THE EMPIRE BETWEEN US

Chapter 4: A Frosty Reunion

Olivia

“You always did like playing the victim, didn’t you, Olivia?”

Ryan’s smug tone hit me like icy water, his words reverberating in the crowded school auditorium where Emma’s rehearsal was happening. I gripped the edge of a chair, struggling to keep my composure.

“Excuse me?” I whispered, keeping my voice low to avoid drawing attention.

He leaned in closer, his smile calculated. “I’m just saying, it’s quite the act. Single mom, returning to her roots, trying to rebuild her life with the same family she abandoned. You must have the whole town eating out of your hand.” He started. “You are being manipulative as usual, cooking up a pitiful story to receive sympathy from the town folks. I wonder what Richard would have to say about it." My heart kept beating in fear. Richard was my grandfather and he would not be pleased about it. It would be a way for him to rope me back in the family's wealth, controlling me.

I wanted to scream at him, to remind him that this mess was his doing, but the sound of Emma’s voice pulled my attention back to the stage. She was standing front and centre, her cheeks pink with excitement as she delivered her lines. She was glowing, completely unaware of the tension crackling between her parents in the audience.

I lowered my voice, biting out my words. “You don’t get to show up here and pretend to care, Ryan. Emma doesn’t need you confusing her.” Some words still lingered in my mind. “You have the nerve to show up here and start calling me names, when you are the one who is manipulative. Manipulated me for years, thinking nothing was going on between you and that w***e that you f**k every now and then. You should leave, we do not need you here.”

He shrugged, leaning back in his seat. “Emma deserves to have both her parents, don’t you think? Or would you rather she grow up thinking I’m the villain in your sob story?”

I turned away from him, my jaw tightened as I focused on Emma’s rehearsal. I refused to let Ryan ruin this moment for her.

***

Later that evening, the town’s Christmas party was in full swing. Strings of twinkling lights hang from every building, and the smell of mulled cider and roasted chestnuts filled the crisp winter air. Emma ran ahead, her laughter echoing as she darted between booths with her new friends.

I lingered near the edge of the square, clutching a cup of cider for warmth, when I spotted Ethan across the crowd. He was leaning against a booth, talking to Michael, but his eyes found me almost instantly.

I quickly looked away, my thoughts still tangled in the fragments of his conversation I overheard.

"If she finds out what really happened, why I left, she’ll never forgive me."

Before I could dwell on it, a ripple of excitement moved through the crowd, followed by the click of high heels on cobblestones. Vanessa Miller, the daughter of a Mogul in my grandfather's circle.

She swept into the square like she owned the place, her long fur-lined coat and perfectly styled hair making her look like she just stepped out of a holiday magazine. Her gaze locked onto Ethan, and a smile spread across her face as she sauntered over to him. I hid my shock, the pain in my chest tightened. Who is she to him?

“Ethan,” she purred, wrapping her arms around his neck in a move that’s far too intimate for an ex.

I froze, my chest tightened as I watched the interaction. Ethan stiffened but didn't pull away, his expression unreadable.

Michael, on the other hand, looked thoroughly amused. “Vanessa. Still making grand entrances, I see.”

She tossed her hair over her shoulder, ignoring him. “Well, a girl’s got to make an impression.”

Her eyes drifted to me, and the smile she gave me was anything but friendly. “Olivia West. I heard you were back in town. How...quaint.” She dragged her words. “You know I'm not used to life here but Ethan has always been obsessed with this place and always preferred here than the comfort of our mansion. He wanted us to take a vacation here. I just figured it is high time I see what the fuss is all about. It's good to see some things never change.”

“Vanessa,” I replied coolly, forcing a polite smile. “It’s been a long time.”

“Not long enough,” she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for me to catch.

Ethan cleared his throat, stepping out of her grasp. “Vanessa, this isn’t the time.”

“Oh, come on,” she said, her tone teasing. “Don’t tell me you’re still upset about how things ended between us. You know I have a habit of leaving men and wanting more.”

I glanced at Ethan, my stomach twisting. He didn't deny it, his silence speaking volumes.

Vanessa turned her attention back to me, her smile was razor-sharp. “You should be careful, Olivia. Ethan has a way of making women think they’re special. I fall for it everytime because that's how our connection works."

“Vanessa,” Ethan snapped, his tone finally turning sharp. “That’s enough.”

But the damage was done. I excused myself, muttering something about checking on Emma, and head toward the edge of the square, my thoughts a whirlwind.

***

I found Emma near a group of carolers, her cheeks flushed from the cold. She was laughing, holding a small stuffed bear that one of the vendors must have given her.

“Where’d you get that, sweetie?” I asked, kneeling down to her level.

“Daddy got it for me,” she said brightly.

My stomach sank “Daddy? Ryan was here?”

She nodded, holding the bear tighter. “He said it was a secret.”

My pulse quickened. 'What is Ryan up to? And why is he involving Emma in whatever game he’s playing?' I was tired at this point.

Before I could press her further, Mike appeared at my side, his expression concerned.

“Olivia, are you okay?”

Taking myself outside the hall, I straightened, crossing my arms. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, I know Vanessa can be... a lot. Don’t let her get to you.”

“Why would she get to me?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. “Not like there is anything between Ethan and I. You don't have to explain to me.”

Mike frowned, his gaze searching mine. “You’re upset. I can tell.”

I shook my head, letting out a bitter laugh. “Upset doesn’t even begin to cover it. First you tell mom, I was coming when I told you not to tell anyone. Second, you know what Ethan did to me. Left me at the altar. And you are still friends with him. You blame me for marrying Ryan. Now, you are constantly hanging out with him here, at our house. A place I chose to hide away from Papa."

Mike stepped closer, his voice commanding. "I hated him for that. But his family died and you wanted a wedding. I saw his reason, and I chose to be his friend. Don't blame me if you are hiding from grandpa when he gave you everything but you chose to leave it all behind for that bastard. You abandoned the company when we needed you most and now you are back here and you think he won't find out."

"You told him?" I yelled at him.

"Ryan did."

I ran my fingers through my copper hair. “Fine, why is Ethan here?"

He shifted his gaze from my eyes. "I did what I needed to do. Ethan has the resources..."

"Mike, what the f**k did you do?"

"I made him the biggest shareholder in our company."

Time stopped. Before I could react, a black SUV, parked in front of us... It was Grandpa. Richard's voice cuts through the night like a blade.

“What is this I hear about you getting a divorce with Ryan?” We both turn to see him standing a few feet away, his glare firmly in place. I kept quiet. "We will discuss this at the mansion..."

"Papa, I'm not leaving neither am I going back to Ryan."