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,

—

0.0%

13:29

it.

from opening it.

neither of us moved. His

I said quickly, pulling

narrowed. “What

“What about you?”

“I’m your husband.”

need more suits? Or did you leave

shut him up. His lips parted like

I grabbed the bag, slipped into my slippers, and walked upstairs without looking

the front door close and the sound of his

think he would even notice the wardrobe-but today, he did. Well,

and bright. It was the kind of weather

It was Sunday.

keys,

school held too many memories. Ethan and I had gone

parked near the back gate and walked

take, slowly, like I was walking through a memory. The 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

laughing.

how empty it felt now.

way to the small grove behind the man-made lake. It was

come here. It was the night we realized we

he

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,

24.2 %

13:29

спарто

“In twenty years, we’ll come back and open it. No matter

were serious, glowing even

under a crooked tree near the

found the tree casily. My hands were already dusty when the tip of the

held it

–

things are better left where they

box for a long minute, then gave

“Goodbye, Ethan,” I whispered.

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

Ethan’s POV

ideas scattered, and the tone

for this early in the day. Her fingers brushed my arm. “Don’t be mad, baby. I was just

with her usual tricks. “We could try something else now… here?” she

She knew all the tricks. But right now, her blunder was too much to be distracted