Stop Begging! I'm Now A Star Beyond Your Reach

"I can't... Theo, I really can't keep going."

A soft amber glow spread across the room, wrapping it in a quiet, intimate warmth. The bed moved in a slow, steady sway.

With her eyes barely open, Olivia Harvey-once Olivia Brown-clung to Theo Harvey's neck. Heat lingered across her face, and beneath Theo's strong, well-built form, she felt unsteady, as if she were drifting without direction.

Her head tilted back, her body still caught in the fading pull of what they had just shared.

As he looked down at her, something gentler passed through Theo's eyes. He lowered himself, lifting her chin in his hand before pressing his lips to hers again, drawing out soft protests and broken pleas. "Please... no more..."

Summoning what strength she had left, Olivia pushed against him, finally stopping him.

Near her ear, Theo's breath brushed her skin as he bit lightly, his voice low and rough. "Fine. I'll stop tonight. But tomorrow, you're making up for it... twice."

Pulling away, he rose from the bed, his broad shoulders and lean frame on full display. "I'll take a shower."

A small nod came from Olivia, her face still warm.

For almost a decade, she had carried quiet feelings for him.

Even now, as his wife, that pull hadn't faded. If anything, it held her tighter.

The sound of running water soon filled the space, and as it did, Olivia slowly eased out of that lingering haze, a quiet warmth settling in her chest.

Right then, the phone beside her vibrated.

It was Theo's.

Her eyes shifted toward the screen.

A message popped up from Jennifer Palmer. "Theo, what should I wear for the concert?"

Driven by curiosity, Olivia opened it. In the first photo, Jennifer angled the shot to highlight her collarbones, with the neckline of a white dress dipping just enough to show a hint of her breasts. The outfit gave off an innocent look, yet it carried a quiet allure.

Another swipe brought up the next image. This time, Jennifer wore a gray pleated skirt and kept the same soft expression, but the way she sat exposed part of her thigh. The pose felt deliberate, more suggestive than it first appeared.

A moment ago, Olivia had felt light and content, but that feeling vanished in an instant. Her fingers tightened against the sheets without her noticing.

Memory pulled her back to when Theo first introduced Jennifer.

Back then, he said she saved his life. She had dragged him out of a fire, and that act had cost her dearly, leaving her unable to walk and bound to a wheelchair.

Olivia understood what that debt meant to Theo.

Still, she was Theo's wife now. Seeing those kinds of photos sent to her husband stirred something sharp in her chest.

The bathroom door opened, and Theo stepped out. His eyes landed on Olivia lying on her side, her posture seductive.

Without hesitation, he let the robe fall, lifted the blanket, and moved closer to her.

A crease formed between Olivia's brows as she pressed her lips together, but Theo didn't slow down. Instead, he crushed his mouth against hers, forcing her to respond with a force that felt more harsh than tender.

The unease already sitting in her chest flared into something sharper, a mix of disbelief and anger that she couldn't push aside.

Her gaze lifted to his face, and the images from earlier flooded back into her thoughts. A tear slipped quietly from the corner of her eye.

He didn't notice. Desire took over as he continued, his voice slipping between breaths. "There's something I need to talk to you about. Jennifer's concert is next week. She hasn't been in good condition, so I want you to take her place behind the scenes and perform for her."

At once, Olivia's eyes snapped wide. She pushed him away without hesitation, cutting him off completely.

Annoyance crossed his face as he frowned. "What's gotten into you?"

Olivia's hands curled tightly as she shook her head. "Theo, I can agree to other things, but not this. My audience recognizes my style. If someone figures it out, everything I've built will fall apart."

Never once had she turned him down before. Yet this time, there was no way she could give in.

"Olivia," he muttered, his voice softening for a brief moment before turning firm, "Jennifer saved me. She lost her mobility because of that. This is something I owe her, and you need to help me with it. Just take it as practice in performing in a different setting. It's nothing serious. And besides, is that little interest of yours really worth calling a career? You'd be better off staying home and living as Mrs. Harvey."

Her teeth sank into her lower lip as everything piled up at once. The images, his demand, the way he spoke-it all pressed down on her. No matter how much she cared for him, irritation rose and burned. Just thinking about those photos made her chest ache.

"Theo, tell me this honestly. Does Jennifer matter more to you than I do? Why are you ready to throw away everything I've worked for just so she can get what she wants?" she asked, her voice breaking before hardening.

Emotion spilled over. She reached beneath the pillow, grabbed his phone, and flung it toward him. "And explain why she's sending you pictures like that!"

Annoyance flickered across Theo's face. "Olivia, she couldn't decide what to wear and wanted my opinion. That's it. Why are you reacting like this? We're just friends. It's a simple favor, yet you're turning it into something huge."

A quiet breath left Olivia as she turned away, the cold feeling settling deeper inside.

"Theo... I can't agree to this." Her eyes were red, but she didn't look away. "If I said I wanted a divorce... would you still make me help her?"

Theo's gaze sharpened, irritation clear. "So now you're using divorce to pressure me? Listen carefully. Nothing comes before Jennifer's dream."

That answer settled everything. In that instant, Olivia understood she would never come first.

Holding onto a marriage like this no longer made sense.

Her eyes closed as her chest tightened. After a long silence, her voice came out low. "Then... we should end this marriage."