Chapter 3 Are You Harassing Me?
Olivia Hart
My feet stood at the edge of the bridge… and my heart was beneath Alexander Kane’s shoe.
“So that’s what it was, Alexander. I was just worthless entertainment.”
I climbed onto the ledge and leaned against the bridge barrier, staring at the water below.
“How badly I want to end my life… How badly I want to leave this hell.”
The height was terrifying, tempting me to jump into its deepest point. A broken girl like me would probably find peace in something like this.
A father who hated me, and now a poisonous lover who betrayed me.
A sob tore out of me against my will.
“I can’t handle the humiliation waiting for me tonight… or the things they’ll say. I’m tired of this miserable life. Tired of everyone around me.”
A fishing boat floated directly beneath me, catching my attention.
“No one would grieve me except Evelyn. She’s the only one who’d cry after I’m gone.”
My tears wouldn’t stop.
I lookef to the river beneath me… on the distance between us.
Clenching my teeth, I shut my trembling eyes with reckless determination.
“Show them you’re strong enough to throw your own life away.”
My pulse had reached its limit. Adrenaline burned through me that one more second would’ve been enough to make me jump.
“Oh my God!”
A rough masculine voice exploded behind me.
Deep. Harsh. For one insane second, it felt like it had fallen from the sky itself. The force in it shook my feet against the concrete.
“You!”
He was standing right behind me. I would’ve thought he was just another passerby if not for the sound of his car stopping moments before he spoke, making it obvious he’d noticed me from the road.
“You!”
“Hey, little one.”
The way he said it carried the confidence of a man used to being obeyed.
“Do you really want to die like this?”
Curiosity dragged me into turning around.
A man around his thirties stood there in perfect elegance.
“Yes!”
The word burst from me as I fully faced him.
“W-what’s it to you? What kind of stupid question is that?”
He extended his hand toward me, motioning for me to step down from the ledge. His expression left no room for argument.
“Don’t you dare. Move away from the edge!”
“These teenage stunts don’t suit a girl like you. Right?”
My eyes widened. A step carried me backward without thinking, unsettled by how close he’d come.
“You have no right to interfere in my business!”
While I kept rambling, his bold gaze traveled over my thighs.
My brows furrowed.
“Are you harassing me?”
I’d expected him to laugh at the ridiculousness of what I said.
His seriousness caught my attention.
“What exactly would make me harass a little girl?” he asked. “Besides, I’m married. I already have a beautiful wife.”
His dark eyes lifted toward mine.
“I won’t wait long. Get down before I drag you down myself.”
“Don’t come near me or I’ll throw myself over right in front of you..!!”
“who are you anyway? You think I’m weak?”
He stopped only one step away from me. From where I stood, those heavy dark eyes were impossible to miss against the sharp whiteness around them.
“You with the beautiful eyes,” he said, still trying to talk me out of it, “don’t throw your soul away.”
“If you take one more step, I’ll jump anyway… I hate men. Everything about them.”
One hand slipped into the pocket of his coat, ignoring the way I couldn’t stop staring at him, as though I’d suddenly found someone sharing my misery despite all his coldness.
“Jumping from here won’t change anything,” he said. “No one will mourn your loss. Believe me.”
My body turned toward the river again. I watched the waves below and answered through a painful knot in my throat,
“Wonderful, stranger. How delightful of you to tell me that.”
“Oh God… here I come.”
A bitter smile crossed my face as I prepared to throw myself over no matter how hard it would be.
Then his curse cut through the air, sharp with anger.
“Fuck.”
He grabbed my coat and yanked me violently against his chest.
A startled scream ripped out of me. My eyes squeezed shut as I crashed into his strong arms, the only thing keeping me from slamming into the ground.
“I’m starting to think you’re drugged or insane,” he muttered. “Which one is it?”
His eyes examined every inch of my face.
From my eyes… to my trembling lips… then quickly lower toward the exposed curve of my chest.
There was something burning inside that gaze.
“So now you’ve gone quiet.”
I shoved against him, trying to climb down while still clutching the collar of his coat.
“Put me down right now!”
My fist slammed into his shoulder with all the strength I had.
He tossed me back onto the pavement, stripping away every trace of gentleness.
“Reckless little thing trying to bring out the worst in me…” His gaze lingered on my face again. “But you do have beautiful eyes.”
The broken anger in my voice clearly didn’t impress him. His stare still drifted across my features before dropping once more to the bare skin of my thighs.
“Who the hell are you, anyway? And why do you care about me?”
I shoved his wandering hand away so harshly that the sharp lines of his face tightened for a second.
“Keep your hands off me!”
At once, his gaze darkened.
That black aura surrounding him returned, swallowing every trace of warmth.
“It’s simple,” he said. “I just won’t sleep peacefully tonight after witnessing such a dramatic death scene, little one.”
A fake smile stretched across my lips, hoping his face would soften enough to calm my nerves.
“Sleep well then. Olivia didn’t die in front of you.”
My throat ached as I pushed myself upright. He didn’t bother helping me regain my balance. He only watched with visible impatience.
“Then stay alive, Olivia… until we meet again.”
After saying it, he turned and walked toward his luxury car without even checking whether I’d try jumping again.
“Damn you!”
“Arrogant stranger.”
And yet…
I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he said my name.
“Olivia.”
