Chapter 4 — The Man Who Won’t Let Go
1319 Words
Olivia barely slept that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, Daniel’s voice echoed in her mind.
“Mr. Kingsley would like to meet you.”
She turned over on the small bed and stared at the dim ceiling.
“No,” she whispered to herself again.
There was no reason to meet Adrian anymore.
Their marriage was over.
Their lives had separated.
And most importantly—
Adrian could never know about the baby.
Olivia slowly sat up and placed her hand over her stomach.
“You’re safe,” she murmured softly.
“I won’t let him take you away.”
Outside the small window, the city was slowly waking up.
Morning sunlight spread across the rooftops.
Olivia forced herself to stand up.
“Alright,” she said quietly.
“Time to figure out our future.”
She walked to the tiny table and opened her laptop.
Her savings from the divorce settlement would last for a while.
But raising a child required much more than money.
She needed stability.
A job.
A new life far away from Adrian Kingsley.
As Olivia browsed job listings, her phone suddenly vibrated.
Her heart jumped.
Unknown number.
Again.
Olivia stared at the screen for a few seconds before answering cautiously.
“Hello?”
“Miss Bennett.”
It was Daniel.
Olivia closed her eyes briefly.
“What is it now?”
“Mr. Kingsley would like to meet you.”
“I already said no.”
“Miss Bennett—”
“There’s nothing left to talk about.”
Daniel remained polite but firm.
“Mr. Kingsley insists.”
Olivia let out a frustrated breath.
“Then tell him to stop insisting.”
She ended the call.
But only ten seconds later—
Her phone rang again.
Olivia frowned.
“Seriously?”
She answered again.
“What?”
This time…
the voice on the other end was different.
Cold.
Deep.
Familiar.
“Olivia.”
Her heart instantly froze.
Adrian Kingsley.
“How did you get my number?” she asked sharply.
“You forgot,” Adrian replied calmly. “I’ve had your number for two years.”
Olivia clenched her jaw.
“What do you want?”
“We need to talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
Adrian’s voice remained steady.
“You went to the hospital last night.”
Olivia’s grip on the phone tightened.
“So?”
“You fainted.”
“I’m fine.”
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is the point?”
Adrian paused.
“The point,” he said slowly, “is that you’re hiding something.”
Olivia felt her heart pound loudly in her chest.
“You’re imagining things.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.”
Silence filled the line for a moment.
Then Adrian said quietly,
“The hospital mentioned a pregnancy report.”
Olivia’s breath caught.
But she forced herself to remain calm.
“So what?”
“Are you pregnant?”
The direct question hit like a bullet.
Olivia looked down at her stomach instinctively.
“No.”
The lie came out quickly.
Adrian didn’t speak.
But Olivia could almost feel his sharp gaze through the phone.
“You’re lying,” he said finally.
“I’m not.”
“Olivia.”
“What?”
“If you are pregnant…”
His voice turned colder.
“…you’d better tell me the truth.”
Olivia laughed softly.
“Why?”
Another pause.
Then Adrian replied,
“Because if that child is mine—”
Olivia cut him off immediately.
“It’s not.”
Her voice was firm.
Sharp.
Adrian’s tone darkened.
“You sound very sure.”
“I am.”
“Then meet me.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to see you.”
Adrian’s patience was clearly thinning.
“You don’t get to refuse me.”
Olivia’s anger finally surfaced.
“Oh really?”
“Yes.”
“Well watch me.”
She ended the call again.
Her heart was racing.
Her hands were trembling.
“That was too close,” she whispered.
If Adrian kept digging…
he might eventually discover the truth.
Olivia took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.
“I need to leave this city,” she murmured.
The idea suddenly felt very clear.
If she stayed here, Adrian would eventually find her.
But if she disappeared somewhere far away—
he would never know.
Olivia immediately opened her laptop again and searched for apartments in other cities.
But just as she began typing—
A loud knock suddenly echoed through the apartment door.
Olivia froze.
Another knock followed.
“Miss Bennett,” a male voice said from outside.
Her heart dropped.
That voice…
Daniel.
Olivia stood up slowly.
“How did they find me already?” she whispered.
Another knock.
“Miss Bennett, we know you’re inside.”
Olivia walked quietly toward the door.
Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure they could hear it.
“Please open the door,” Daniel said.
Olivia took a deep breath.
Then she opened it.
Daniel stood in the hallway wearing his usual formal suit.
Behind him…
was Adrian Kingsley.
Tall.
Cold.
Imposing.
Just like always.
Olivia felt the air leave her lungs.
Adrian’s dark eyes locked onto hers instantly.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Adrian stepped forward slightly.
“You hung up on me twice,” he said calmly.
Olivia crossed her arms.
“You deserved it.”
Adrian’s gaze slowly moved down her body before returning to her face.
“You look thinner.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Everything about you used to be my business.”
“Not anymore.”
The tension between them thickened.
Daniel awkwardly cleared his throat.
“Perhaps we should talk inside.”
Olivia shook her head immediately.
“No.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“You’re going to make this difficult?”
“You already made my life difficult.”
Adrian studied her carefully.
Something about Olivia seemed different.
Stronger.
More distant.
Not the obedient wife he remembered.
Finally Adrian spoke again.
“I’ll ask you one last time.”
Olivia lifted her chin.
“What?”
“Are you pregnant?”
The hallway suddenly felt very quiet.
Olivia could feel her heart hammering against her ribs.
But her face remained calm.
“No.”
Adrian stared at her.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“You’re lying again.”
Olivia stepped back toward the door.
“Believe whatever you want.”
She started to close it.
But Adrian suddenly placed his hand against the door.
Stopping it.
Olivia looked up at him angrily.
“What are you doing?”
Adrian leaned slightly closer.
His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
“If you think you can hide something from me…”
His dark eyes locked onto hers.
“…you’re making a very big mistake.”
Olivia refused to back down.
“You don’t control me anymore.”
Adrian’s lips curved slightly.
“We’ll see.”
Then he stepped away from the door.
Olivia slammed it shut immediately.
Her entire body trembled.
On the other side of the door, Daniel looked uneasy.
“Mr. Kingsley… should we leave?”
Adrian stared at the closed door for several seconds.
Then he spoke quietly.
“She’s lying.”
Daniel blinked.
“You’re sure?”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“I’ve known Olivia Bennett for two years.”
His eyes darkened.
“And she’s a terrible liar.”
Daniel hesitated.
“What do you want to do?”
Adrian turned and walked toward the stairs.
“Investigate the hospital.”
“Yes, sir.”
Adrian stopped walking for a moment.
Then he added coldly—
“And if Olivia Bennett really is pregnant…”
A dangerous smile slowly appeared on his face.
“…I will find out exactly who the father is.”
- Writer
