Fated To Not Just One, But Three

Chapter 290: Captured

Olivia’s POV

Calvin stared at me like I’d just confessed to committing treason.

His jaw was clenched so tightly I thought it might crack. His hands fisted at his sides, and I could practically feel the rage radiating off him. But to his credit, he didn’t yell. Not yet. His voice, when it came, was low... controlled.

Too controlled.

"Whatever you think you’re doing," he said through gritted teeth, "you need to stop. Now."

I lifted my chin, already bracing for the inevitable wave of judgment. "Calvin—"

"No." He cut me off, his eyes blazing with anger. "No excuses, Olivia. This is disgraceful. Sleeping in the bed of the same people who ripped your heart apart? Whose family has done nothing but torment ours?"

Nora looked away, clearly uncomfortable. Lolita bit her bottom lip, like she was dying to say something but knew better.

I tried to stay calm. "It’s not that simple."

"Yes, it is!" Calvin snapped, the first crack in his control showing. "Their family and ours are enemies. Olivia, enemies. Do you even understand the implications of what you’re doing?"

"I do," I said quietly, folding my arms. "But that doesn’t make what I feel any less real."

He scoffed, stepping forward. "And what about the fact that we’re related?"

"We’re not directly related," I said firmly. "You know that, Calvin."

"That doesn’t make it right," he fired back. "So what? You’re just going to forget everything they did to you?"

That hit deeper than I wanted to admit.

My silence must have said enough.

Calvin’s expression shifted. His voice dropped, softer now. "You’re going to forget how they rejected you? Humiliated you? Tore you apart? Is that it?"

Tears burned at the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I stood my ground.

"I haven’t forgotten," I whispered. "But I’m trying to heal. And they’re trying too."

Calvin shook his head slowly, his eyes filled with disappointment. "Our parents would be ashamed of you."

That one... that one shattered something inside me.

the door, but before leaving,

think this is love," he said, voice colder now, "but this

Then he walked out.

me, then turned toward the door. "I’ll be

frowned. "Where are

simply gave me a small frown.

then she walked out too—leaving me with

my arms folding around myself. My chest ached from the tension, from Calvin’s words, from the ugly truth of it

I doing the right

stepped closer as she

she asked

hesitated before nodding. "Yeah...

said

turned to her. "Lolita... do you think

her head, letting the question settle before answering. "I think... love doesn’t come with a right or

looked down

I’m letting them off too easily," I whispered. "That I’m forgetting what they

Lolita said gently. "You’re

just being weak

weak or stupid," she said firmly. "You’re strong enough to let yourself feel. That’s more than most people can do." She touched my arm, comforting me.

her, my eyes burning. "Then why can’t

shown him. Not yet. He’s still stuck in the version of them who hurt you. That’s all he knows. But you... you’ve seen a different side. You’ve seen them fight for

words sat heavy

then, the

I turned.

face unreadable. And

I blinked.

briefly to the floor before finding mine again. "I... I’m sorry," he said quietly. "If my words earlier hurt you,

My breath caught.

back at me. "I still don’t accept them. I don’t know if I ever fully will. But I

waiting for a response,

frozen, my

slowly to Nora, who leaned against the

at her. "What...

She shrugged. "Nothing much."

brow at her. "Is there something you

but shook her head. "No... what

glances at Nora’s too-quick answer. Obviously, we don’t

arms still folded, but I could see her throat bob as she swallowed