Chapter 148

Olivia

The police officers’ entrance was swift, their expressions stern and determined.

It had worked.

They had heard everything, thanks to my desperate call to 911. I had clutched the phone, hidden behind my back, recording the entire horrifying confrontation.

“Alpha Colin and Jenifer,” one of the officers announced, reading from his notebook, “You’re under arrest for conspiracy, homicide, attempted murder, and a long list of other crimes. You have the right to remain silent.”

The room was a whirlwind of chaos. Jenifer’s face was as white as a ghost, her body trembling. Colin’s face was a mask of confusion and anger, as he had been abruptly awoken from a deep slumber to discover everything that had transpired.

But it was Nathan who caught my eye, his face pale and his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

“That’s my father,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I... I didn’t want this.”

I reached out to squeeze his hand, my own trembling. “I know,” I said softly. “I know.”

The officers handcuffed Colin and Jenifer, reading them their rights as they led them out of the house. The silence that followed was deafening. Nathan and I were left standing there, a chasm of uncertainty between us.

“We should go home,” Nathan finally said, his voice hollow.

I nodded, unable to find the words to respond. All around us, officers swarmed the house. They took my dad’s file from me as evidence before I could even see what was inside.

We left after giving our statements. Officer Lawson asked us to return to the station in the morning, once we’ve had some time to rest. As an Alpha, Nathan was granted the opportunity to question his father and Jenifer, although I wasn’t so sure if he wanted that.

That night, the villa was eerily quiet. As we stepped inside, the quietness and darkness enveloped us like a blanket. It felt both comforting and cold at the same time.

In the darkness, I turned to Nathan with tears in my eyes.

“I’m here, Nathan,” I murmured, taking a step closer. “I’m sorry I ran off like that. But I…”

He looked at me, his eyes filled with so much pain and confusion, but shook his head. “I’m glad you went,” he said. “I was mad at first, but now I’m glad that it’s over. It’s just that… I don’t know what to do, Liv. My whole family’s gone. My mother’s dead. My father’s been arrested. And Jen… I thought she was my sister.”

He broke down then, sinking onto the couch with a defeated look in his eyes, and I went to him, holding him tightly as stared sullenly off into space.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered, even though I didn’t know if that was true.

I felt Nathan’s arm around me, and I leaned into him, seeking the warmth and strength that his body offered. The world felt as though it was a tumultuous ocean, and the couch was our lifeboat.

We sat on the couch together for a long time, both of us too exhausted to move or speak. Neither of us seemed to have the energy to get up and retreat to our respective rooms—or maybe we just preferred it right where we were, in each other’s arms.

I wasn’t sure how long we sat there holding each other, finding comfort in each other’s warmth, but eventually I found my eyelids growing heavy and Nathan’s breathing becoming steady.

Before I knew it, I was drifting off to sleep beside him.

…

I awoke with a start the next morning, the lingering traces of a dream still playing in my mind.

I had seen my father’s face, a smile on his lips, his eyes filled with warmth and love. It had been so long since I had seen him that way, but the dream brought it all back as if I just saw him yesterday.

A slow realization dawned on me, and I became aware of the warm, solid presence beside me. I was lying on the couch, my body tangled with Nathan’s, his arms wrapped around me, his breath soft and even against my hair.

A flush crept up my cheeks as I took in our position. We had fallen asleep like this, too tired and emotionally drained to make it to bed. It felt comforting and intimate, and I found myself reluctant to move, to break the spell of the moment.

“Nathan,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. He stirred slightly, a low murmur escaping his lips.

I turned to look at him, his face relaxed in sleep, the lines of worry and pain erased for the moment. I felt a surge of affection and gratitude for this man who had stood by me through it all.

He opened his eyes then, his gaze meeting mine, and a slow smile spread across his face.

“Good morning,” he said, his voice rough with sleep.

“Good morning,” I replied, my voice shy.

We lay there for a moment, just looking at each other, the world outside forgotten. But the reality of the day began to intrude, and I finally pulled myself away, untangling our limbs.

“I should make some coffee,” I said, trying to inject some normalcy into the situation.

Nathan sat up, stretching his arms above his head. “That sounds good. I have to go to the police station soon.”

I headed to the kitchen, feeling his eyes on my back, a mixture of emotions swirling inside me. The memory of my father’s smile in my dream lingered, a bittersweet reminder of what I had lost.

While the coffee brewed, I heard the distinctive thump on the front porch from the newspaper delivery.

Stepping outside to retrieve the paper, I felt the sun’s warmth gently caress my face, its rays penetrating through the lingering fog of despair and uncertainty that had settled within me.

The golden light seemed to infuse me with a newfound sense of hope and strength, washing away some of the pain and weariness that had clung to me throughout the night. As I bent down to pick up the morning's news, I paused to close my eyes and breathe in the fresh, crisp air, allowing myself a moment of serenity before facing whatever the day might bring.

But that serenity didn’t last for long, because the headline hit me like a punch to the gut.

“Alpha Nathan Ford’s Fake Relationship Exposed!”

I staggered back, my heart pounding in my chest as I peered down at the photographs and evidence of our lie. The words swam before my eyes, but the meaning was clear. Our secret was out.

Our fake relationship, the lie we had lived for so long, had been exposed.

How had Jenifer accomplished this while behind bars? She must have had friends on the outside who sent the information to the local newspaper. It was the only plausible explanation.

I stumbled back into the house, the paper clutched in my trembling hand. Nathan was already up, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee, his eyes red and haunted.

“Nathan,” I said, my voice cracking. “Look.”

I handed him the paper, and he read the headline, his face going pale.