Chapter 11
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Olivia posted on Twitter: [Seven years of making do was enough. No more settling for less. From now on, we go our separate ways.]
It was short, but it felt like a punch to the gut. Neil thought, ‘Is she saying our entire relationship has been a series of compromises? That she has had to constantly make do with less than she deserves?
‘And is she implying that I haven’t lived up to her expectations? Me? Come on, I’m way out of her league!‘
Neil’s face turned as dark as a thundercloud, and his fingers dug into the phone so hard it felt like it might shatter. “Olivia, I’m giving you an out. Do you really want to push this?”
The group chat was still blowing up with questions.
Sean: [Neil… Olivia’s not actually serious this time, right?]
Neil’s jaw tightened. He typed: [Who cares if she is? Like I need her.]
At Kline Manor, Liam’s finger froze mid–scroll. His eyes bored into the glowing screen–it was Olivia’s new tweet.
Liam’d never been one to care about trivialities, but for years, he’d been keeping tabs on her through a secret account. She rarely posted anything, so this time, maybe she was serious.
He suddenly felt the need to see Olivia face–to–face. Glancing at the wall clock, it was just after eight. She should be downstairs having breakfast. He tugged at his shirt collar and headed for the stairs.
But when he scanned the living room, there was no sign of Olivia. Instead, Victor and Maribel were in the dining area, their silverware making soft, rhythmic noises against their plates.
As soon as Maribel saw Liam, she jumped up and said warmly, “Liam, good morning. Come have breakfast! I had the staff make all your favorites.”
Ignoring her, Liam turned to Victor and asked, “Where’s Olivia?”
Victor blinked. Liam had always been distant, especially since that incident five years ago. He’d tried everything to reconnect, but Liam had always been stubbornly unresponsive. To see him asking about Olivia first was unexpected.
But Victor had no idea where Olivia was. He turned to Maribel for an answer.
Maribel’s surprise mirrored Victor’s, but she quickly smiled and said, “Well, she just broke up with Neil, and she hasn’t had a place to stay since. So she went out early to look for an apartment.”
Before she could say more, Liam turned and walked away without looking back.
“Hey! Liam, where are you going? You haven’t even eaten breakfast,” Maribel called after him.
Olivia stood in the bustling “bar district” in Pisloe. With a few taps on her phone, she’d found a studio apartment through a rental app–perfect location, great price. It was just a ten–minute walk from the bar where she sang.
All she needed to do now was check it out in person. If it looked good, she could sign the lease.
Olivia dialed the realtor. The phone soon clicked and she said, “Hello? Mike? I’m the one who contacted you online.
Mike answered, “Ah, Ms. Erwin! I’m already at the apartment complex. Just come on over.”
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10:46 Sun, 22 Jun
Chapter 11
“Got it,” she said and hung up. She started walking down the street, not noticing Neil was watching her from a car across the road.
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