< Chapter 69. Abandoned
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Chapter 69: Abandoned
Chapter 69: Abandoned
(Olivia’s POV)
“I have nothing to say to you.” My face was frosty, my emerald eyes flashing with cold fury.
I pushed open the door of Ethan’s Shadow Ghost and was about to step out. But as soon as my feet touched the ground, Ethan, who had entered from the other side, grabbed my wrist.
With a forceful pull that showcased his strength, he dragged me back into the luxury vehicle. The car door closed with a definitive click.
“Let me go!” I hissed, trying to wrench my arm from his grip.
Ethan’s amber eyes were hard as he activated the central locking system with a flick of his finger. “We need to talk, Olivia.”
“We have nothing to discuss,” I spat, reaching for the door handle again.
Through the tinted windows, I spotted Lucas Blackwood approaching the car. A momentary hope of rescue flared within me.
Ethan noticed my gaze and followed it. His amber eyes narrowed dangerously as he started the engine. “Don’t you dare-” I began, but my words were cut off as he accelerated away, tires screeching against the asphalt.
Lucas’s figure grew smaller in the side mirror as Ethan sped through the parking lot and onto the main road. “This is k********g!” I shouted, struggling against my seatbelt. The speed of the vehicle had forced me to secure it despite my anger.
“It’s a conversation between mates,” Ethan replied coldly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
I watched as familiar buildings gave way to less populated areas. We were heading toward the outskirts of Silvercrest territory.
“Where are you taking me?” I demanded, my heart beginning to race with unease.
Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Somewhere we can talk without interruptions.”
The luxury car ate up the miles, carrying us farther from Shadow Creek and deeper into the remote areas of our territory. Trees grew denser on either side of the road.
Finally, Ethan pulled off onto a dirt track, driving for another few minutes before stopping in a small clearing. He cut the engine, plunging us into silence.
“Why did you bring me here?” I asked, my voice tight with anger and a hint of fear.
Ethan turned to face me, his expression unreadable. “Because I want to fix this.”
I laughed bitterly. “Fix what, exactly? Our marriage? Our family? Our daughter’s death that you still refuse to acknowledge?”
Pain flashed across his face at the mention of Lily. “I know I’ve made mistakes.”
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<Chapter 69: Abandoned
“Mistakes?” I echoed incredulously. “Is that what you call abandoning your dying daughter?”
Ethan’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I can make it right, Olivia. I can give you anything you want- money, property, status–but I will not abandon Victoria and Emma.”
His words hit me like a physical blow. Even now, after learning the truth about that night five years ago, he was still choosing them over me. Over Lily.
“So that’s your solution?” I whispered, my voice trembling with rage. “Throw money at the problem and hope it goes away?”
Ethan’s expression hardened. “What do you want from me, Olivia? Tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you.”
“I want Victoria’s life,” I said coldly, my emerald eyes burning with grief and rage. “I want her to suffer like I’ve suffered. Like Lily suffered while you played happy family with Victoria and Emma.”
Ethan’s face darkened with anger. “You’re being unreasonable. Victoria has done nothing to deserve your hatred.”
“Nothing?” I laughed, the sound harsh and broken. “She’s been poisoning you against me for years! She watched as her friend arranged for me to be drugged and assaulted!”
“You’re twisting things,” Ethan accused, his voice rising. “You’ve never given Victoria or Emma a chance. You’ve been intolerant from the beginning.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Intolerant? I watched my daughter die alone while you comforted Emma over a scraped knee!”
“That’s not fair,” Ethan growled. “I didn’t know how serious Lily’s condition was.”
“Because you didn’t want to know!” I shouted, tears burning in my eyes. “You chose not to know!”
Ethan slammed his hand against the dashboard, making me flinch. “I’m trying to make this right, Olivia! Why can’t you see that?”
“Because it’s too late,” I whispered, reaching for the door handle. “Lily is gone, and nothing you do can bring her back.”
I pushed open the door and stepped out into the cool evening air. The clearing was surrounded by dense forest, with no sign of civilization in any direction.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Ethan demanded, following me out of the car.
“Away from you,” I replied, walking toward what looked like a path through the trees.
I pulled out my phone, relieved to see I had a signal, albeit weak. I scrolled through my contacts until I found Lucas Blackwood’s number.
Before I could press call, Ethan snatched the phone from my hand. “Who are you calling?”
“None of your business,” I snapped, trying to grab my phone back.
Ethan held it out of reach, his eyes narrowing as he saw Lucas’s name on the screen. “Why are you calling him?”
“Because unlike you, he actually cares about my wellbeing,” I retorted.
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<Chapter 69 Abandoned
I lunged for the phone, but Ethan was quicker. He answered the call himself.
“Olivia?” Lucas’s deep voice came through the speaker. “Is everything alright?”
“She’s fine,” Ethan growled. “She’s with her mate, where she belongs.”
I grabbed for the phone again. “Lucas, I need-”
Ethan ended the call abruptly. We struggled for the device, and in the process, it slipped from his grasp and fell into a muddy puddle.
The screen flickered once before going dark. My last connection to help, shattered.
Fury coursed through me. I snatched up the broken phone and hurled it at Ethan’s chest. It hit him with a dull thud before falling to the ground.
“You bastard!” I shouted, turning away from him.
I began walking, not caring which direction I went as long as it was away from him. The uneven ground made progress difficult, especially in my heels.
Suddenly, my ankle twisted painfully. I stumbled, barely catching myself before I fell.
Behind me, Ethan’s phone rang with a familiar ringtone–Victoria’s special tone. The sound I had come to despise over the years.
Ethan answered immediately. “Victoria? What’s wrong?”
Even from several feet away, I could hear her distressed voice through the speaker.
“Ethan, please help! I’m at Amber Crest Restaurant, and these men–they’re threatening me! I’m so scared!” Ethan’s expression shifted instantly from anger to concern. “Stay where you are. I’m coming.”
Without a backward glance at me, he jumped into his car and started the engine. The tires kicked up dirt and gravel as he sped away, leaving me stranded in the growing darkness.
I stood there, my ankle throbbing, watching as the taillights of his car disappeared down the dirt track. He hadn’t hesitated for a second. Victoria called, and he ran.
Just like always.
(Ethan’s POV)
I arrived at Amber Crest Restaurant in record time, my mind racing with concern for Victoria. The parking lot
had been cleared by my security team, with two men lying injured at the feet of my bodyguards.
Daniel Reed, my Beta, approached as I exited the car. “Alpha, we have the situation under control.”
“Where is she?” I demanded, scanning the area.
“Inside, in the private dining room,” Daniel replied. “She’s shaken but unharmed.”
I nodded curtly and strode toward the restaurant entrance. The staff parted before me, bowing their heads respectfully as I passed.
Victoria was sitting in our usual private dining room, a glass of untouched moonlight wine before her. Her face brightened with relief when she saw me.
“Ethan!” She rose gracefully, rushing into my arms. “Thank the Moon you’re here!”
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<Chapter 69 Abandoned
I held her briefly before pulling back to examine her. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head, her eyes wide and vulnerable. “No, but I was so frightened. Those men–they were saying such terrible things.”
I guided her back to her seat, taking the chair opposite. “Tell me what happened.”
Victoria’s hands trembled as she reached for her wine glass. “I was having dinner alone, and these men approached my table. They started making… inappropriate comments.”
My jaw tightened. “What kind of comments?”
“Suggesting that I… that we…” She looked down, a blush spreading across her cheeks. “It was vulgar, Ethan. When I asked them to leave, they became threatening.”
I signaled to Daniel, who was standing by the door. “Bring them in.”
Moments later, my security team dragged the two men into the private dining room. Both were sporting fresh bruises, evidence of my team’s efficiency.
I studied them coldly. One was tall and lanky, with a scraggly beard. The other was shorter but muscular, with a shaved head. Both reeked of cheap alcohol.
The taller one spat blood onto the expensive carpet. “She was asking for it, flirting with everyone in sight.”
My amber eyes began to glow as rage coursed through me. “Is that so?”
Victoria gasped. “That’s a lie! I was sitting alone, minding my own business!”
The shorter man sneered. “Yeah, right. Wearing that dress, batting those eyelashes at every man who walked
by.”
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