Watch Me Win, Alpha

Chapter 16

Olivia’s POV

I sat curled up on the couch, staring at my phone. Still no address from Mike. Just those suit measurements, sent

hours ago.

What exactly was Alexander playing at? If he didn’t want the suit, he could’ve just ignored me. Was he testing me? Or trying to make a point?

Maybe it was just his way of saying: “Don’t come near me again.”

Fine. That suit would be the last thing to ever cross between us anyways. I didn’t pay much heed to his weird nature.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching. I tossed the phone aside after switching off the screen and straightened my back instinctively.

Ethan stepped into the room and got straight to the point. “Where are your clothes?”

I blinked. “What?”

“Shoes. Bags. Jewelry. All your stuff. Where is it?”

My heart skipped a beat. Did he find out?

I kept my face neutral and forced a little frown. “Dry cleaning,” I said casually. “The clothes, and shoes.”

He narrowed his eyes. “All of it?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I got bored being stuck at home alone. Decided to organize the house. Honestly couldn’t remember what I wore last week, so I just sent everything out to get cleaned.”

“And the bags? The jewelry?”

“Maintenance. The diamonds weren’t shining like they used to. And most of those bags were getting scuffed. Figured it was time.”

My tone sounded flat but reasonable. He stared at me for a few more seconds, like he was trying to read between the lines. Then he gave a small nod.

“No need to rush,” he said. “There’s plenty of time in the future. You can take it slow.”

“I’m traveling in a few days,” I replied smoothly. “Wanted to clear things before I left.”

That seemed to settle it until his gaze shifted to the navy suit bag lying on the couch,

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moved toward it. “And

him from opening it. My hand landed on top of

of us moved. His

said quickly, pulling the bag toward

narrowed.

“What about you?”

“I’m your husband.”

need more suits? Or did

like he wanted to respond, but

bag, slipped into my slippers,

the sound of his car pulling

he would even notice the wardrobe-but today,

bright. It was the kind of weather that made everything look

It was Sunday.

keys, and drove to Claw

too many memories. Ethan and I had gone there together. Back then, everything felt

back

classroom where we sat side by side in the back row. The path lined with old trees where Ethan would wait for me after class. The field where we’d race until we fell over,

laughing.

empty it felt now. Not just the campus. My chest

grove behind the man-made lake. It was hidden

here. It was the night we

brought me here, saying he had

used our phones for light, sitting on the damp grass. He pulled out a small box, and two pieces of paper. We each wrote something – a secret wish, a promise, I

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спарто

come back and

glowing even in the

together, right under a crooked tree near the

dusty when the tip of

but intact. I held it in my

–

where they

a long minute, then gave

“Goodbye, Ethan,” I whispered.

man. But to the memories. To the girl I was back then. To

Ethan’s POV

the proposal in front of me. The formatting was off, the ideas scattered, and

day. Her fingers brushed my arm. “Don’t be mad, baby.

lower, trying to distract me with her usual tricks. “We could try something else

seduce better. She knew all the tricks.