Fated To Not Just One, But Three

Chapter 332: If It Was Lennox

Olivia’s POV

I looked away, then forced myself to look back. My mind was restless... I wanted to interfere, but I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "She deserves this," I muttered under my breath.

The next strike came lower, across the curve of Anita’s hip. She bit down on her lip, refusing to cry out, but the tremor in her arms made her whole body shake. The stone below her was wet with tears, and maybe more. My own vision blurred for a second. I blinked hard.

Lolita touched my arm, tentatively. "Olivia, please. Let’s just go back inside."

I shook her off. "No. I want to watch." From somewhere behind me, a familiar voice called my name. It was loud and commanding, pulling the attention of everyone in the courtyard.

Calvin.

"Olivia," he called again, and I felt the eyes of the guards stationed toward us, curiosity sharpening their faces. Calvin strode forward, all broad shoulders and rigid posture, the kind of presence that made you want to stand up straighter even if you hated him. He stopped just short of the whipping post, close enough that I could see the muscle ticking in his jaw.

"She’s had enough. Tomorrow she begins the new punishment," he declared, lifting a hand.

The guard obeyed at once, setting down the whip and untying Anita’s wrists. She collapsed to the ground, catching herself with shaking hands. Her back was a canvas of blood and raw welts.

No one moved. Not the guards. Not the servants watching with wide, hushed eyes. Not even me. I stood rooted, fighting the urge to rush to her side. Once, she had been my best friend.

Calvin’s gaze pinned me. "You want to say something?" he asked, voice low enough that only I could hear.

I didn’t. I didn’t want to say anything. But the words tumbled out anyway: "You should have asked me before punishing her. You know that, right?"

Calvin’s expression didn’t change. "She’s my prisoner, not yours."

my eyes dragged back to Anita. I noticed the way she hunched over, clutching her arms around herself, blood trickling down her spine. The old anger in me

to touch her wounds. She was breathing hard, tears and

a smile. "Death is better than

the day Anita lied and I was punished, the cold satisfaction in her eyes when the guards led me away. I remembered the wedding night, how she fucked the triplets without listening to

was reduced

Or did they see

away, and all I could

to Calvin, my frown deepening. "You didn’t have to humiliate her like that,"

his eyes. Calm, steady, unreadable. "Punishment is supposed

have asked me. Anita

flexed, but his voice stayed calm. "And you? What would you have done? Cried for her? Freed her?

part of me didn’t know the answer. I swallowed hard, forcing my fists

he was stripping me bare. "This is just the beginning of

caught and my frown deepened.

voice cut in, low and final. "You’ll do what,

deepened as I didn’t know

I’m done with her, she

my argument before turning around

Arriving in my room, I sat on the bed... my head was spinning from all that was happening... so many things were going on in my life all at once. There was my sour relationship with my mother, Lord Frederick’s claim over me, and now the rift

I got

"Olivia..." it was Levi.

a shaky breath. "Have you