Chapter 82 Silent Fatherly Love

Chapter 82 Silent Fatherly Love

Olivia pushed the wheelchair, her steps unconsciously slowing.

Bodhi's words were like a key, unlocking the confusion and pain that had been locked away in her heart for so long.

So the engagement all those years ago wasn't what Charles wanted—it was a forced deal.

And Charles had told her this more than once, yet she'd never believed him.

"Mr. Green, you..."

Olivia's voice caught.

"Charles told me this so many times, but he always said it so casually that I just couldn't believe him."

Bodhi sighed, his eyes filled with pain.

"That's just Charles—he shoulders everything alone."

"After the company crisis hit, he'd handle business during the day and stay at the hospital with me at night, getting maybe three or four hours of sleep."

"I could see he was hurting inside, but he never said a word about it."

He paused before going on.

"Like I told you before, Selene thinks that engagement contract gives her some kind of hold over Charles, but she's kidding herself."

"I know Charles better than anyone—when he sets his heart on someone, that's it. He's never letting go."

Olivia's heart lurched. She thought of Charles's words on the rooftop, remembered how he'd thrown himself in front of that knife to protect her, and her eyes started to fill.

"Actually, I knew a little about what happened back then, too."

"After you left, Charles locked himself in his room for three days straight. When I finally went in, I found him holding your picture, tears streaming down his face. First time I'd ever seen him cry."

Bodhi's voice grew rough.

"After that, he was like a different person—working like a man possessed, throwing everything he had into the company. I knew he was trying to bury the pain in work."

Olivia felt something heavy pressing on her chest, an ache she couldn't name.

She'd always thought Charles had chosen Selene over her back then, never imagining he'd been going through hell.

"Ms. Smith!"

Bodhi turned to face her, his expression serious.

"I know you two have your issues, but I need you to understand—Charles has always loved you."

"All these years, he's never forgotten you. Not for a second."

At those words, Olivia finally broke down.

She'd always told herself she was over Charles.

But hearing this, she realized her feelings for him had never changed. Not even a little.

Just then, her phone rang.

She checked the caller ID—her mother, Indigo.

"Hi, Mom."

Olivia stepped away to take the call, quickly wiping her tears and trying to sound normal.

"Olivia, when can you come home?"

"I've found someone I'd really like you to meet—he's wonderful. Maybe you two could get together and talk?"

Indigo sounded thrilled.

Olivia was stunned. She hadn't expected her mother to suddenly start playing matchmaker.

"Mom, I really can't right now."

"Still working those crazy hours? Honey, you need to take better care of yourself!"

Indigo's voice was full of concern.

"No, it's just that I've got some work stuff I need to go over, but I honestly don't have time to come back."

Olivia didn't want to worry her mother, so she made up an excuse.

"Well, focus on work then. We'll talk about it when you're free."

Indigo didn't push it, gave her the usual reminders about taking care of herself, and hung up.

Olivia put her phone away, her emotions all over the place.

She knew her mother meant well, but she was in no mood to meet anyone new right now.

Meanwhile, Bodhi watched Olivia walk away, his gaze following her for a long moment.

Though he'd handed over full control of Green Group to Charles and now spent most of his time at home and in the hospital recovering, he still had people everywhere. Nothing that happened at the company got past him.

Bodhi knew Selene had been making things difficult for both Olivia and Charles, and it infuriated him.

He'd never liked Selene—too calculating, too manipulative.

If it hadn't been for Green Group's financing crisis back then...

Now, watching Olivia so heartbroken and Charles being manipulated and threatened for years—two people who loved each other forced to tear each other apart—Bodhi couldn't take it anymore.

That day, after his medical checkup, Bodhi had his driver take him straight to the Peterson estate.

Selene was shocked to see Bodhi at her door.

"Mr. Green, what brings you here?"

"We need to talk."

Bodhi's tone was ice-cold.

Selene felt a chill but still led Bodhi into the living room.

"Mr. Green, what did you want to discuss?"

Selene asked carefully.

Bodhi took a sip of tea and spoke deliberately.

"Selene, I know you've been making Olivia and Charles's lives hell."

"I'm here to tell you to knock it off. These games end now."

Selene was stunned, then shot back defiantly.

"Mr. Green, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Charles and I are engaged—we have a contract. Olivia's the one interfering with our relationship, so of course I'm going to put her in her place."

"Engaged?"

Bodhi let out a bitter laugh.

"You think I don't know what that engagement really was? It was a business deal, nothing more. Charles never gave a damn about you."

"So what?"

Selene said stubbornly.

"As long as I'm still his fiancée, I have every right to handle his affairs."

"You're dead wrong."

Bodhi's voice was steel.

"I'm canceling Charles's engagement to you."

"I won't let Charles marry a manipulative snake like you."

Selene hadn't expected Bodhi to be so blunt. She shot to her feet.

"Mr. Green, you can't do this!"

"The Peterson family has given everything for Green Group—you can't just throw us away!"

"Everything the Peterson family contributed to Green Group, Charles has already paid back with shares in our overseas subsidiaries."

Bodhi's voice was arctic.

"We've been square for years."

"Besides, you think I don't know what your family was really after four years ago?"

"Green Group was in trouble, sure, but we weren't so desperate we couldn't survive without the Petersons."

"Your father's help with our cash flow was nothing but opportunism—three hundred million in liquidity to grab five percent of Green Group's shares and Charles's hand in marriage."

"These past four years, how much has Peterson Group made using Green Group's connections? You tell me, Ms. Peterson."

"That was what we earned!"

Selene's lips were trembling. She'd never imagined Bodhi had dug this deep.

"Mr. Green! I've given Charles the best years of my life—I'm not walking away empty-handed!"

"Your sacrifice?"

Bodhi looked at Selene with pure contempt.

"All you've sacrificed is your ambition and greed. You think I don't know you've been sticking your nose into company business? You think those little schemes of yours could slip past me?"

"Actually, I should thank you. If you hadn't been breathing down Charles's neck these past four years, he never would've been pushed to expand Green Group's overseas operations to where they are now."

"Looking back, that three hundred million was more like seed money the Peterson family invested in Green Group."