Chapter 29
By the time Olivia stepped out of Dr. Wilson's office, she had already lost track of how long she had been inside.
She glanced down at her wristwatch. In thirty minutes, she would be back in the operating room for her final surgery.
It wasn't much time, but it was enough to gather her thoughts and condition herself.
"Dr. Hilton! It's been a long while."
Her eyes, previously lowered to the floor, lifted at the sound of her name.
A man stood a few feet away. Tall, neatly dressed, with broad shoulders. His beautiful blonde hair was slightly tousled as if he had been running his fingers through it absentmindedly. He was smiling warmly; seeing her genuinely made him happy.
Olivia just stared at him, unblinking, searching her memory for anything that would make his face familiar, but his features refused to settle into recognition.
The man's gaze lingered on her face. When he realized she didn't remember, his ears turned faintly pink.
"I'm Mrs. Lennon's son," he supplied the information. "You saved Mom's life," he added, with an almost apologetic smile tugging at his mouth.
Of course, Olivia now remembered. It was hard to forget a patient who had clung to her hand, telling her, "Doc, tell me right away if you ever get divorced. I want my son to be first in line."
"Hello, Ash," the nickname slipped out naturally.
"Thank God you still remember me. I thought you forgot."
"How could I?" Olivia asked with a soft laugh. "Your mother practically tried to bribe me into becoming her daughter-in-law."
Ashton groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. "She still talks about that," he admitted, sounding even more embarrassed than he had moments ago.
Olivia smiled at his reaction. "How is she doing? It's been a month since I last saw her."
"She's doing great." He gave her a sheepish grin. "Honestly, maybe a little too great. It's become a daily habit of hers to nag me, insisting I settle down at my age."
Olivia let out a quiet chuckle, relief warming her chest. A month ago, his mother had nearly flatlined on her operating table after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm during surgery.
For a terrifying moment, she had thought they were going to lose her.
Yet now, hearing that she had fully recovered and returned to bossing her son around like nothing had ever happened felt strangely rewarding.
"I'm really glad to hear she's doing great. That's what I want to hear most," she said sincerely.
"Mom still talks about you all the time," he paused briefly before adding hesitantly, "Actually... Today's her birthday. I'm here to invite you out. She wanted you to have dinner with us tonight."
Olivia considered the offer. She had thought she would be going home alone, accompanied only by the silence and loneliness that awaited her. Meanwhile, somewhere, her husband would probably be with another woman, giving her attention like she's the only girl in the world.
Maybe one dinner wouldn't hurt.
"What time?" she asked.
Ashton's eyes lit up. "Really? You're coming?" He still couldn't believe she agreed.
"Of course! I would love to see your mother again. Well, I won't be free until around 8:30."
"That's perfect," Ashton exclaimed. "I can pick you up after your shift."
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
Olivia studied him. He looked oddly happy over something so small.
"Alright," she relented. "I'll be waiting." She waved at him one last time and went on her way.
-
Olivia felt a bead of sweat slip down her brow, but she didn't dare lift a hand to wipe it away. Her focus remained fixed on the patient as she secured the final knot with effortless ease. Only when she was certain everything was in place did she finally lift her head.
She looked around at the exhausted faces surrounding the operating table. Every pair of eyes was locked on her in tense silence, waiting for the words they had all been desperate to hear.
"That's it. We're done."
The tension that had held everyone captive for the last five hours eased in an instant. A wave of muffled sighs rippled through the room.
Olivia felt the atmosphere brighten, like the first ray of sunlight piercing through heavy clouds after a long, relentless day of rain.
Once the post-operative checks were completed, she stepped back while the team cleaned the incision site.
At the scrub station, Olivia peeled off her gloves, dropping them into the disposal bin. Water rushed over her hands and forearms. The cold sensation felt oddly satisfying.
She finished scrubbing out and made her way down the hallway to meet the patient's family. It didn't take long to spot them. They sat shoulder to shoulder on a steel bench, their faces drawn tight with worry.
Before she could say a word, they noticed her approaching, and immediately rose from their seats. However, no one spoke. No one dared ask the question, afraid of what the answer might be.
Olivia spared them the suspense.
"The surgery was successful."
Relief washed over their faces. A young woman burst into tears immediately, her knees nearly giving out beneath her. Another woman, only a few years older, caught her before she could fall.
An older woman in her late fifties stepped forward. Olivia knew right away that she was the patient's mother based on the way she carried herself. The older woman clasped Olivia's hand between both of hers.
"Thank you, Doctor."
"He'll be moved to a private room shortly. You'll be able to see him soon."
Tears glistened in the older woman's eyes.
Olivia squeezed her hand in return before letting go. Then she headed toward the staff locker room to change.
Ashton would be picking her up in an hour.
Despite her exhaustion, the thought of having dinner with Mrs. Lennon and her son sounded far more appealing than returning to an empty home with no one waiting for her at the end of the day.
A few minutes later, she had changed into a breathable satin blouse the color of soft cream. The smooth fabric felt far better against her skin than the stiff hospital uniform she had been wearing all day. She paired it with dark slacks and comfortable flats.
After brushing her hair, she leaned closer to the mirror and applied a faint amount of lipstick to bring some color to her face.
She had barely finished when the locker room door swung open. Nurse Jessy walked in carrying a clipboard.
The moment she saw Olivia, her eyes widened. "Wow Doc, you look good. Going somewhere?"
Olivia capped her lipstick and slipped it into her purse. "Mrs. Lennon invited me to her birthday celebration."
Recognition flashed across Jessy's face, and then she burst out laughing. "Oh, I remember her."
Olivia groaned. "Of course you do."
"How could I forget?" Jessy said between chuckles. "She's the patient who practically tried to bribe you into becoming her daughter-in-law. It was hilarious."
"Honestly, she wouldn't have stopped if she hadn't found out you were married," she added.
A buzz from Olivia's phone interrupted them. She pulled it out to find a message from Ashton and then slipped her phone back into her bag.
"That's my ride."
"Have fun, Doc."
Olivia didn't look back. She just waved at Jessy and headed for the door.
-
Warm chandelier light danced across crystal glasses, making them sparkle like tiny stars. The soft murmur of voices drifted through the room, mingling with the piano's graceful notes that floated in the air.
Olivia found herself relaxing more than she had expected.
Across from her, Mrs. Lennon was in the middle of telling a story about a disastrous attempt to purchase something online, only for the item to arrive looking completely different from what had been shown in the app.
Ashton sat beside her, shaking his head in embarrassment.
"I ordered a settee, but my butt barely fit on the one I've got! It looks nothing like the actual picture!" Mrs. Lennon exclaimed dramatically.
Olivia nearly choked on her water.
It was always fun to joke around with Mrs. Lennon; she never ran out of humorous stories. Olivia couldn't remember the last time she had sat at a table and simply enjoyed herself.
A sudden vibration against her side pulled her attention away.
Her phone kept buzzing. She ignored it.
Mrs. Lennon continued talking as the waiter arrived with their meals.
The smell of grilled steak and butter drifted through the air. Olivia thanked the waiter and picked up her fork.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
The phone seemed determined to throw itself out of her bag. She took a sip of water and tried to focus on the conversation.
This time, Mrs. Lennon glanced toward the source of the sound. "Dear, I think you should answer that."
"It's alright."
The last thing Olivia wanted was to seem rude.
Mrs. Lennon had invited her here because she genuinely wanted her company. The woman had been excited about this dinner.
Olivia didn't want them to think she was distracted or counting the minutes until she could leave.
"It's probably nothing important."
Mrs. Lennon waved a dismissive hand. "I insist."
Sighing, Olivia reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. The moment the screen lit up, the smile on her face vanished.
Missed calls flooded the notification bar, along with dozens of unread messages. Most were from friends, while others came from relatives she rarely spoke to.
She didn't even need to open them all to know what they said. Every message was asking the same thing: Why aren't you at the party?
Trying not to draw attention to it, she held the power button until the screen went black.
"A friend is asking about something," she lied, slipping the phone back into her bag. "It's not important. I'll get back to her when I get home."
Before either of them could ask more questions, she gently steered the conversation elsewhere.
"I hope you don't mind that I didn't bring you a gift, Mrs. Lennon. But I promise I'll give you a proper thank-you gift for inviting me tonight."
"Doc Olivia, I really don't mind. Isn't saving my life a gift enough?"
Mrs. Lennon reached across the table and lightly patted her hand.
"A month ago, I thought I might never see another birthday.
I might never have another dinner with my son.
Then you came along and changed that. So please don't worry about gifts.
Having you here tonight is more than enough for me. "
Olivia swallowed the lump in her throat.
Mrs. Lennon dabbed a napkin at the corner of her eye. "Enough of the emotional stuff. I'm supposed to be celebrating my birthday, not crying in public."
"That's right," Ashton agreed. "People might think I forgot my wallet."
Mrs. Lennon scoffed. "Please. If you forgot your wallet, I'd make you wash dishes in the kitchen."
The table erupted in laughter.
Hours passed far more quickly than Olivia expected. By the end of the evening, she realized she had a really good time with Mrs. Lennon and Ashton.
-
"Ashton, why don't you walk Doc Olivia to her car? I'll follow suit in our car after I go to the bathroom."
Ashton stood without complaint. Olivia grabbed her bag and followed suit.
"Thank you for dinner, Mrs. Lennon."
Mrs. Lennon kissed her on the cheek. "It was lovely having you. Take care on your way home."
Ashton and Olivia walked side by side through the aisle, leading to the door. The automatic doors slid open, and a soft rush of night air met them. They stepped out.
The parking area was not far. A few cars were lined neatly under dim lights.
It was Olivia who finally broke the silence. "That was a wonderful evening."
Ashton nodded in agreement. "Yeah. It was."
The car she owned came into view ahead, parked on the side. Olivia slowed down while her hand fumbled through her bag, searching for her keys.
After a long search, she found it at last. She turned toward Ashton to bid her goodbye, but he spoke before she could.
"Doc Olivia. I really like you," he blurted out. He didn't even hesitate "I never liked a woman the way I like you."
Her hand slowly came out of her bag.
"I-I'm married."
His expression didn't shift a bit. Of course, he was aware.
"If you weren't married, I would have chased after you.
" Although his lips were stretched into a smile, his eyes were tinged with sadness.
"I know I can't compete with a man like Clayton Bradford.
Maybe I never could. But if I walked away without telling you how I feel, I'd regret it for the rest of my life.
So this isn't a confession because I expect something from you.
It's a confession because my heart wouldn't let me leave without saying it. "
Olivia bit her lip.
The night wind moved lightly across her face, shifting a loose strand of hair. She tucked it behind her ear without breaking eye contact.
"Ashton..." Olivia gave him an intent look. "You're a good guy. Someday, you'll find the right woman for you." She paused and took a deep breath. "I just wasn't her."
He smiled with resignation but said not a word.
Olivia climbed into her car. Once settled in her seat, she sped out of the parking area.
She drove through the night, the darkness stretching endlessly ahead, broken only by passing road lights that brushed across her face and disappeared as quickly as they came.
In her heart, she prayed that someday Ashton would find the right woman for him, someone who would love him in the way he deserved.
-
The house greeted Olivia with silence.
She entered the doorway, keys clutched in her hand. For a fleeting moment, she found herself hoping that her husband would be there to welcome her.
But the house remained still.
Of course, he would still be at the party. She didn't know what time he'd be home. Midnight, maybe. Or dawn. It didn't matter anymore.
She walked upstairs. Once inside the bedroom, she changed into her sleepwear and lay sprawled across the bed.
She stared at the ceiling.
How many nights had she lain here, waiting for Clayton to come home? How many times had she wondered if he ever would?
He had no idea.
He never saw the lonely hours she spent listening for the sound of his car in the driveway. He never knew how often she had fallen asleep in disappointment.
Olivia closed her eyes and waited for sleep to come. If not sleep, then morning. Tomorrow, she will finally hand him the divorce papers.
She woke before her alarm could ring.
Clayton wasn't beside her.
She didn't know what time he had come home, but he had been there long enough to leave a sticky note on her nightstand. She reached for it.
I didn't wake you since I knew you were tired last night. I'll be out for a while to run an errand. I'll pick you up at 10. Wear something formal.
That was all it said.
Olivia sighed and turned toward the table calendar. The moment her eyes landed on the date, breath hitched in her throat.
She had almost forgotten.
Today was the anniversary of the day Mr. and Mrs. Hilton had taken her from the orphanage. Also, the same day Caroline had disappeared.
Every year, they marked it at the Bradford family's hotel resort-a celebration of sorts.
She had almost forgotten this time of the year.
Olivia swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. The floor was cool beneath her feet as she walked toward the bathroom.
She stripped off her clothes and got under the shower. Warm water washed over her, carrying away the remnants of sleep.
She didn't linger; there was too much to do for her to indulge in a long bath.
When she stepped out, she wrapped herself in a towel and dried her hair.
As soon as she dried her hair, Olivia made a beeline straight to her wardrobe.
Normally, she would have taken her time, debating what outfit to wear, the way she always did before important occasions. But not today.
Today, she already knew what to wear.
Her hand moved to the very bottom of the large wardrobe, where a neatly stored box sat.
She pulled it out. The box felt lighter than she remembered. She placed it on the bed and lifted the lid slowly.
Inside lay an exquisite pastel pink dress, carefully folded, waiting for this moment all along.
The first time she wore it had been shortly after she and Clayton got married.
After that day, she never wore the dress again. Not because she stopped liking it, but because it had become too precious.
Olivia reached out and touched the fabric gently. The dress was still as beautiful as she remembered-maybe even more so now.
Today, she will wear it. For the last time.
Olivia slipped into the dress, and it hugged her body just like it had all those years ago.
Afterward, she applied a subtle touch of makeup, determined to look her best today.
Blinking, she studied her reflection in the mirror, feeling something was missing. Then she knew.
She reached for her luxurious bag, double-checking that the divorce papers were tucked inside.
This dress had witnessed the beginning. It was only fitting that it witnessed the end.
-
Clayton and Olivia emerged from the car. Clayton offered his arm, and she took it. Together they walked up the stone path toward the Pavilion.
The Bradford Resort was every bit as exquisite as Olivia remembered.
As always, the celebration was being held at the Lakeside Pavilion, the same venue they had used year after year.
The view of the lake shimmered like molten silver, a thousand tiny stars dancing across the water's surface. It looked perfect, like nothing bad could ever happen in a place this beautiful.
Friends and family who had attended Caroline's welcome party the night before were already present, scattered throughout the pavilion in small clusters.
The moment Olivia came into view with Clayton at her side, all eyes turned toward her. Clayton excused himself when he spotted Mr. Hilton, leaving her to face the crowd alone.
"Olivia! Where were you last night?"
"We missed you at Caroline's party!"
Questions came at her from all directions. Olivia deflected them smoothly, mentioning her surgery. The explanation seemed to satisfy their curiosity.
Just then, Mrs. Hilton made her entrance. She glided through the pavilion in an elegant rust suit. She positioned herself near the center of the pavilion.
"My dear friends and family, thank you all so much for being here today. It means the world to me to see all your beautiful faces gathered in this lovely place."
Olivia's gaze swept through the crowd until it landed on Caroline, radiant in a light pink dress that accentuated her slim figure. She was a striking contrast to the sickly, pale woman Olivia had encountered at the hospital.
As if sensing her gaze, Caroline looked up and their eyes locked. The next thing she knew, Caroline was closing the distance between them with deliberate grace.
It didn't take long for her to reach her spot. And when she did, she looked Olivia in the eye and smiled.
"You're Olivia?" Caroline spoke; it sounded more of a statement than a question.
Olivia nodded, unable to tear her eyes from Caroline's face.
"Can we talk?"
Olivia had no idea what had gotten into her, but she agreed. She found herself walking alongside Caroline, away from the venue and its overwhelming noise, toward the deck that stretched out over the water.
The deck was the kind of place guests wandered off to when they wanted a moment of peace, away from curious eyes.
"I haven't had the chance to thank you," Caroline began once they were far enough from the crowd that no one could overhear them.
"Thank me for what?" Olivia asked, genuinely puzzled. She couldn't think of a single reason Caroline would want to thank her.
"For saving my life. You were the one who operated on me. The doctors and nurses told me you're the hospital's best surgeon. My condition was critical. Without you... I might not have survived."
Before she could think of anything to say, Caroline continued.
"You were there while I was gone. You filled the space I left behind.
You gave my parents someone to love, someone to care for.
You gave them reason to move forward after my disappearance and made them whole again.
And for that, I want to thank you too. I truly do. "
The words were sincerely spoken that Olivia found herself at a loss for words. She wasn't sure how to respond. All she could do was stare.
Olivia had always thought she would hate Caroline. How could she not? Everything she had ever wanted had belonged to this girl. A loving family. Even the man she had given her heart to.
But standing before her now, Olivia couldn't resent someone for returning to claim what had always been hers. She realized it wasn't Caroline she hated. It was fate.
Fate had handed her a beautiful life, letting her believe it was finally hers, only to remind her that she had been borrowing it all along.
"You don't have to thank me," Olivia whispered when she finally found her voice. "Saving you isn't enough to repay what you've given me."
She swallowed the lump in her throat, then lowered her gaze.
"If there's anyone who should be grateful, it's me. Your parents saved me from a life of loneliness in that orphanage. If they hadn't taken me in, I don't know where I'd be now. Maybe I'd still be out there somewhere, struggling to survive, never becoming the person I am today."
A subtle smile touched her lips.
"Everything I have, everything I've experienced, began because of you. So thank you, Caroline. For giving me a chance to live a life I never would have had otherwise."
The silence that followed lasted longer than they intended. It was Olivia who decided to finally end it.
"Shall we go back now? We've missed much of the-" She hadn't finished the rest of her words because she began to panic, seeing Caroline had gone pale. It was obvious she wasn't feeling well. Olivia blamed herself for realizing it too late.
Caroline stumbled backward, her feet teetered on the edge of the deck. Her arms windmilled, grasping for anything to hold onto.
Olivia grabbed her hand. For one breathless second, they both struggled to keep their balance. Then they both plunged into the icy water.
Olivia couldn't swim, and the weight of her dress dragged her down. Her arms flailed instinctively.
Screams erupted from the pavilion above, distant and distorted beneath the water.
Then she heard a splash. Someone had jumped to save them.
Relief surged through her like a tide when she recognized Clayton's familiar frame cutting through the lake.
He came for me, Olivia thought.
But the hope shattered as quickly as it had come.
Without a single glance in her direction, Clayton swam past her and headed straight for Caroline, who was struggling desperately in the water.
Olivia could see through the blur of water as Clayton wrapped an arm around Caroline's waist and pulled her against him. He swam back to the deck. And not once did he look back. Not once did he notice that Olivia was drowning.
Olivia sank beneath the surface. Water began entering her nose and mouth, and she stopped flailing because her arms hurt to move.
A bitter thought crossed her mind. Maybe this is how it ends.
Just when she thought hope was gone, strong arms locked around her and pulled her upward. Someone hauled her through the water and lifted her onto the deck.
Olivia collapsed onto all fours, coughing and retching, her head bowed as water spilled from her mouth. Voices called her name, but all she could hear was the ringing in her ears, a high, endless sound that drowned everything else.
She forced herself to look up.
Clayton was kneeling a few feet away, whispering words of comfort in Caroline's ear.
It must have been the weight of her stare that made him finally look at her. When he did, he jerked to his feet, color draining from his face until it turned ghostly white.
He took a step forward, then another. The fear and regret on his face grew even more visible. Those emotions were what she had wanted to see moments ago. But now, they no longer meant anything.
Where had that fear been when she needed him?
Where had that panic been when she was drowning?
Why did he only look terrified now, when she was almost dying in front of him?
Clayton opened his mouth, but she didn't let him utter a single word.
There was nothing left to say.
Olivia rose to her feet.
The entire pavilion watched in stunned silence as she turned her back on Clayton.
And walked away.
-
The hotel room was cold enough to make Olivia tremble even under the blanket. Her fingers fumbled, pulling it tighter around her shaking body, but it didn't help.
Even then, the memory wouldn't leave-her body sinking into the lake, arms thrashing, lungs burning for air. She had truly believed she would die there.
Clayton's voice broke through the memory. He stood in front of her, hair still damp, shirt wrinkled and stained from the water.
"I'm so sorry. God, Olivia, I'm so sorry. I didn't-"
"See me drowning?" Olivia wanted to burst into desperate tears. Her strong will stopped it from happening.
The words almost came out as a whisper, almost a sob. "Do I look invisible to you?"
"It happened so fast. I only saw Caroline drowning!"
"I was right there, Clayton." Her voice cracked. "I was drowning right there, and you didn't even see me."
Olivia wondered would it make a difference if he knew she's carrying his child? Could he have chosen her and not Caroline?
"I'm really, really sorry." He mumbled once more, his red-rimmed eyes begging for forgiveness, but her heart had gone cold from being submerged in an icy lake.
She stood up, and all the pent-up anger she'd been holding inside erupted.
"A stranger had to save me instead of you! Some man I'd never seen before in my life had to pull me out of that water while my own husband was-while you were playing hero for another woman!" The words tore from her throat. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, nails biting into her palms.
"How could you?" The question came out as a whisper now, more devastating than her screams. "How could you just... leave me to die?! You know I couldn't swim, yet you still-"
She couldn't finish. The rage was choking her, intensified by the soul-crushing realization that even when it was between life and death, he still hadn't chosen her. And no amount of sorry could ever bring her back from that.
The door opened right on time, and a hotel staff member walked into the room, carrying Olivia's bag. Olivia took it with trembling hands.
The woman left and closed the door.
Olivia's fingers yanked it open. She reached inside and grabbed the stack of papers she'd been carrying for a really long time.
She threw them in the air.
The divorce papers scattered at his feet like large confetti.
Clayton stared down at them, frozen. Then slowly, he bent down and began picking them up one by one, the color slowly draining from his face.
When he'd gathered them all, he looked up at her with a clenched jaw. The papers crumpled slightly in his white-knuckled grip.
"What is this, Olivia?" Rage filled his voice. "What the hell is this?"
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand and looked at him, her face stripped of all human emotion.
"I'm getting a divorce, Clayton."