Olivia Chen had it all-the ring from New York's most potent billionaire, Alex Kingston, and a bright future ahead in fashion. But in a single night, her dreams were shattered. She was publicly humiliated and accused of disloyalty and betrayal and then she was cast aside by the person she truly loved very much. And when she tried to tell him the truth-about the child they had created together-she found him tangled in the arms of another woman. Heartbroken and sold into an arranged marriage by her father, Olivia vanished, changing her name and building a new life in Italy. For three years, she has been living in the shadows, raising her son, Toni, and running from her past. But destiny can be so unkind and the past doesn't ever quite stay buried. When a viral video exposes her identity, Lex comes storming back into her life-ruthless, regretful, and determined to claim what he lost. But Olivia is no longer the naïve girl that he used to swat away. She's stronger than ever and colder than an iceberg, and she's hiding the biggest secret of all time. As old wounds reopen and buried betrayals resurface, Olivia must decide-will she run again, or will she make the billionaire who broke her heart pay for every tear he made her shed? Or will she ever forgive him?
Chapter 1 THE BEGINNING OF THE END
OLIVIA'S POV
I smooth down my simple cream dress, bought with my intern pay, and try to calm my nerves. Tonight was supposed to be special. I barely recognize the hopeful woman on the shiny walls of Kingston Tower's executive floor. My journey from intern to falling in love with Alexander Kingston has felt like a dream.
Amanda interrupts. "Miss Chen, Mr. Kingston wants to see you now."
"Is everything okay?" I ask, noticing her tension.
She averts her eyes. "Mr. Kingston will explain."
I took a breath, lifted my chin, and stepped into Lex's office. He stands by the window, his back to me.
"Lex?" I whisper. "Is everything okay? The guests are arriving for the engagement party..."
He turns, his gray eyes cold. I flinch. "Tell me, Olivia," he says sharply. "How long did you think you could fool me?"
"What?" I gasp, clutching my purse. "Lex, I don't understand-"
"Don't." He steps closer, anger simmering. "I have proof."
He presses a button, and a screen lights up. Blurry security footage shows someone resembling me in a garage, handing papers to James Morton, CEO of our biggest rival. The timestamp? Last Tuesday.
"That's not possible!" I stammer. "Lex, that's not me! I was with Victoria that night, working on the spring collection. Ask her!"
"The timestamp says otherwise. You're sharing Kingston's secrets," he says coldly. "I trusted you, Olivia. This is how you repay me?"
Tears sting my eyes, but I hold them back. "Please, Lex, believe me. I'd never betray you!"
"Love?" He laughs, harshly. "You're just after my money. The innocent fashion intern act was clever. I'll give you that."
The door opens, and the scent of Chanel No. 5 fills the room. I turn to see Isabelle Kingston, Lex's half-sister, smirking in a sleek red dress.
"Oh dear, is this a bad time?" she purrs.
Lex gestures to her. "Perfect timing. Help me escort Miss Chen out. Our guests will be intrigued to hear how the future Mrs. Kingston turned out to be a corporate spy."
As security appears, I find my voice. "Lex, please. This isn't right. If you ever truly loved me-"
"That's enough." His eyes are ice. "Take her away. And Olivia?" He gives me one last, cold look. "If you come near me or my company again, you'll regret it."
As I'm led out, my world collapses. Isabelle's smug smile is the last thing I see before the doors close, and Lex turns his back on me.
I stumble through the door of my apartment and slam it shut. Emily, my best friend, rushes over.
"Olivia, are you okay? What happened?"
I shake my head, struggling for words. "He believes her, Emily. He thinks I'm a gold-digger-a corporate spy."
Emily's eyes widen. "That's insane! What about the engagement party? It was supposed to be a celebration!"
I let out a bitter laugh. "It was a setup. Isabelle must have planned it, and Lex believed every word."
Emily's face hardens. "We need to clear your name, Olivia. We can't let Isabelle get away with this."
"It's too late," I whisper. "Lex has made up his mind. I don't think he'll ever trust me again."
Tears spill over, and Emily pulls me into a hug. I let them fall, grieving the life I thought I had.
The next morning, my phone buzzes with notifications. Headlines flash across my screen:
My heart sinks. Emily grabs my phone. "Don't read that," she warns. "It's just lies and speculation."
Emily sighs, taking the phone. "Olivia, stop. We need to clear your name, not feed into this gossip."
Days turn to weeks. I'm completely cut off from Lex. Calls go to voicemail; emails bounce back. Even my attempts to contact his friends are met with silence.
One morning, I woke up feeling off. As I swung my legs over the bed, a wave of nausea hit me. I stumbled to the bathroom, barely reaching the toilet before vomiting. Emily rushed in from the couch.
"Olivia, are you okay?"
I nodded, still queasy. "Just stress, I think."
But the nausea persisted. By the third morning, it clicked might be pregnant.
"What am I supposed to do now?" I whispered, panic rising.
Emily took a breath, softening. "We'll figure it out, Olivia. But first, let's take care of you."
The next day, I decided to take a pregnancy test. At the pharmacy, I felt my heart race.
"Where are the...uh, pregnancy tests?" I asked the pharmacist.
"Aisle three," he said, grinning knowingly.
Outside, Emily raised an eyebrow. "Got it?"
I nodded, shoving it into my bag. "Let's go before I die of embarrassment."
Emily grinned. "Dramatic much?"
Back at my apartment, we stood in the bathroom, the test kit between us like a ticking bomb.
"How long does it take?" I whispered.
"Three minutes," Emily replied, setting the timer. She reached for my hand. "No matter what it says, we'll get through this."
I nodded, heart pounding. Three minutes felt like hours. Finally, the timer beeped.
"It's time."
Emily squeezed my hand. "Let's do this."
I flipped the test over. PREGNANT.
"Olivia, what is it?" Emily asked, eyes wide.
I turned, holding the test. "I'm... pregnant."
I shook my head, feeling tears well up. "This can't be happening. I'm not ready."
The reality hit hard. I was pregnant with Lex's child man who'd humiliated me. I pulled away, stumbling back to the bathroom and locking the door. I sank to the floor, tears streaming down my face.
Why had I fallen for Lex, only for him to destroy me?
As the tears subsided, a realization dawned. I had a choice. I could let this pregnancy break me, or I could use it to rebuild.
I stood, looking down at the test stick. I was going to be a mom. A spark of determination flickered.
"Emily?" I called, my voice shaky.
The door opened. "Hey, are you okay?"
I nodded, smiling weakly. "I think it's time we told Lex about the baby."
"What are you doing, Olivia?" Emily asked, worried. "You don't have to see him. You're better off without him."
I took a breath, steeling myself. "I need closure. I need to know I did everything I could to salvage this."
Emily sighed. "Fine, but I'm coming with you."
Together, we went to Lex's penthouse. I knew this could be my last chance to see Lex, and I was determined to make it count.
On getting there, the security guard recognized me. "Olivia, here to see Mr. Kingston?"
I nodded. "Yes, I am". He nodded back
"Thank you," I said, walking toward the penthouse. Emily shot me a reassuring look as I opened the door.
Inside, silence filled the space. But from the bedroom, I heard noises-moans.
"Do you hear that?" Emily whispered.
I nodded, a chill running down my spine. "What is it?"
We crept closer, the sounds getting louder. My heart raced. I pushed open the bedroom door, and there they were.
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