Olivia’s POV
My head was resting on Maxwell’s shoulder.
I didn’t even realize I’d done it at first - just leaned into him naturally, like my body knew where it wanted to be even when my brain was still figuring things out.
By the ti I beca aware of the warmth of his body, the steady rise and fall of his breathing, the subtle scent of his cologne, it was too late to pull away without making it awkward.
So I stayed.
Told myself it was fine. We were friends now. Friends could sit close. Friends could offer comfort.
Except it didn’t feel like friendship.
It felt like coming ho.
And that terrified .
Maxwell didn’t say anything. Didn’t move. Just sat there, perfectly still, like he was afraid any movent might spook into pulling away.
I could feel the tension in his body though. The careful control. Like he was holding himself back from wrapping his arm around , from pulling closer, from turning this innocent contact into sothing more.
In as much as we were friends now, this didn’t feel right. Things were still too raw, too fresh. Too many unresolved questions hanging between us. I needed ti. Space. Distance to figure out what I actually wanted without his proximity scrambling my thoughts.
My neck was starting to hurt from the angle, but I couldn’t lift my head. Not yet. That would acknowledge what we were doing, make it real.
So I stayed frozen, willing for sothing - anything - to happen that would give an excuse to move.
The universe answered.
The door to Damien’s room burst open.
Kira ran out, her hands clamped over her mouth, her face pale and streaked with tears.
I jumped up so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash.
"Kira!"
She didn’t stop. Didn’t even look back. Just ran down the hallway like demons were chasing her.
I took off after her, my heart in my throat. Behind , I heard Kennedy curse and start running too.
"Kira! Wait!" I called out, but she was moving fast, driven by whatever had happened in that room with Damien.
She burst through a door marked "Won’s Restroom" and disappeared inside.
Kennedy was right behind , already reaching for the door handle.
I stepped in front of him. "You can’t go in there."
"The hell I can’t! She’s upset..."
"Kennedy." I put my hand on his chest. "It’s a won’s restroom. You literally cannot go in there."
"I don’t give a damn about..."
"I’ll talk to her." I kept my voice firm, calm. "Let go in. I’ll see what’s wrong. I’ll help her. But you bursting in there right now? That’s not going to help anything."
Kennedy’s jaw worked, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. He looked torn between respect for boundaries and desperate need to protect.
"Please," I added softly. "Trust . I’ve got her."
He finally nodded, stepping back but not moving away from the door. "I’ll wait right here. If she needs ..."
"I’ll co get you. I promise."
I pushed through the door.
The bathroom was empty except for Kira, who sat crumpled on the floor in the corner, her knees pulled up to her chest, her face buried between them, her whole body shaking with sobs.
My heart shattered.
"Oh, Kira." I moved quickly, dropping down beside her and pulling her into my arms. "It’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re safe. You’re okay."
She collapsed against , her sobs turning violent, her fingers clutching my sweater like I was the only thing keeping her tethered to earth.
"I know," I murmured, rocking her gently. "I know kidnapping can be traumatic. I can’t even imagine what you went through. But I’m here now. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. We’re going to get through this together."
I held her while she cried, running my hand through her short hair, whispering soft reassurances.
"You’re the strongest person I know. You survived. You made it out. That’s what matters."
"The fear you’re feeling right now? It’s normal. It’s valid. But it won’t last forever. You’re going to heal from this."
"I’ve got you. Kennedy’s got you. We’re all here. You’re not alone."
Gradually, her sobs quieted to hiccups, then to shaky breaths.
When she finally looked up at , her eyes were red and swollen, her face blotchy.
My heart ached looking at her.
"I’m going to visit those bastards in prison," I said fiercely. "I’m going to make sure they pay for what they put you through. I’ll deal with them myself if I have to."
Kira sniffed, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. "The bastards wanted to keep there," she said, her voice hoarse. "As their wife. A breeding machine. They said... they said they’d make give them many children."
A shudder of horror ran through . "Oh God, Kira."
"They were going to keep . Use . And I couldn’t... I couldn’t..." Her voice broke again.
"That’s terrible. That’s disgusting. That’s..." I pulled her closer. "But you got out. You survived. And they’re going to rot in prison for what they tried to do."
"If not for Damien..." Kira’s voice was barely a whisper. "If he hadn’t gotten shot protecting , If his security hadn’t tracked us, I don’t know what would’ve beco of ."
I nodded, swallowing my own complicated feelings about Damien Wellington. I’d never liked him much - there was sothing too mischievous about him, too knowing in his eyes, like he was always three steps ahead and enjoying watching everyone else hustle to catch up.
But for Kira’s sake, I’d be willing to give him a chance.
"He’s a good man," I said, aning it. "I was wrong about him. I’m sorry I misjudged him. He saved your life. He risked his own life for you. That’s... that’s incredible."
"He’s not a good man." Kira’s voice was flat, dead. "He’s not good at all."
I pulled back to look at her. "What? Kira, what are you talking about? The man literally took a bullet for you..."
"Damien is Eddie."
I blinked. "What?"
"Eddie. My mysterious boyfriend. My online boyfriend who I’ve been talking to for weeks now. Who I’ve been falling for. Who I’ve been..." Her voice cracked. "It’s Damien. Damien is Eddie."
"That’s... no. That’s impossible. That’s a lie."
"It’s not a lie!" Kira’s eyes blazed with betrayal and anguish. "His middle na is Edward. Eddie is short for Edward. He just told . He’s been - he’s been talking to this whole ti. Loving . Making promises. All while being my boss. All while knowing I was a woman when I thought I was fooling him."
"Kira..."
"It’s wickedness, Liv. Pure evil. He watched pretend to be Kyle. Watched fall in love with Eddie. He played gas with my feelings in that club, Olivia. He watched start dating Kennedy. All while knowing... while being..." She couldn’t finish.
"Oh my God."
"The only reason I haven’t abandoned him in that hospital bed is because he saved my life. But how..." Tears spilled over again. "How am I supposed to face Kennedy after this? How am I supposed to tell him that the man I’ve been in love with for weeks before I t him is my boss."
My mind was spinning.
Damien was Eddie. Kira’s mystery boyfriend.
Which ant...
Oh my God.
"Liv? Why do you look like that?" Kira grabbed my arm. "What’s wrong?"
"Could he..." I could barely get the words out. "Could he be mine too?"
"What?" Kira’s eyes went wide. "What do you an?"
The words tumbled out in a rush. "The last ti I was at Maxwell’s mansion - rember? When we got back from Chicago? All four n were there. Maxwell, Damien, Gabriel, and Alex. And my stranger ca to my room that night."
"Your stranger? He ca?"
"Yes! He ca up to my room, but he was in disguise. Wearing a mask. He confird it was him - confird he was one of those four n - but he wouldn’t tell which one. He knew his around the house, and only soone close to Maxwell can pull that off.!"
Kira’s mouth fell open.
"And Damien..." I continued, the mories flooding back. "Damien was acting so weird that night. He kept looking at in this way that made want to cringe. Like he knew sothing I didn’t. Like he was laughing at so private joke."
"That motherfucker," Kira breathed.
"He was everywhere I turned. Always watching. Always smirking. I thought he was just being creepy, but what if..."
"What if he was your stranger too." Kira finished, her eyes blazing now. "That motherfucker has been playing both of us!"
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