, I'd barely touched dinner. Only Sarah and Walter's combined persistence had forced a few bites down my throat.
Once the painful excuse for a meal was over, I'd retreated to my room—our room—and positioned myself on the window seat, watching and waiting. Hours had passed, and still no sign of Ethan.
Alexander's words echoed in my mind: if Ethan came home at a decent hour, the problem wasn't serious. If he didn't return at all...
My stomach clenched. Whatever Ethan was dealing with was clearly major.
I picked up my phone, then set it back down. Picked it up again, scrolled to his name, then hesitated. This dance continued several times before I finally placed it face-down on the cushion beside me.
What would I even say if I called? "When will you be home?" like some clingy, desperate housewife?
I certainly couldn't ask what was wrong or offer help. The mere thought made me cringe.
If I were someone else—someone with credentials, achievements, connections—maybe I could be there for him. If I had already graduated, established a career, made something of myself... Even without a prestigious family name or powerful connections, I could at least be by his side when he needed support.
The bitter truth was that I had nothing to offer him in this crisis.
Minutes ticked by. One o'clock arrived, and still no Ethan.
I hugged my legs to my chest, resting my chin on my knees as tears slipped down my face, dampening my skin before soaking into the fabric beneath me. Through the blur, I thought I saw the ghostly outline of hundreds of drones lighting up the night sky, just like they had that night.
That warm night when the fireworks had burned their way into my heart, consuming my entire youth in their blaze. No one else would ever ignite another spark inside me. There would never be another Ethan Bennett.
Just as I was about to dissolve completely into sobs, my phone rang.
My body tensed. I frantically grabbed for the phone, but my limbs had fallen asleep from sitting too long. My hand shook, and I dropped the phone to the floor. When I leaned down to retrieve it, my numb legs betrayed me, and I tumbled off the window seat in a graceless heap.
Scrambling to grab the phone, I saw Ethan's name on the screen. Fresh tears spilled as I answered.
"Hello?" My voice came out thick with emotion. "Ethan, where are you? Are you—are you coming home tonight?"
I'd never asked him this before. On nights when he didn't return, I'd usually felt relieved. Now, I desperately wanted him back, wanted to see him walk through the door, wanted him near me.
"Olivia." His voice sounded low and raspy, like his throat had been scorched with hot coals, each syllable carrying a grainy texture that sent shivers down my spine. "Do you still want to leave me?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions.
"Do you really want to leave me that badly?"
"You'll never leave me, even in death."
"Do you still want to leave me now?"
During our time together, Ethan had asked similar questions many times, but never with this raw sincerity. Never with this undercurrent of vulnerability that made my chest ache.
Just minutes ago, I'd been thinking that ending things would be better for him.
But hearing his question, I felt no triumph or relief—only a sharp pain.
I sniffled, trying to control my voice. "We agreed on two years. It hasn't been two years yet."
Ethan's voice remained neutral. "If you want to leave now, I'll let you go."
I didn't respond, just gripped the phone tighter and bit my lip hard enough to taste blood.
"Don't be afraid," he continued softly. "Just tell me—yes or no?"
"No," I answered honestly. "I've thought about leaving you countless times. Even right before you called, I was thinking that if we broke up, it might be better for you."
He chuckled. "Oh? How would that benefit me exactly?"
"You left in such a hurry this afternoon—something big must have happened at your company. Otherwise you wouldn't have..."
Left in the middle of what we were doing, pants still on. That wasn't Ethan's style at all.
"Whatever you're dealing with, I can't help you. I can't even be there with you. All I can do is sit at home worrying and feeling useless."
My voice cracked. "I want to be there for you as your girlfriend when you need someone, not like this..."
Tears flowed freely again.
"You're asking if I want to leave you. I don't. I want to stay with you. If we ever separate, it should be when you're thriving, not when you're facing difficulties. But if you need me gone now, then—"
"I'll send someone to pick you up," Ethan cut in urgently. "No—I'm coming to get you myself."
After ending the call, I rushed to the bathroom for a quick shower.
I had just finished drying my hair when I heard Ethan arrive. I hadn't even had time to change clothes yet.
When I saw him standing there in his thin dress shirt, looking weathered and strained, my eyes burned with fresh tears. I ran to him, throwing myself against his chest.
Ethan wrapped his arms around me, burying his face in my neck and inhaling deeply.
"You smell so good," he murmured.
I rose on my tiptoes, hooking my arms around his neck and gently biting his earlobe.
His hands tightened around my waist before he abruptly lifted me into his arms, turning toward the door.
In the car, I noticed Justin in the driver's seat. I hesitated, wondering if I should acknowledge him.
Before I could decide, Justin glanced back with a smile. "Mrs. Bennett."
The title caught me completely off guard.
I opened my mouth to protest, but Ethan's stern voice cut through the air.
"Cut the crap and drive," he ordered Justin.
As we settled into the backseat, I gathered my courage. "What happened at your company?"
Ethan answered calmly, "The targeted drug we developed was reported to the FDA."
I frowned, confused. "Why would anyone report a cancer drug?"
"Because it allegedly contains hallucinogenic compounds."
At a red light, Justin turned to explain. "One of the research team's experts was bought by Victor. He's claiming that Ethan has been manufacturing drugs and that his expansion into Southeast Asia was to control the drug economy there. He's even saying that eliminating drug lords in the region was just to remove competition."
I turned to Ethan, concern flooding my face. "What will you do now? Will they detain you?"