Chapter Fifty-Nine
Liam
I stare at my wife’s luminous face. When I first saw her on the deck, I thought I was seeing things.
Mike had just delivered the finished ring with the new yellow diamond before I came over. He grumbled everyone had to pull all-nighters, but he didn’t complain too hard when I gave everyone a generous bonus and overtime pay.
And I studied the ring on the way, thinking of some way to propose to Olivia, this time making my wishes clear. To make the opportunity count, I planned to take a day or two to figure out what I’d say and how I’d say it. So coming face to face with her on the yacht robbed me of breath.
I can’t figure out the purpose of the dinner. Is this some kind of last meal before the execution? To amicably discuss our divorce because doing it at Prescott’s office might seem cold?
I should stop her before she does, and say something, but I can’t think of anything. I don’t want to blurt out the wrong things and screw up my chances.
Olivia continues to stand, waiting for my toast.
“To your success and happiness,” I murmur finally, raising the glass because ultimately that’s the only thing I wish.
For a second it looks like tears glint in her eyes…but it must be the light. She clinks her glass with mine and takes a slow sip.
“Thank you,” she says, her voice a bit unnatural.
I nod. It’s the least I can wish for.
She holds my hand and leads me to the round table. “Let’s eat. I’m famished.”
“Aren’t you eating well? You’re eating for two.” The chiding words roll from my mouth before I can think better of it.
She smiles. “I’m trying, but it isn’t easy. The baby’s small and doesn’t know what it wants. How can it want to eat slices of watermelon drizzled with soy sauce?” She wrinkles her nose.
I laugh in spite of myself and pull out a chair for her. “That’s pretty gross.”
“Yeah, but I ate it anyway.” Sitting down, she lays her right hand over her belly, the pavé ring the only thing on her finger. “Whatever they want, they should have.” She lifts her head and looks into my eyes. “I don’t want them to feel ignored. They’re one of the most important things in my life.”
“Thank you,” I say sincerely, taking my seat. I’m grateful that regardless of her feelings toward me, she’s being good to the baby, who’s innocent in all this.
“It’s our baby, Liam. It’s my top priority.”
The server she hired brings out chilled lobster dressed with vinaigrette and fresh tarragon. Frederich would approve. I cut a small piece and hold it out for her, willing my hand not to tremble.
She takes a bite and smiles. “Thanks. Not just for this but for what you did for the baby. The oranges at the hospital, and sending Angelo…”
My cheeks burn. “How did you find out?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t want to get anyone into trouble.
But I’m grateful, because if I hadn’t known I’d probably be a complete babbling mess by now.
” She breathes deeply. “You know… Brielle told me about the photos and things she showed you. And I want you to know I’ve always been faithful to you. You believe me, don’t you?”
When she looks at me like her happiness hangs on my answer… Besides, even if I have doubts, I trust her to keep her marriage vows. She’s suffered too much from her father’s infidelity to follow the same path herself. “Yes.”
“Okay. Good.” Her shoulders sag slightly. “And one more thing: I don’t, um, exactly work at EverAfter.”
I force a smile to hide my nerves and the tiny bit of hope tearing a hole in my gut. “Then what do you do?”
“I own it. And…it’s a holding company for Luminary & Co.”
I blink. “What?”
She shrugs. “I created dual layers, to make it harder for Hugh to track my business, in case he ever tried. It was important for me to be secretive to carry out my revenge. I don’t work in the wedding business. I work in the funeral business.”
“But ‘ever after’ means…”
“For me, ever after means death. I learned that when I was little. I thought my parents had a fairytale ending, until Deena and Brielle showed up.” Olivia’s voice cracks.
I recall the hollowness in her eyes when she spoke of her mother’s fall and untimely passing.
I can only imagine how horrible it must’ve been to not only lose her mother but also see her father move his mistress and illegitimate child into the mansion after her mom was gone—and use her mother’s money to live in luxury.
“You were only ten,” I say softly, my heart aching for the little girl whose life was ripped apart by her father’s selfishness. “Hugh destroyed your childhood innocence. And he’s going to get everything he deserves. I’m not going to lie—I’m glad I was part of your plan to take him down.”
“You’ve always been so good to me.”
“It’s impossible not to be.” I let my eyes roam over her face, from her brilliant sky-blue eyes to the small pert nose that wrinkles when she’s deep in thought and the soft mouth that firms when she’s made up her mind.
Every time she focuses her eyes on me, I feel like the only person that matters in the world.
“But being around you made me see that maybe death isn’t the only thing that’s eternal.”
I freeze. My pulse throbs, my heart racing, but caution reins me back in. Don’t jump to conclusions. Don’t be stupid. “Okay,” I say slowly.
“I fired Simon.”
What? “Why?”
She continues, “He manipulated me, undermined our relationship. He knew how to reach for my fear and push me into saying things I didn’t really mean.
” She squeezes my hand like it’s her lifeline.
“When you asked me if I had feelings for you, I was scared. Everything I’ve loved in my life has just…
vanished. I couldn’t protect anyone. Mom. My dog.”
I swallow some champagne to wet my parched throat. I don’t recall her saying much about a dog. “What happened to your dog?”
Her face crumbles. “Mom and I rescued a mixed-breed puppy. She was a scared little thing, but grew into such a cute prima donna with some loving care.” An affectionate smile mixed with pain crosses her expression.
I hold her hand tighter. My mind already conjures the image of a young Olivia pouring all her heart into a little puppy who was lucky enough to be adopted by her.
“Pochi was the only one who remained after Mom was gone. Then Brielle… She hit her with a car. She was driving alone, with just a learner’s permit.”
My blood turns to ice. “Oh, no…”
“Pochi didn’t make it. Hugh insisted it was an accident, that she jumped in front of the car, but that dog had never done anything like it before.
She had a fine instinct for survival and danger.
She never would have…” Olivia’s voice breaks.
“But before I could think to report or complain to the authorities, Hugh deleted all the security footage and had the car washed. Pochi was immediately cremated, and I never got to say goodbye, just like I never got a chance to say a proper farewell to my mom.” Olivia’s chin quivers.
Good God. I can’t begin to imagine the kind of agony Olivia must’ve suffered. Woman or not, I should’ve punched Brielle too when I smashed Tyler’s face. I pull my wife into my arms.
“Deena had already pulled me out of my regular school, given my spot to her daughter, and I didn’t really have many friends at the new place.
And then Brielle started to steal my boyfriends too.
It felt like I couldn’t keep anything I cared about.
I told myself I’d rather be alone than lose a loved one again because each loss strips away a slice of your soul. ”
I press kisses on her crown. I wish I could think of something eloquent to comfort her with, but I can’t. How do you fix wounds this deep and painful?
“Then you came along,” she says, looking up at me with tears glittering in her eyes.
“I was scared shitless. What if I lost you too? I didn’t think I could bear it.
When Simon led me to call you a pawn, I was speaking from fear.
I could keep going, keep playing the game if I just lost a pawn, right?
So you had to remain as inconsequential as possible.
But when you left, I realized you were the king, Liam.
Lose the king, and you lose everything.”
Tears start to slide down her cheeks.
“I’m still scared, Liam, but not being with you scares me more. We’re going to be okay, right? We can have the kind of ever after people think of?” Her voice shakes toward the end.
Her raw confession clenches my pounding heart.
I place my forehead against hers, and we share the same salty air.
“Olivia, you’ll never be alone. I’ll be with you, every step of the way.
” I pull out the starburst ring. Small yellow rocks surround the round twenty-six-carat stone like flames.
“Olivia, you’ve already married me. Now will you love me? ”
Her lashes flutter as she looks at the ring, then lifts her eyes to stare up into mine. A tremulous smile curves her lips. “My answer is up in the sky.”
I tilt my head. Against the dark sky are two sentences:
OLIVIA KINGSWOOD LOVES LIAM KINGSWOOD
LIAM, WILL YOU BE MINE FOREVER?
I stare at them for the longest time, my heart racing a thousand beats a minute. Somehow this doesn’t feel real. I don’t dare to breathe too hard lest I wake up. “Tell me I’m not dreaming,” I murmur.
“You’re not. This is real. I’m crazy about you.” She hugs me hard. “I’m so sorry I was too scared to tell you what you truly mean to me, Liam. Never again. I’ll be brave for you—for us.”
Crying and laughing, I pick her up and spin around the deck. Tears in her eyes, she laughs and tightens her arms around my neck.
Then as the hidden speakers play “The Man I Love,” we sway to the music, Olivia crooning the words, her eyes on mine the entire time.