Chapter 5 A New Dawn

The car ride home was quiet.

Too quiet.

Olivia sat in the back seat, her hands resting lightly in her lap, her gaze fixed on the darkened city streets flashing past the window. The hum of the engine filled the silence, but inside her, a storm raged.

She could still hear the gasps of the guests.

Still see Nathan's stunned expression.

Still feel the way her heart had refused to break.

It should have hurt. It should have devastated her.

But all she felt was emptiness.

Beside her, her father sat in rigid silence, his hands clasped together, his brows furrowed in deep thought. Charles Carter was a man who rarely showed emotion, a man who had built his empire with cold precision and logic.

But tonight?

Tonight, he was shaken.

He exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face before turning toward her. "I don't understand."

His voice was quiet, strained. Not angry-just confused.

Olivia blinked. "Father?"

He shook his head, as if trying to piece together something impossible. "Nathan was careful. He was calculating. He knew the importance of our families' alliance." His jaw tightened. "So why? Why would he be so reckless?"

She swallowed, her throat dry. "I don't know."

And for the first time, she realized... she really didn't.

Nathan had always been obsessed with maintaining his image. He was too ambitious, too precise to throw away years of work for a single mistake.

And Sophia?

Olivia clenched her fingers in her lap.

Sophia had everything she could have wanted. If she had been involved with Nathan before, why wait until now to reveal it? Why in such a careless, humiliating way?

Something didn't make sense.

Her father's voice pulled her back.

"You deserve better than this," he said firmly.

She turned to him, her chest tightening.

Charles Carter was not an affectionate man. He had always been distant, strict, focused on business before family. But tonight, as he looked at her, she saw something in his eyes she had never truly seen before.

Guilt.

Guilt for pushing her into this engagement.

Guilt for trusting Nathan Parker.

Guilt for not protecting her.

She forced a small, fragile smile. "I'll be fine, Father."

His expression darkened. "That man humiliated you in front of everyone. If I had known-" He stopped himself, exhaling sharply. "The Parkers will try to cover this up. But our family will not be made to look like fools."

Olivia nodded, though her mind was still elsewhere.

Even as the car pulled into the grand estate, even as the night air wrapped around her like a cold embrace, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was... off.

She needed time.

Time to think.

Time to understand.

---

The Morning After

Sunlight streamed through Olivia's bedroom window, casting a golden glow over the soft cream-colored sheets. The air smelled of fresh linen and jasmine, the familiar scent grounding her as she slowly opened her eyes.

For a brief second, she forgot everything.

Forgot the engagement party.

Forgot Nathan's betrayal.

Forgot the weight pressing against her chest.

Then reality settled in.

She sighed, pushing herself up in bed.

The house was quieter than usual. No doubt, the scandal had already reached the ears of every elite family in the city. Her parents were likely handling the damage, ensuring that no one dared to paint Olivia as the guilty party.

She rubbed her temples.

She should be grieving right now.

Crying. Screaming. Mourning the loss of a love that had once consumed her.

But all she felt was a strange sense of... freedom.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

"Come in."

Mary entered cautiously, carrying a silver tray with breakfast. She set it down on the bedside table, hesitating for a moment before finally speaking.

"Miss Olivia... how are you feeling?"

Olivia met her gaze.

Mary looked worried.

She had always been observant, always sensed when Olivia was struggling-even when Olivia herself didn't.

"I'm fine," Olivia said softly, reaching for the teacup.

Mary frowned. "You don't have to pretend."

A small, dry chuckle escaped Olivia's lips. "I'm not."

And for the first time, she realized it was true.

Mary hesitated again before nodding. "Your mother wanted me to remind you that you don't have to go anywhere today. She said you should rest."

Rest.

Olivia's lips pressed together.

She had spent years resting.

Years being passive.

Not anymore.

She pushed back the covers and stood, stretching slightly. "Actually, I think some fresh air would do me good."

Mary blinked. "Are you going out?"

Olivia nodded. "Yes."

There was only so much thinking she could do inside these walls.

She needed to step outside.

To breathe.

To start again.

--