Chapter 58: Unexpected Encounter–2
The warmth of his touch sent pleasant shivers up my spine. After everything we’d
been through–the failed engagement ceremony, Grace’s k********g, Connor’s injury-
these small moments of normalcy felt precious.
My stomach growled audibly, and Connor laughed. “Someone’s hungry.”
I blushed. “I barely had time for breakfast this morning before rushing to Moonlaw. The case files are piling up.”
We reached the entrance of the restaurant, an old establishment both of us had
frequented since childhood. Despite its unassuming exterior, it was one of Riverdale’s
finest dining spots, and the line of waiting patrons stretched down the block.
Thankfully, I’d had the foresight to reserve a private room. I pulled out my phone to
scan the QR code at the entrance, eager to follow the host inside and finally satisfy
my hunger.
“Liv!”
The desperate, longing voice cut through the evening chatter like a knife. My body
tensed instantly, recognizing it before I even turned around.
I looked back to see Jason Mitchell standing awkwardly beside Ethan Grey, whose
blue eyes were fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.
Instinctively, I moved closer to Connor, whose body had gone rigid beside me, a protective tension radiating from him.
(Olivia’s POV)
Jason approached first, his smile friendly but uncertain. “Long time no see, Liv. So,
you’re from Riverdale? You never mentioned that before.”
I nodded politely. Unlike many in Ethan’s circle, Jason had always treated me with respect, never looking down on me for my perceived lower status.
“Long time no see,” I replied, deliberately ignoring Ethan’s burning gaze.
(Jason’s POV)
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Chapter 58 Unexpected E
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I glanced at the imposing man standing protectively beside Olivia. His presence was overwhelming–not just physically tall and powerfully built, but radiating an authority that seemed to compress the air around him.
“And this is…?” I asked, though I had a sinking feeling I already knew.
Olivia’s face softened as she looked up at her companion, her voice carrying unmistakable pride and affection. “This is my fiancé, Connor Rivers.”
The name hit me like a physical blow. “You’re… you’re Connor Rivers?”
Though I’d never met him in person, his reputation preceded him everywhere in our circles. The Rivers family heir, the powerful president of Rivers Group–a man whose influence and wealth dwarfed even the Grey family’s at their peak.
Suddenly, Ethan’s obsession seemed not just unhealthy but dangerous. This wasn’t some random man he could intimidate or outmaneuver. This was Connor Rivers, and the cold fury in his ice–blue eyes made it clear he knew exactly who Ethan was.
(Connor’s POV)
recognized Ethan Grey instantly. The man who had hurt Olivia, who had treated her as a replacement, who had the audacity to confront her at the hospital while I was recovering from a wound that nearly killed me.
My jaw tightened, ice–blue eyes locking onto him with murderous intent. The air around us chilled as I let my dominance flow freely, a silent warning that this man was treading on dangerous ground.
“Do you have any business here?” I spat out, fighting the urge to physically place myself between him and Olivia.
The shorter man–Jason, apparently–visibly shivered under the weight of my presence. He scratched his head awkwardly, clearly trying to defuse the tension.
“I was wondering if we might have the honor of dining together?” he suggested with a nervous smile.
(Olivia’s POV)
My patience was wearing thin. After a long day at work with barely any food, the last thing I wanted was to deal with Ethan Grey’s desperate attempts to insert himself
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Connor was still recovering, and I needed to get him seated and fed, not standing on the sidewalk confronting my ex.
“You may join, Jason,” I said bluntly, then pointed directly at Ethan. “But he definitely
cannot.”
(Ethan’s POV)
Her rejection cut through me like a silver blade. After weeks of trying to reach her, of planning what I would say when we finally met again, to be dismissed so coldly in front of Connor Rivers was unbearable.
My expression darkened as I stared at her, drinking in the sight of her face even as she looked at me with such indifference. How could she have moved on so completely when I was still drowning in regret?
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