Chapter 3 A Night of Suspense

That night, Jason barely slept.

His mind kept circling back to Olivia-her voice, her knowing smirk, the way she had looked at him like he was supposed to recognize her. Every time he closed his eyes, her piercing green gaze burned through the darkness, as if daring him to uncover the truth.

It made no sense.

He had spent his life surrounded by powerful people-business moguls, politicians, and socialites who all sought his attention. But Olivia was different. She wasn't trying to impress him. If anything, it felt like she was the one in control.

And then there was her name.

Olivia Bennett.

The same last name as his mother before she married his father.

Coincidence? He didn't believe in those.

Frustrated, Jason threw off the sheets and got out of bed. He paced the dimly lit suite, running a hand through his hair. He needed answers.

And he needed them now.

An Invitation He Can't Resist

His phone vibrated on the nightstand. Jason snatched it up, half expecting a message from Olivia. But it was a notification from an unknown number.

Meet me at the rooftop lounge. Midnight.

Jason's pulse quickened. He checked the time-11:45 PM.

He didn't even hesitate.

Grabbing a jacket, he stepped into the cool night air. The resort's rooftop lounge was reserved for VIPs, a secluded spot with breathtaking views of the city skyline. As he ascended in the elevator, Jason's mind raced.

If this was Olivia... what did she want from him?

And if it wasn't... then who the hell was waiting for him?

A Game of Secrets

The rooftop was nearly empty except for a single figure standing by the glass railing, overlooking the glittering city below.

Olivia.

She was dressed in a sleek black dress that clung to her curves, the moonlight casting an ethereal glow around her. She didn't turn as he approached, as if she had already known he would come.

"Couldn't sleep?" she asked softly.

Jason stopped a few feet away. "You knew I wouldn't."

A small smile ghosted across her lips. "Then we're alike in more ways than one." Jason's chest tightened. What the hell did she mean by that?

He stepped closer, his voice low. "You disappeared earlier."

"I told you," she murmured, finally turning to face him. "Some connections are dangerous."

Jason studied her face, searching for cracks in her carefully crafted mystery. "Then why did you ask me to meet you?"

She exhaled, brushing her fingers against the condensation forming on her glass. "Because I want to know if you're as dangerous as they say."

Jason's jaw clenched. He wasn't sure whether to be intrigued or insulted. "Who's 'they'?"

Olivia tilted her head. "The ones who whisper your name in boardrooms and back alleys. The ones who fear the empire your family built."

Jason's pulse hammered in his throat. "And what about you, Olivia? Do you fear me?"

She held his gaze, unflinching. "No."

Jason took another step forward. "Then what do you want from me?"

A slow, almost wicked smile spread across her lips. "To see if you can handle the truth."

Jason's breath hitched. There was something in her eyes-something dangerous, something that told him if he pushed further, he might not like what he found.

But he couldn't stop himself. He needed to know.

Revealing Shadows

Jason reached for his phone, quickly pulling up the research he had done on her. "Your name," he said, his voice steady, "is Olivia Bennett."

She didn't react.

He continued, watching her closely. "My mother's maiden name is Bennett."

Olivia sipped her drink, unbothered. "I know."

Jason's grip tightened around his phone. "Then tell me-who are you to me?"

A long silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words. Then, Olivia finally spoke.

"You're asking the wrong question."

Jason frowned. "What?"

Olivia stepped closer, her breath warm against his skin. "Instead of asking who I am, you should be asking why your mother never told you about me."

Jason's stomach twisted.

He had expected denial, a brush-off-anything but this.

Olivia reached into her purse, pulling out a folded napkin. She pressed it into his palm, her fingers lingering for just a moment too long.

"I think you're ready to start finding the answers," she murmured. Jason's heart pounded as he unfolded the napkin. A number was scrawled across it, but that wasn't what sent ice down his spine.

It was the two words written beneath it.

Ask Evelyn.

Jason's blood ran cold.

His mother.

A Truth He's Not Ready For

Jason looked up, ready to demand more, but Olivia was already walking away.

"Wait-" He reached for her, but she was gone.

As if she had never been there at all.

Jason stared down at the napkin, his pulse racing.

His mother had always been guarded about her past. And now, for the first time, Jason had a lead-one that led directly to Evelyn Williams.