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The Mask(CH-13)

Ch13

Olivia stared at the crushed paper in Ryan’s hand. Her entire body felt cold. Her breath trembled as if fear was crawling under her skin.

She whispered, “He… he was there, Ryan. In the hospital. Watching me. All this time…”

Ryan moved closer, gently holding her face in his hands. “Olivia, I won’t let him hurt you. Not again. I swear.”

“But why me?” she said, her voice cracking. “Why am I always the one left behind, attacked, threatened… even by my own blood?”

Her eyes filled with tears, and she tried to turn away, but Ryan pulled her into a warm, firm hug.

“You are not alone anymore,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. “Not this time. I’ll face everything with you.”

But Olivia was shaking, tears running down her cheeks. “You don’t understand, Ryan. He’s not just trying to ruin you… he’s playing with me. Making me feel like that little helpless girl again. I—I don’t know if I can handle this…”

Ryan tightened his arms around her. “Then let me carry some of your fear. I can’t promise a perfect life, Olivia, but I promise to never leave your side.”

Her breath hitched. Slowly, she looked up at him, her eyes searching his.

“Why do you care so much?” she asked, almost in a whisper.

He paused, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“Because I’ve known what it’s like to be unloved… unseen. And when I saw you, I saw a reflection of every emotion I had to bury,” he whispered. “But you… you made me feel again.”

The silence between them spoke louder than words. Olivia stepped back, still trembling, but this time, from something more than fear. She leaned forward, her forehead resting on his, and whispered:

“Don’t leave me.”

“I won’t,” Ryan whispered back. “Never.”

And in that quiet, broken moment, their lips met — not out of passion, but out of shared pain, hope, and the desperate need for comfort.

Back at home, Olivia sat curled up on the sofa, her knees to her chest. Her hands trembled as she clutched Ryan’s hoodie closer to her body. Even in the silence, her heart wouldn’t stop racing. The scene from earlier — Richard’s face, his words, the fear — kept playing on repeat in her mind.

Ryan returned after a short call, his expression calm but sharp, like someone who had just cut off a storm before it could begin. He sat down beside her, gently placing his hand over hers.

“It’s done,” he said softly. “Richard won’t bother you anymore.”

Olivia looked up with wide, scared eyes. “But… how? Won’t it affect your image? Your career? I don’t want to be the reason you lose anything, Ryan…”

He turned toward her completely and cupped her face with both hands. “Olivia,” he said firmly, “it was a very small thing for me. I didn’t even have to try hard. People like him… don’t deserve power. He messed with you, and I don’t let anyone touch what matters to me.”

Her lips quivered. “But I’m not worth losing anything for…”

Ryan's eyes softened instantly, hurt flashing in them for a second. “Don’t say that. You’re worth everything I have. You’re not a weakness, Olivia. You’re the reason I feel again.”

Tears filled her eyes as she looked away. “I was so scared. I thought I was dragging you down…”

He pulled her close, his arms wrapped around her protectively. “No, Liv. You’re the one who lifts me. And if there’s ever a battle, let me fight it — for you, with you. This one?” he smiled gently, “this was nothing.”

She hugged him tighter, her body still trembling slightly. He kissed her hair and whispered, “Nothing’s going to happen to you. Not while I’m here.”

And in that quiet moment, Olivia finally let herself cry — not in fear, but in relief.