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."

Shock overtook Theo as he stared at Olivia, disbelief clear in his eyes. "Olivia, you're talking about divorce... just because of this? And after that, how do you plan to live? With that accordion of yours? What you earn in a lifetime wouldn't even match what my company pays in taxes in a single day."

The way he brushed her off carried no warmth, as if her feelings didn't matter at all.

Silence fell over Olivia as she looked at him, her expression empty. The man in front of her felt unfamiliar.

Since their school days, she had cared for Theo. Back then, he carried an easy confidence, and there was a time when he stepped in and drove away the girls who bullied her.

From that day forward, she had given him her heart.

Now, nothing remained in that space but emptiness. Lifting her chin, she spoke with quiet resolve. "Theo, you don't get to decide that I should give up my career just to satisfy the person who saved you. If you keep forcing this on me, I'll walk away from this marriage."

That was enough to break what little patience Theo had left.

Without another word, he changed into a fitted black suit that made him look even more distant.

Before leaving, he cast her one last look, then walked out and said, "Think it through, Olivia. Are you really ready to give up being Mrs. Harvey?"

Left behind, Olivia sat on the edge of the bed, unmoving as she swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat.

Mrs. Harvey? A faint, bitter smile appeared.

Was that all she meant to him? Just a name tied to his?

...

By the next morning, every detail in the divorce papers had been reviewed and finalized. After printing them out, Olivia went straight to Theo's office.

Rising above the city skyline, the Harvey Group's headquarters dominated the downtown area, a towering structure of glass and steel that reflected its power.

Without anyone stopping her, she made her way to the top floor. The door to the CEO's office was slightly open. Just as she reached for it, a voice came from inside.

There was no mistaking it. It belonged to Xander Watson, Theo's closest friend, carrying that same careless edge.

From where she stood, Olivia could imagine the scene inside. Theo would be sitting back on the sofa, cigarette in hand, that familiar look of indifference on his face.

Moments later, his voice followed, sharp and clear. "I'll give her one more chance. If she doesn't do what I say... I'll just find someone else."

The papers in Olivia's hand wrinkled as her grip tightened. The edges pressed into her skin, but she barely felt it compared to the pain rising in her chest.

Before she could stop it, tears slipped down and fell onto the pages.

She wiped them away, drew in a steady breath, and pushed the door open.

Their laughter stopped at once. Both men turned toward her. Theo's expression shifted, though only slightly.

His eyes moved to the documents she held, and something in him tensed.

She... wasn't really here to end things, was she?

A slight crease formed between his brows. "What do you need? Didn't I make it clear not to disturb me while I'm working?"

Keeping her expression steady, Olivia walked forward and extended the documents toward him. Her tone stayed even, yet firm. "I already told you last night. We're ending this marriage. I've signed everything."

A cold glint flashed through Theo's eyes as his gaze dropped to the papers on the desk.

It didn't take long for him to spot the reason written there-irreconcilable differences caused by the husband belittling the wife's career. A sharp, mocking laugh slipped out. Without hesitation, he grabbed the documents and ripped them apart, scattering the torn pieces into the air.

Fragments of paper drifted down. Some settled lightly against Olivia's shoulders.

Rising from the sofa, Theo crossed the distance in a few steps. His hand shot out and caught her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.

Close enough to see herself reflected in his dark gaze, Olivia felt a chill run through her.

A sneer formed on his lips. "Don't get ahead of yourself. You're not leaving me unless I allow it." Letting go, he turned and headed for the door. Just before stepping out, he spoke again without turning back. "If that's all, go home. I have a meeting."

He left without waiting for a reply. The office door shut behind him, leaving Olivia standing there with Xander, the silence turning awkward.

Drained in both body and mind, Olivia eventually got into the car and headed back.

What exactly was Theo thinking? He clearly leaned toward Jennifer, so why refuse to let her go?

To him, was she nothing more than a title? Something he owned? Or just a piece in whatever arrangement he had with Jennifer?

As soon as she stepped through the front door of her home, a scent hit her-sweet, heavy, and unfamiliar.

A frown touched her face as she was about to call for the housekeeper. But before she could speak, a figure in a wheelchair came into view.

Recognition followed a blink. It was Jennifer.

"What are you doing here?" Olivia asked, her voice turning cold.

"My caregiver went home on leave for a few days, so Theo had me stay here. He said you'd take care of me."

Those words hit harder than expected.

So this was the reason... Theo refused to divorce not out of anything meaningful, but so she could tend to Jennifer?

A quiet, hollow laugh left Olivia.

Then something caught her eye. In Jennifer's hands sat the one thing Olivia held closest. Her expression tightened at once, anger rising fast. "Who told you that you could touch that?"

"Oh?" Jennifer murmured, turning the trophy slowly in her hands. "It really is stunning." Her tone stayed soft, yet something darker crept beneath it. "This is the highest award an accordionist can receive, right?"

A faint pause followed. "Such a shame..."

Her gaze lowered, and the look in her eyes shifted.

Without thinking, Olivia stepped forward. "Jennifer, give it back!"

Her hand reached out, but Jennifer pulled the trophy closer to herself, refusing to let go.

"Olivia, you really haven't learned anything," Jennifer replied, her voice losing its softness as it sharpened. "You've stayed by Theo's side for years, yet he's never loved you. If you don't walk away soon, you'll end up just like this."

Her sentence hadn't even finished when Jennifer lifted the trophy overhead and hurled it down without hesitation.

A sharp crash split the room as the crystal burst apart, fragments scattering in every direction like shattered ice.

A tremor ran through Olivia, her body no longer steady.

That trophy... it wasn't just an object. For three long years, she had pushed herself without rest, practicing until her fingers ached just to earn a place at the International Accordion Championship. That trophy had marked the peak of everything she built, the one thing she placed above all else, kept carefully on display as if it held her entire journey.

Now, nothing remained but broken pieces across the floor.

The sight cut deeper than she expected, as if something inside her had been torn apart alongside it. Moisture filled her eyes, blurring everything. Without a word, she lowered herself to the floor, ignoring Jennifer completely. Her hands moved slowly, almost carefully, gathering the scattered shards as though putting them together might bring back what she had lost.

A smug curve lifted Jennifer's lips as she watched-but that expression faltered the moment she caught movement at the doorway.

Recognition flashed in her eyes, followed by something calculated. In an instant, she shifted, letting her body drop from the wheelchair as if she had lost all balance.

Right then, the door swung open. Stepping inside, Theo took in the scene at once.

Jennifer lay on the floor near Olivia, her legs cut by the shards of crystal beneath her, streaks of red standing out sharply.

What he saw made his expression harden in a heartbeat. "Olivia!" His voice broke through the room, sharp and furious. "What are you doing? What did Jennifer ever do for you to treat her like this?"

"I didn't do anything!" Olivia said, her voice breaking as she shook her head, tears clinging to her lashes. "She destroyed my trophy... and then she dropped herself on purpose!"

A harsh sound left Theo, his expression turning savage. "Your trophy?" he said, and before she could react, he shoved her aside and moved straight to Jennifer.

Carefully, he crouched beside her, his hands hovering near her injuries as if afraid to touch. "Does that thing matter more to you than her legs?"

From the floor, Olivia looked up at him. The man before her no longer felt like the one she married. His face twisted with fury, his eyes fixed on her with nothing but blame, as if she had become someone he couldn't stand.

Slowly, her gaze shifted. Jennifer leaned into Theo, her body trembling, yet the look she gave Olivia carried something entirely different.

That expression said everything. A bitter taste rose in Olivia's throat. She could no longer bear to watch this staged act.

"How moving," she said, a quiet laugh slipping through, though her voice trembled. "You really do look perfect together... like something out of a tragic romance." Her tone dropped, losing all warmth. "So tell me... has this been going on behind my back the whole time?"

The question hung heavy in the air. Theo's face darkened at her accusation.

Jennifer stiffened, the pain from her injuries still evident, yet those words struck deeper. Her breathing turned uneven as she clutched at Theo, pressing herself against him as if seeking protection. "T-Theo... How could she say something like that? We've never done anything wrong..."

At the sight of Jennifer in pain, something inside Theo snapped completely.

He turned sharply toward Olivia, anger spilling over as his hand lifted without restraint. "Say whatever you want about me, but don't drag her into your nonsense."

Instead of shrinking back, Olivia looked straight at them. Her chin rose, her gaze steady, filled with something darker than hurt.

That unyielding look made Theo hesitate. Mid-motion, his hand stopped. A breath left him, heavy and restrained, before he slowly lowered it.

When he spoke again, his tone had turned cold. "Olivia... what you did tonight won't go unanswered."

He didn't wait for anything more. Carefully, he lifted Jennifer into his arms, holding her as though she were something fragile, something irreplaceable, before walking out without a glance back.

Watching them leave, Olivia didn't move. A faint, empty smile touched her lips.

Silently, she lowered herself again and began picking up the broken pieces scattered across the floor, one by one. Each fragment went into a box, handled with care, as if there was still a chance to put everything back together, to restore what had once meant everything to her.

Once it was done, she stood. Without hesitation, she packed what she needed, held the box close, and walked out of the house she once called home.

Morning came soon after. Reaching for his suit as part of his usual routine, Theo stopped when he found the rack empty.

A crease formed between his brows. "Where's Olivia?"

He was used to everything being prepared for him.

Rushing forward, a maid spoke quickly, her voice tense. "Mr. Harvey... Mrs. Harvey gathered her things and left yesterday."

"Who said she could leave?" Theo asked, his voice turning cold.

Without waiting, he pulled out his phone and called Olivia. The moment the line connected, his tone sharpened. "Stop this nonsense. Come back immediately."

A light laugh came from the other end, but it held no warmth. "We'll live separately from now on," Olivia said. "Since you refuse to sign the papers, I'll handle the divorce myself. I don't need your approval."

Before he could respond, the call ended.

For a second, he stood there, staring at the screen. When he called again, the call didn't go through. She had blocked him.

"Good," he muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening. "Olivia... if you walk away, then don't bother coming back."

Irritation lingered as he grabbed the same suit from the day before, barely caring about the creases. He threw it on without a second thought and headed out, the door slamming behind him with enough force to shake the room.