Hidden face

The Mask(CH-14)

Ch14

The next few days passed quietly. Olivia was back home, recovering not just physically but emotionally. Ryan stayed by her side — not out of obligation, but something deeper. A sense of protection. Of care. Of connection.

One night, while rain tapped softly against the windows, Olivia sat on the balcony wrapped in a blanket, staring at the sky. Ryan walked out and sat beside her, holding two mugs of hot cocoa.

She gave him a soft smile. “Thank you… for everything.”

Ryan took a sip, then looked at her. “Can I ask you something?”

She nodded.

“When did it all start? The fear. The… hurt.”

Olivia's smile faded. She took a deep breath. “It wasn’t just Richard leaving us. It was how he left. One day he was there, and the next, I found out he had another family. Another child. My mom broke down. I stopped being a kid that day.”

Ryan stayed quiet, letting her speak.

“I became the adult. I cooked. I cleaned. I told her I was okay even when I wasn’t. And every time I saw him on TV or in magazines, laughing with them, I wondered what I did wrong.”

Her voice cracked. Ryan reached for her hand.

“You did nothing wrong,” he said gently. “He failed you. Not the other way around.”

She looked into his eyes. “And you? You always seem strong… but I know you’re not untouched by pain.”

Ryan hesitated, then looked away. “My parents… fought like enemies. Every day. Divorce is going to be a relief, not a tragedy. But what hurt more was being ignored in between. I stopped expecting birthdays to be remembered. Hugs to be given. I stopped expecting… love.”

There was silence.

Then Olivia moved closer and whispered, “You deserve love. The kind that stays.”

Ryan looked at her, his eyes softening. “So do you.”

They leaned into each other, not as broken pieces — but as two souls beginning to heal, layer by layer.

A few days later, life seemed to settle. Olivia’s health was stable, and the shadows of Richard’s presence slowly faded. Ryan, true to his word, never left her side. Their bond deepened — silent glances, shared laughter, soft comfort. It felt like something real. Something that could last.

The school reopened. It was their first day back after everything. Olivia walked beside Ryan, their fingers brushing but not quite holding. She smiled, finally feeling a bit normal again.

That’s when she arrived.

Her name was Celeste Rivera — a new admission in their class. Sharp eyes, confident walk and an elegance that made heads turn. She was polite, graceful, and strangely quiet — yet something about her felt... off.

At lunch, Celeste sat near Olivia and Ryan.

“You’re Ryan Gold, right?” she asked with a soft smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Ryan gave a polite nod, clearly surprised. “From?”

Celeste tilted her head slightly. “Let’s just say… I know your world.”

Olivia’s smile faltered for a moment. There was something in Celeste’s eyes — not cruel, but distant… guarded.

As the days passed, Olivia noticed how Celeste would appear when Ryan was alone. How she spoke about things only someone close to Ryan’s past would know. Olivia never said anything. But slowly, the pieces started falling into place.

One afternoon, while helping in the library, Olivia came across an old photograph — half-buried in the school archive box. It was of Ryan… and Celeste… as children.

Olivia’s heart skipped a beat. Why hadn’t he told her?

She turned to find Ryan standing at the doorway, silent.

“I was going to tell you,” he said softly, “but I was scared you'd think the past still matters.”