Chapter 5 An Accident
Confused, Olivia’s arms dropped mid-motion, her expression faltering.
Sawyer headed straight to a table where a waiter had just served food. Ellie sat there, her face still alight with a dreamy smile as she stared at the retreating waiter’s muscular back.
"Ellie?!" Sawyer’s sharp voice snapped through the noise.
Ellie jumped in shock, the fork slipping from her fingers and clattering to the floor. Her heart leapt to her throat as she looked up, startled to find Sawyer towering over her.
‘Shit. How’d Narcissist Stark know that I’m here?!’ She panicked instantly.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Sawyer growled, grabbing her wrist and pulling her up from her seat. His brows were drawn tightly, his eyes narrowing. He glanced toward the waiter Ellie had been watching moments ago, his jaw clenching. "Are you having fun? Enjoying another man serving you? Fucking naked?"
Ellie shook her head quickly, her earlier grin wiped clean from her face. "No! Of course not. How could I—" she stammered, her voice meek as she looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. "It’s just… uh… an accident."
“What accident?” Sawyer growled, his voice low and seething with anger. He took a step closer, his burning gaze locking onto her, piercing through her with an intensity that made her heart race.
“Ellie Madden, how dare you look at other naked men and let them flirt with you when you already have a boyfriend like me?!” he spat, each word dripping with fury. “What kind of accident made you sit here and let that naked bastard serve himself to you on a fucking platter?!”
Ellie shook her head immediately, her face now completely devoid of the playful giggles that had been there earlier. "No, no. Sawyer, how could I?" Her voice was soft, almost pleading, as she stepped closer to him.
Her expression turned sullen, her tone soft and full of longing. She gripped his hand gently.
"You know how much I miss you all the time, don’t you?" she whispered, her eyes meeting his with an innocent, hurt gaze. "Every time you leave, I just keep missing you. When you left this morning, I didn’t see you at lunch either. I was losing my mind. So when I heard about this new restaurant opening nearby, I thought I’d just come here for dinner. I didn’t know…" She leaned in, as though whispering a secret. "I didn’t know there’d be naked men here." She trembled slightly, as if horrified at the mere thought. "I was so embarrassed. And I was too shy to leave. I just thought I’d finish my meal as soon as possible and go back home immediately. I didn’t want to be rude."
Sawyer stared at her for a beat too long, his eyes searching hers for any trace of deception. But all he saw were those doe eyes, looking up at him with an innocent, almost intimidated gaze, her hand still gripping his with a subtle, nervous shake.
He let out a long breath, his anger waning slightly.
"This is not a good place for girls like you," he muttered, his frown deepening. "What would have happened if I hadn’t shown up and seen you? Look at you—you're all red in the face."
‘If you hadn’t come, I would’ve had a great night, you scumbag!’ Ellie thought bitterly, glancing at her now-cold dinner. The hot waiter babe was long gone.
Before Sawyer could respond, a woman’s voice interrupted them.
"Is this the famous girl I’ve heard about?" Olivia’s voice echoed through the restaurant, making both Ellie and Sawyer freeze, turning toward her. "Is this the replacement you found, Sawyer?"
Ellie’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘What the hell is she doing here?’ she thought, her gaze flicking between Sawyer and Olivia. Had they come here together? But then her frown deepened. ‘Why would he bring his lover to a place like this? With naked men everywhere? Oh my god… is Narcissist Stark into some weird kind of fetishes?’ She shot a suspicious glance at Sawyer.
Sawyer blinked, finally registering Olivia’s presence.
"Olivia?" He looked at her, frowning. "What are you doing here? When did you come back? Why so suddenly?"
Olivia’s smile faltered instantly. She had expected Sawyer to be overjoyed at seeing her, but instead, he looked... disappointed? His tone, more curious and confused than happy, made her heart sink a little.
Her gaze shifted quickly from Sawyer’s face to Ellie’s hand still clutched in his.
"Aren’t you happy to see me?" Olivia asked, a forced smile tugging at her lips. "I’m back for good! Aren’t you happy to see me, finally back for you?" Her eyes moved from Ellie’s wrist to Sawyer’s face, her smile now laced with thinly veiled jealousy.
Sawyer let go of Ellie’s hand, straightening up as he focused on Olivia. "Of course I’m happy to see you after so long. I’m just surprised to see you return so suddenly."
“I heard that you found someone who looks just like me to be your girlfriend. Is it her?” Olivia pointed at Ellie. Though her tone wasn’t overtly rude, it carried a condescending undertone that was impossible to miss.
Ellie glanced between Sawyer and Olivia, feeling the tension in the air. Olivia was Sawyer’s childhood love, the girl who had flown overseas three years ago without a word to Sawyer, only to return now, as if nothing had changed. Sawyer must be thrilled to have her back.
But it was obvious—he wasn’t happy having Olivia and Ellie in the same room.
‘These two are about to get back together. What the hell am I still doing here?’ Ellie thought, her heart heavy. She stole a glance at Sawyer's face. 'I’m probably getting fired anyway. Before these two throw me out, I might as well quickly leave on my own.’
Ellie glanced at Sawyer, her expression unreadable as she grabbed a napkin from the table and wiped her hands absently. She kept her voice low, but there was an undeniable edge of hurt as she looked between him and Olivia.
"So, you didn’t come home for dinner tonight because you were busy on a date with Olivia?" she murmured softly. "You’re not coming home tonight, are you?"
Sawyer stiffened at her words, his brows knitting together. He was about to speak, but Ellie raised her hand, cutting him off. Her voice dropped to a dramatically sad, almost resigned tone as she continued.
"You should have just called and told me. I understand that your true love is back. I won’t make things hard for you." she said softly. Just for added touch, she even added a sniffle in between to sound devastated. She took a deep breath, grabbed her purse, and looked at Sawyer one last time. "I’m happy as long as it makes you happy. I’ll leave now. You two can enjoy your evening together."
Without waiting for a response, Ellie walked briskly past Sawyer.
Her footsteps were quick, but they felt heavy with the weight of her emotions. As she pushed open the restaurant door and stepped outside, the cool night air hit her face, but it did little to numb the tightness in her chest.
She didn’t look back at first, maintaining her composed mask, her emotions remained hidden. But then she stopped. Slowly, she glanced back at the closed door of the restaurant, her shoulders slumping.
No one followed her out.
Of course, he wouldn’t. She was nothing more than an inconvenient presence in their loving reunion.
"All men are the same," she whispered under her breath, the words bitter on her tongue.
It felt like a slap to the face. She had been with Sawyer for almost three years, had done so much for him, and yet, as soon as his lover returned, he cast her aside like she was nothing. Not even a glance when she walked away.
She turned around again, her lips trembling as she took a shuddering breath. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. But the image of Olivia and Sawyer standing together wouldn’t leave her mind. The anger and bitterness burned inside her, her heart aching.
Quickly, Ellie walked away, her purse tucked under her arm, her steps brisk as she distanced herself from the restaurant.
In the restaurant, when Sawyer realised Ellie was leaving, he immediately tried to follow her, but Olivia grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Sawyer, why are you chasing after her?" Olivia's voice was sharp.
Sawyer turned, his pissed off gaze shifting to her hand on his arm before slowly meeting her eyes. Olivia flinched. Instinctively, she let go of his arm at once.
But then, composing herself, she took a step closer, her hands reaching up to rest on his chest as she spoke, her eyes searching his. "Sawyer, we've been together since we were kids. Didn’t you always say that you love me more than anyone else in the world? Then why..." she glanced at the door, her frown deepening. "Why are you running after that girl? I’m right here. Isn’t that enough?"
Sawyer took a frustrated breath, his shoulders tense as he glanced around, seeing the still-present half-naked servers. "Let’s talk outside," he muttered, storming out of the restaurant.
The night air was crisp and bitter as they stood outside, the noise of the restaurant’s clamor fading behind them. Sawyer adjusted his coat, his other hand shoved in his pocket, and turned to face Olivia. His expression was unreadable.
He stood there for a moment, collecting his thoughts before speaking. "I have a question for you, too," he said, his voice more controlled now. "You never answered me. You left me three years ago without so much as a text. So why are you back now?"
"Sawyer." Olivia frowned, stepping closer to him and reaching out to touch his arm, but he raised his hand, stopping her in her tracks. His brows furrowed deeply as he took a subtle step back, creating a barrier between them. Ever since the fire at her home, every time she touched him, an uncomfortable tension coiled in his chest, one he couldn’t explain.
They had known each other since childhood, had once been so deeply in love that everyone assumed they were destined for forever. But now, no matter how much he tried, standing close to her felt suffocating.
Olivia’s jaw tightened at his rejection, her teeth clenching briefly as irritation flickered across her face. But she quickly masked it, forcing a strained smile as she took a calming breath and spoke patiently, her tone soft yet calculated.
"Sawyer, you know how bad things were after the fire. Our business was crumbling, and someone had to step in to save it. That’s why I had to leave out of the blue, to live overseas and take care of everything. I didn’t have a choice," she explained, her voice trembling slightly. "How else could I protect my parents and everything they built? I had to do it—for us, for our future."
His eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. "So, you left without a word?"
Olivia’s face softened into a sad expression, a hint of forced vulnerability seeping into her voice. "My parents made me do it," she replied, her gaze darting to the floor. "I told them I didn’t want to go, but they insisted. They forced me to leave."
She was lying.
Sawyer’s gaze lingered on her face, searching for even a sliver of the woman he had loved for so many years. The woman he had grown up with, who had been his entire world since childhood. But no matter how hard he looked, she wasn’t there.
He had known her family for years. He had a good relationship with them, and they had told him the truth the very day she had left. They had tried to stop Olivia from leaving, but she’d insisted on going overseas the moment the news broke about the power struggle in Sawyer’s family business. When the speculations were flying around the country that Sawyer might not be the next CEO of Stark Entertainment, she booked a flight and left the country even when her parents begged her to stay.
And now she was blaming them for it?
“Did it really have nothing to do with me not taking the CEO position back then?” Sawyer’s brow arched, his tone clipped.
Olivia froze for a moment, startled by the question, but she quickly shook her head, forcing a calm smile. “Of course not. What are you talking about? How could I be petty like that? You know I’ve always loved you. How could I ever leave you over something so stupid?”
Sawyer took a deep breath, his hand instinctively rising to scratch his nose as irritation flickered across his face.
Then, with visible effort, he pushed the feeling aside and looked at her again. This time, his eyes had softened—no longer cold, but distant, almost resigned. After all, she had been with him for many years. They had loved each other since they were kids. He couldn’t completely dismiss that.
“Alright. It’s good to see you’ve come back, Olivia.” he murmured.
Olivia’s face lit up, and she eagerly reached out to grab his hand. “Yes! I’m never going back again. I’m going to live here—and be with you.”
Sawyer simply nodded, his movements stiff as he pulled his hand out of hers. “I’m going to leave now. Get home early,” he said abruptly.
He turned and walked away, his back straight as he headed toward his car.
Olivia stood there, stunned, her eyes following him as he drove off without a second glance.
He was a man who would never leave Olivia alone. Wherever she was, he was there.
But now, after all these years, she had returned, and he had left her standing on the street?
Olivia watched in disbelief as Sawyer got into his car, and drove off without a second glance. Her hands clenched into fists as her anger boiled over.
Her angry eyes shot daggers as she stared after the car, fuming with frustration.
Then, with a sharp flip of her heels, she marched back inside the restaurant. Not finding Elliot there, she stormed into his office.
Elliot jumped from his seat in surprise. "What’s wrong?"
She continued marching until she was standing right in front of him. “Didn’t you keep saying over the phone all these years that he’s still madly in love with me? Then what the hell is going on? Why is he acting like I’m a stranger?"
Elliot took a calming breath, his hand patting her shoulder in an attempt to reassure her. "He must still be in shock," he said gently, sensing the rising anger in her. "You came back out of the blue. He’s probably still processing it. Give him some time."
Olivia breathed heavily, unable to shake off the humiliation. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself, then looked back at Elliot. “I’m just shocked. He loved me so much... why would he defend another woman in front of me?”
“It’s probably his coping mechanism,” Elliot explained. “What else can he do? He loved you, but you weren’t here. Now he’s trying to move forward. He’s still processing that past between you two."
Olivia didn’t fully believe him, but she didn’t have any other choice but to accept it for now. She needed to find a way to get Sawyer back on her side, no matter what it took.
Meanwhile, Sawyer sat in his car, staring at the picture on his phone. Two children stood hand in hand, smiling. The boy wore green striped pajamas, while the girl was dressed in pink. Her face lit up with a wide, joyful grin, while the boy simply gazed at her, his eyes filled with quiet affection. This was him and Olivia when they were ten years old. They had known each other their whole lives. Their parents were business partners and close friends. At sixteen, Sawyer had asked Olivia to be his girlfriend and they were together since then.
Until the fire happened and burnt Olivia.
"Mr. Stark," Henry’s voice broke through the quiet, pulling Sawyer out of his trance. "Congratulations. Ms. Olivia has returned."
Sawyer glanced at Henry through the rearview mirror and nodded without much expression.
“You don’t look as happy as I expected,” Henry remarked quietly, meeting Sawyer’s gaze. “Mr. Stark, can I just say…” he hesitated for a moment. “Ever since the fire at Miss Olivia’s house three years ago, her temperament has changed so much. I don’t even recognize her anymore. The way she behaves…” Henry trailed off, unwilling to speak the words ‘cunning’ or ‘vindictive’ aloud, but it was clear what he meant. “She’s become someone completely different.”
Sawyer closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat, his mind racing. “At first, I thought it was just the trauma from the fire. She was burned so badly. But now, it’s been over three years. She’s not the same person anymore.”
Henry drove in silence for a while. Sawyer pressed the button to lower the window, feeling the cold night air rush against his face.
Henry glanced at him through the rearview mirror. “Mr. Stark, now that Ms. Olivia is back, what about Miss Ellie?” he asked carefully. “Are you really going to give her money and send her away?”
Sawyer remained silent for a moment, his gaze drifting back to the photo of Olivia on his phone.
"Yes," he replied quietly. “That’s the deal I made with her. She had agreed to leave once Olivia is back."
“But, Mr. Stark,” Henry’s voice faltered, almost concerned. “Miss Ellie loves you so much. She’s going to be devastated when she hears this. We all have seen how much she’s in love with you. She’s going to be so heartbroken. I’m worried she might even fall into depression after leaving you.”
Sawyer’s hand reached for his chest, the sudden ache making it harder for him to breathe.
He cleared his throat, his eyes shifting back to the photo of Olivia on his phone. Then the memories of their childhood love flashed in his mind.
“That’s the only thing that can happen between her and me,” Sawyer answered coldly. “There’s no other option.”