Chapter 275

Chapter 275

"Mr. Edwards, please take Holden home. Like I said, I'll let this go as if nothing happened."

Since no real harm had been done, Andrew reluctantly decided to drop the matter, partly as a favor to Vaughn.

He also knew better than to push things too far — even a cornered rabbit will bite, let alone someone like Holden, who never forgot a grudge.

"You're a good person. I owe you one."

Vaughn wiped away his tears, still unable to understand how Holden had ended up this way.

He watched the Edwards family get Holden into the car, then turned and walked to his own car, opened the door, and got back in.

In the back seat, Olivia was still holding Zara tight. Zara had stopped crying, but she pressed herself timidly against Olivia's chest, not daring to look out the window.

Andrew softened his voice and gently ruffled Zara's hair.

"Don't be scared. The bad man's been taken away. No one's going to bother us anymore. I'm taking Zara home now."

Olivia looked up at him, a lingering trace of fear in her eyes.

"Good thing you reacted so fast. That was really dangerous."

"As long as I'm here, I won't let anything happen to either of you."

Andrew started the car and pulled back into traffic, heading steadily toward Anderson Manor.

……

Holden was taken back to the Edwards Estate and kept under close watch. Security guards were posted at the entrance around the clock, and the next few days passed quietly without any further incident.

But the image of Holden deliberately cutting them off on the road that night stayed with Olivia. Whenever she thought about the wild look in his eyes, she couldn't fully let her guard down.

One morning, Olivia got herself ready and headed out to do an in-person check on her stores — reviewing the post-incident improvements and the new inventory rollout.

Andrew had been called away early to deal with a supply chain issue at the Anderson Group, and he'd dropped Zara off at his apartment before leaving.

Zara had worked her way through every toy in the living room and finished all her picture books too. She was thoroughly bored, so the moment she heard Olivia was heading out, she came running over and grabbed her arm, eyes wide and hopeful.

"Aunt Olivia, can I come with you?"

She tugged at the hem of Olivia's jacket and gave it a little shake.

"It's so boring here by myself. The store sounds way more fun. I'll be really good, I promise I won't run off anywhere."

Olivia's first instinct was to say no. The image of Holden losing control that night flashed through her mind, and she shook her head without thinking.

"There are too many people outside. It's not safe. I'll be done with the store visit quickly — just stay home and wait for me."

Zara's face fell the moment she heard the refusal. But she really couldn't stand another minute of sitting around the apartment, so she decided to try one more time.

She looked up, raised her little hand with great seriousness, and made her case in a clear, sweet voice with just a hint of softness.

"I promise I'll stay right next to you the whole time. I won't leave your side, I won't talk to strangers, and I won't go wandering off. And if I break any of these rules, I'll stay home without complaining every single time from now on."

Olivia couldn't bring herself to hold firm when she saw that careful, hopeful look in the little girl's eyes. Those big, bright eyes made it impossible to say no, and she felt her resolve start to soften.

Holden had been under the Edwards family's watch these past few days, and people had been stationed around to keep an eye on things. It seemed unlikely anything would happen for now. Looking at Zara's pitiful little face, Olivia finally couldn't bring herself to refuse again.

She gently ran her hand through Zara's soft hair and gave in with a sigh.

"Alright, you can come. But you have to keep every single promise you just made — stay right by my side the whole time. Understood?"

Zara's eyes lit up instantly. She nodded hard and hugged Olivia's arm with a big smile.

"Got it! I won't cause Aunt Olivia any trouble at all!"

Olivia picked up her bag, took Zara's small hand, and headed out the door. She kept the little girl close the whole way, quietly staying alert inside.

She kept her eyes moving the entire time — watching the people and cars around them, not letting herself relax for a second.

The car pulled up along the curb in front of the store. Olivia had just taken Zara's hand and pushed open the car door when her eyes drifted toward the street corner — and she stopped dead in her tracks.

Outside a nearby shop, Nina had just walked out — and right behind her was Michael.

The sight of them hit Olivia like a jolt. She instinctively pulled Zara a little closer to her side.

She wasn't sure why, but whenever she saw Nina, guilt crept in. She hadn't been there for her own daughter, and yet here she was with another little girl by her side. She worried Nina might be hurting inside.

"Mommy!"

Nina spotted her and came running over, calling out as she went.

Zara started to let go of Olivia's hand to make room for Nina, but a firm hand immediately caught hers.

"What did you just promise Aunt Olivia? Already forgot?"

Zara blinked, then quickly understood — this wasn't the moment to let go. She smiled and shook her head.

"Nina, what are you doing over here?"

Olivia reached out her other arm and crouched down, pulling both girls into a hug. Nina held on tight. It had been a long time since they'd seen each other, not since Nina had come back to the country.

"Last time I told Daddy I wanted to see you, but he said you were really busy. So I came to pick out a gift for you — I was going to save it for next time we met."

The change in Nina caught Olivia completely off guard, and it filled her with joy. She looked at the pretty gift bag in Nina's hands and fought back the tears threatening to spill over.

"Mommy really has been swamped lately, but things have calmed down now. From now on, whenever you miss me, just come over anytime. How about I take you both out somewhere fun?"

"Yes!"

"Okay!"

The moment they heard they were going out together, both girls started bouncing with excitement. Kids really were something — the smallest things could make them this happy.

"Checking on the store at this hour?"

Michael had appeared behind her at some point. His gaze flickered briefly toward Zara with something unreadable in it, but when it shifted to Olivia, his expression settled back to normal.

"I used to think I could leave the store stuff to the team, but after everything that happened, I figured I should come see for myself."

Olivia glanced up at the store sign. Lantine Jewelry had worked too hard to rebuild its reputation — she couldn't afford to lose it a second time.

Michael had heard about the Lantine Jewelry situation and nodded in understanding. He looked at the two little girls beside her and spoke up.

"Go handle your work. I'll take the girls out for a walk — we won't get in your way."

Olivia looked up at him, a little surprised.

Since when did Michael think of others like that? But he had a point. She crouched down and went over everything carefully with both Zara and Nina.