Chapter 106: New Year’s
Chapter 106: New Year’s Gifts and Hidden Arrangements
Chapter 106: New Year’s Gifts and Hidden Arrangements
(Olivia’s POV)
The next day was New Year’s Day. I returned to the Winters Family Estate, still nursing a mild hangover from the moonberry wine. My head throbbed with each step, and my wolf Cora remained withdrawn deep within our shared consciousness.
Natalie Winters and Richard Winters were both home when I arrived. As soon as I entered through the front door, Natalie greeted me with a warm smile, her amber eyes genuinely welcoming.
“Livvy is back. Dinner will be served soon. Go wash your hands first.”
Her voice carried maternal warmth that I hadn’t expected. Despite our complicated relationship, she seemed genuinely pleased to see me.
Having woken up late from my hangover, Thad quickly showered at my apartment before returning to the Winters residence just in time for the New Year’s lunch. The hot water had helped clear some of the fog from my mind, but my heart still felt heavy.
Grace Winters excitedly ran over, embracing my legs and calling out “Sister!” with pure joy. Her innocent enthusiasm was like a ray of sunshine piercing through my emotional darkness.
I managed a genuine smile despite my emotional exhaustion. I handed Grace a thick red envelope from my bag, wishing her a happy New Year.
The little girl sweetly smiled, took the envelope, and kissed me on the cheek with innocent affection. Her simple gesture of love made my chest tighten with unexpected emotion.
Richard then handed me an elegant gift bag, his weathered face showing paternal care. “This is a New Year’s gift for you.”
Inside, I found a set of keys and a property ownership certificate. My amber eyes widened in surprise as I examined the documents.
Richard explained that it was a luxury apartment close to Moonlaw Legal Services for my convenience. “Natalie personally selected a car for you, which is waiting in the garage.”
My heart warmed despite my recent heartbreak. I sincerely thanked both Richard and Natalie, accepting their thoughtful gifts with genuine gratitude,
“Thank you both. This means more than you know.”
After the family meal, I idly scrolled through my phone while sitting in the living room. The familiar routine felt comforting after the chaos of recent events.
I noticed a new contact request notification. My heart tightened involuntarily, a foolish hope rising that it might be Connor Rivers reaching out.
Bitter disappointment washed over me when I realized it was from Ethan Grey. My wolf recoiled at seeing his name, memories of his betrayal flooding back.
Ethan, having been blocked and deleted from my contacts, had created a new account to contact me. His
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Chapter 106 New Year’s.
desperate messages asked if Connor and I had truly broken our engagement, urgently pleading for me to return to him.
Disgusted by his persistence and unwillingness to accept my decision, I immediately rejected the friend request and blocked the new account without hesitation. Some bridges were meant to stay burned
Richard’s generous gift was a pristine white Rolls–Royce Phantom, a vehicle befitting my status as a Winters pack daughter. The elegant car gleamed in the afternoon sunlight, its luxury unmistakable.
I’made the decision to leave Connor’s glacier blue Bentley Continental GT to gather dust in the Winters family garage. I couldn’t bear the painful memories it carried of our time together.
I took possession of the new car, appreciating my father’s thoughtfulness. The leather interior smelled of new beginnings rather than broken promises.
The apartment was located in an upscale neighborhood mere minutes from Moonlaw Legal Services. The spacious, fully furnished residence was decorated in cream–colored tones that perfectly matched my refined
tastes.
Settling into my new space, I called Dorothy Jenkins, the housekeeper who had been caring for my
belongings at Whisperbrook Gardens. “Dorothy, I need you to dispose of all my personal items that remain
there.”
My voice was steady, but the words felt like closing a chapter of my life forever.
(Dorothy’s POV)
I hesitated after receiving Olivia’s call, my eyes nervously glancing at Connor Rivers who was sitting
motionless on the sofa in the main living area. His ice–blue eyes stared blankly ahead, lost in thoughts I
couldn’t fathom.
After hanging up the phone, I cautiously approached Connor. The Alpha looked like a statue, frozen in his
grief.
“Mr. Rivers, Miss Winters has requested all her belongings be thrown away.”
Connor’s voice was hollow and tired when he responded. “Don’t discard anything. Keep Olivia’s room spotlessly clean because she will return someday.”
His tone carried a desperate hope that even he didn’t quite believe. The pain in his voice made my heart ache
for both of them.
He then asked with forced casualness, “Is Olivia adjusting well to the cooking from her new living
arrangements?”
Fifteen minutes later, I called Olivia back with Connor’s unspoken plan. “Miss Winters, Mr. Rivers has dismissed me from service. Do you need a personal cook?”
I could hear the hesitation in her voice through the phone. She was probably remembering Connor’s previous efforts to find a cook whose food/would suit her refined palate.
Though she initially hesitated, knowing this was likely another of Connor’s indirect ways of caring fr Olivia couldn’t bring herself to refuse me. “I suppose I could use the help, Dorothy.”
er
She gave me her new apartment address, her voice softening with genuine concern for my employment
situation.
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After ending the call, I returned to Connor and informed him that Olivia had accepted my services. Hist ice–blue eyes flickered with the first sign of life I’d seen all day.
Connor then quietly instructed me with careful precision. “Prepare and deliver meals to Olivia during weekday lunches. Don’t reveal that these arrangements come from me.”
His voice carried the weight of a man trying to care for someone he could no longer openly protect.
(Connor’s POV)
After New Year’s Day, I threw myself into work at Rivers Pack Headquarters with obsessive intensity. I refused to allow myself any moments of rest, because whenever I stopped working, Olivia’s wounded amber eyes from that night would flood my mind.
The guilt was overwhelming. The memory of her pain haunted every quiet moment.
In the Alpha’s office, I sat rigidly at my computer, forcing myself to focus on pack business and corporate affairs. Numbers and contracts became my refuge from emotional torment.
Ethan Quinn lounged on the leather sofa, observing me with a complex expression. “Con, there’s something I don’t know if I should mention.”
I didn’t even lift my ice–blue eyes from the screen, responding with cold indifference, “Then don’t mention it.”
Ethan opened and closed his mouth uncertainly. “It’s related to Olivia… are you sure you don’t want to hear
this?”
My typing immediately ceased. I looked up sharply from the computer screen, my Alpha instincts alert.
“What is it?”
Ethan thought to himself with knowing satisfaction. As long as it concerned Olivia, I couldn’t pretend not to
care.
Ethan coughed strategically. “Lily keeps saying she wants to introduce eligible bachelor wolves to Olivia…”
As he spoke these words, he glanced up to observe my reaction. My expression immediately darkened with
possessive fury.
My jaw clenched, my voice dangerously low. “Bachelor wolves?”
“Yeah,” Ethan swallowed nervously, considering how to phrase this more tactfully.
My thin lips pressed into a hard line, my ice–blue eyes showing a cold, predatory glint. “What bachelor
wolves?”
“There are several candidates–something about six–pack abs, a 6’3” athletic beta wolf, and various descriptions like ‘pure young wolves,/wild dominant types,’ a whole collection of ridiculous options…” My expression grew increasingly thunderous. Ethan didn’t dare continue his report.
The office fell into heavy silence. Ethan grew so nervous he didn’t know what to do with his hands, taking a sip of water to calm himself.
“You know Lily–she’s always dramatic like this, loves these flashy schemes. I already scolded h
behalf.”
“What did she say?” I asked with deadly calm.
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Chapter 106 New Year’s
“Ah? What do you mean?” Ethan looked confused.
“Your sister wants to introduce other males to Olivia–what was Olivia’s response?”
Ethan’s expression turned distinctly uncomfortable. He hesitated before speaking.
“You… do you really want to know the answer?”
“Yes.”
“Then promise you won’t lose control when I tell you.” Ethan said nervously.
“According to Lily, that night after your… performance… Olivia agreed to the introductions.”
“Agreed to what exactly?” My voice was dangerously quiet.
Ethan’s mouth moved faster than his brain. “Agreed to let Lily introduce her to other potential mates.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, my ceramic coffee mug crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces that reflected my own breaking composure.