Chapter 4

Olivia's POV

"I don't think this is a small matter."

Damien's gaze, deep and intense, met mine. His tone was polite but carried an unshakeable firmness. "This is about her reputation."

The sight of Damien sent a thundercloud rolling across Ethan's face.

He clearly hadn't expected Damien to step in for me, and the public defense was a direct blow to his ego. "Mr. Costello, I saw Olivia push Sophia with my own eyes. I trust Sophia. She wouldn't accuse someone for no reason."

Ethan's words were no surprise. He would never, ever take my side.

A cold laugh escaped my lips. I cut straight to the chase. "You'd lie through your teeth just to protect her?"

"I'm not lying!"

Sophia's lip trembled, her wide, tear-filled eyes fixed on me as a single, perfect tear traced a path down her flawless cheek. She sniffled, her voice catching in a sob as she made a dramatic vow. "If I'm wrongfully accusing you, may I suffer a horrible fate."

"Well, if you're lying or not, the security cameras will tell us, won't they?"

Right. The cameras. I'd almost forgotten.

I shot Damien a grateful look. "Then I'll have to trouble you to pull the footage, Mr. Costello."

"No problem."

"Wait." Sophia bit her lip, tear tracks still glistening on her face. She suddenly adopted a mask of magnanimity. "It's not like I need an apology. Since Olivia is so unwilling, let's just forget it."

"Oh, we can't do that." I walked towards her, crouching down to meet her gaze. "I can't let you suffer such an injustice. If I really did it, what's a simple apology?"

A flicker of viciousness crossed her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something more, but Damien cut her off. "Ms. Johnson, my people are already retrieving the video. We'll know the truth soon enough. Let's just be patient."

As if on cue, a member of the security staff arrived, holding a device with the footage.

The video was crystal clear. I hadn't even brushed the hem of Sophia's dress.

When the screen went black, Sophia's face was a burning shade of crimson.

At some point, Ethan had removed his hand from her shoulder. His voice had turned cold. "Sophia, did Olivia really push you?"

"I don't really remember," Sophia stammered, her voice cracking with a feigned, helpless panic. "Right after Olivia passed me, I suddenly felt dizzy, and then I fell. I subconsciously assumed she pushed me."

She stumbled towards Ethan, a masterclass in playing the victim. "Ever since we lost our baby, I've been getting these dizzy spells. And when I fell just now, I twisted my ankle. That's why I accidentally misunderstood Olivia."

"Since it was a misunderstanding, I assume Ms. Johnson won't mind apologizing to Ms. Spencer?"

Damien's magnetic voice cut through the air. He was actually demanding justice for me. My heart did a traitorous little flutter.

Sophia buried half her face in Ethan's chest, looking up at him with watery eyes. "Ethan, you believe me, don't you? I didn't do it on purpose. I was just so upset, when I felt dizzy, for a second, I thought I saw our baby."

"Don't cry. Our baby would be heartbroken to see you cry." Ethan's expression was pure adoration, as if her slightest discomfort was a physical blow to him.

"So you believe me?" Sophia pressed.

"I believe you," Ethan soothed, patting her back gently, his eyes soft.

Sophia sniffled, slowly calming under his touch. She turned those big, innocent doe eyes on my impassive face. The contrast made me look like the cold-hearted villain in her fairy tale.

Ethan, his heart clearly aching for her, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and started to lead her away.

"Wait." I stopped him, lifting my chin to look him directly in the eye. My voice was ice. "She hasn't apologized to me yet."

"Sophia twisted her ankle. I have to get her to a hospital immediately."

"And how is that my problem?" I asked, spreading my hands, not giving an inch.

"Olivia." Ethan's furious retort was cut short by Damien.

"Mr. Smith," Damien said, his eyes laced with mockery. "As a proper husband, I believe your duty right now is to see that your wife gets the justice she deserves."

In that moment, I was profoundly, overwhelmingly grateful that the father of my child was Damien Costello.

Ethan's face was grim, the hand on Sophia's waist frozen. He was a classic bully, preying on the weak and cowering before the strong. He would never dare to cross Damien.

To save his own skin, he had to sacrifice someone else. "Sophia, apologize to Olivia."

Sophia pointed at herself in disbelief, her voice a petulant whine. "I don't want to."

"Do it." Ethan's tone hardened. It was the first time I'd ever heard him speak to her that way. He was genuinely terrified of Damien.

Like a frightened rabbit, Sophia timidly raised her head. It was a look designed to trigger a man's protective instincts, and Ethan was its primary target.

"I misunderstood you. I'm sorry," she mumbled.

I tilted my head, waiting for more. The silence stretched.

"That was utterly insincere."

"What more do you want?" My attitude finally snapped Ethan's patience.

"I seem to recall the last time you wrongly accused me, you demanded I kneel and repent. Unfortunately, my form was a little off. I was hoping to see a demonstration of the proper technique."

"Olivia, don't you dare go too far!"

Sophia burst into fresh sobs, burying her face in Ethan's chest and letting him fight her battle.

He patted her back, murmuring, "It's okay, I'm here."

"I will only accept that form of apology," I insisted.

Ethan's eyes blazed with fury. "Olivia, don't think you can do whatever you want just because someone has your back! You want Sophia to kneel? In your dreams!"

To so brazenly defend his mistress at a party this grand, he truly had no shame.

I remained silent, but my stance was unwavering.

Damien's low voice broke the stalemate. He gave a subtle nod to a nearby waiter, then approached Sophia with a full bottle of whiskey. "Actually, there is another way to apologize."

He held up the bottle. The implication was clear.

Sophia's shoulders began to tremble. Her eyes were wide with terror. "I can't drink." She shrank back, her eyes glistening under the lights.

Ethan hugged her tighter, his voice thick with protective rage as he grabbed a glass. "I'll drink for her."

Damien's eyebrow arched in amusement. "Are you sure?"

Ethan's hateful glare shot past Damien, nailing me to the spot. "She's my woman. Of course, I'll protect her." His eyes were full of defiance, as if the entire world were conspiring against their tragic love story. It was pathetic.

The whiskey was strong. By the last glass, Ethan was swaying on his feet. Sophia dabbed at the liquor dribbling from the corner of his mouth, the back of her hand becoming damp. His eyes burning with rage, he snarled at Damien, "Can we go now?"

Damien looked at me, his voice a low rumble. "That depends on whether Ms. Spencer is satisfied."

A slow smile spread across my face. "Satisfied."

The farce was finally over. I didn't see either of them for the rest of the evening.

Damien, on the other hand, kept popping into my line of sight, forcing me to devote most of my attention to him.

Should I take this chance? Should I tell him about the baby?

By the time the party ended, I still hadn't worked up the courage.

But then, in the parking garage, I saw him again. It felt like a sign from the universe. I rushed forward. "Mr. Costello! It's me, Olivia. I have something incredibly important to discuss with you. Can you spare three minutes? Just three minutes."

"Ma'am, please step back." His bodyguard blocked my path, and all I could do was watch helplessly as his car pulled away, disappearing into the night.