Chapter 327

Olivia

The tension in the room was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Cade’s arms were wrapped tightly around Layla, but even from where I stood, I could see her body stiffening in his embrace.

“Layla, are you alright?” he asked, his voice a mixture of genuine concern and defensiveness.

“Do I look alright to you?” Layla finally snapped, shoving his arms away. “You’ve been distant, refusing to even help me with our—no, my son. I feel so alone.”

I glanced at Nathan, whose eyes were narrowed. He was clearly upset but holding it in, like a simmering pot on the verge of boiling over.

“You feel alone?” Cade retorted, his voice rising. “How do you think I felt finding out that the child I thought was mine is actually Nathan’s? It feels like you lied to me.”

“Lied to you?” Layla scoffed, wiping her tears away angrily. “That’s ridiculous, Cade. I told you everything as soon as I found out. This is a timing issue, nothing more. Why can’t you see that?”

Before Cade could come up with another retort, Nathan took a step forward, his voice steady but loaded with emotion.

“Cade, you need to understand something,” he said. “Layla was in a relationship with me when you two fell in love. Yes, that child is mine. But neither of us thought we could even have a child together. We tried, mostly out of a sense of duty. You have to understand that.”

The room went silent. For a moment, it felt like everyone was holding their breath, waiting for Cade’s next move. Finally, his eyes met Layla’s, and he seemed to soften.

“You’re right,” Cade admitted quietly, his eyes flickering around the room. “All of you. I guess I let my emotions get the best of me.”

“But what now?” I interjected. “Are you leaving Layla? Because if you are, you need to decide soon. She doesn’t need to be yanked around emotionally, especially not with a baby to take care of.”

Cade looked shocked, even offended. “Leave her? Never. I love her.”

“Then tell that to her,” I said, nodding in Layla’s direction.

Cade turned to Layla, took her hands in his, and looked deeply into her eyes. “I love you, Layla. I swear, I’m not going anywhere.”

Sniffling, Layla replied, “I love you, too. But you’re an idiot.”

Cade chuckled. “Trust me, I know.”

Nathan and I exchanged a glance, both of us exhausted but relieved. It felt like we had all been through an emotional wringer, but at least now there seemed to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

“But listen,” Layla said after a moment of silence, her tone turning stern. “If we’re going to make this work, I have one stipulation. Nathan and Olivia have to be a part of our child’s life. Our son should grow up knowing Elliot and Aurora as family.”

Cade seemed to blanch a bit at that, clearly not thrilled by the idea. But Layla’s expression didn’t waver. She was putting her foot down. In a way, I was proud of her.

“Alright,” Cade finally agreed, nodding slowly. “Whatever it takes to make this work. I’m sorry.”

After all the emotional fireworks, the room finally felt a bit lighter, as if we had just somehow managed to clear the air. Nathan pulled me close, his arm resting warmly on my shoulders and filling me with an electric sensation that ran up my spine.

“Olivia made an amazing dinner for us,” he announced, addressing everyone. “I think we should eat.”

Cade and Layla both nodded, their faces revealing a mixture of relief and hunger. “Sounds good to me,” Cade said, attempting a small smile.

We all took our seats around the dining table, which was set with warm dishes and flickering candles. As we began to eat, the conversation took a turn towards lighter topics—work, friends, the latest movies. It was a welcome reprieve from all the drama, and I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.

“So, how did you two meet?” Cade suddenly asked, his eyes shifting between Nathan and me. “You’ve got quite a history, from what I gather.”

I glanced at Nathan, my mouth half-open to reply, but he beat me to it.

“We were best friends growing up, practically inseparable. But then when Olivia was 15, my—well, let's just say my not-so-noble father—kicked her and her dad out of the pack. I thought I'd never see her again, and it broke my heart.”

Nathan looked at me then, his eyes filled with an intensity that took my breath away. “Then… she came back into my life last year, and I realized I never stopped loving her. It’s been a tumultuous road, but I’m so grateful we’re together now.”

I felt my eyes mist up. What Nathan had just said was so incredibly sweet, it almost made me forget the earlier tension.

Cade and Layla smiled warmly, their eyes meeting briefly as if to say, “See, happy endings are possible.”

After dinner, Cade and Layla got ready to leave, their baby boy cradled in Layla’s arms. “We’ll work something out,” Cade said, “so that we can all be friends and let the kids play together.”

“Yeah, we will,” Layla agreed, smiling at us with gratitude in her eyes.

But just before they stepped out, Layla pulled Nathan and me aside. Her face looked serious again, and she lowered her voice. “Have you guys made any progress on killing the witch?”

Nathan’s expression changed instantly, his face turning a shade paler. “I tried, but her hut just vanished before my eyes.”

Layla’s eyes widened, her face flushing with genuine fear. “Nathan, be careful, okay?”

She then reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, intricately designed amulet, holding it out in her palm. “This has been in my family for generations. It’s supposed to offer some protection against witchcraft. Please, take it.”

I hesitantly took the amulet from Layla, its cool metal surface somehow tingling against my palm. “T-Thank you, Layla,” I said softly, my voice thick with emotion, before pulling her into a hug.

“Just promise me you’ll be careful,” Layla whispered, her eyes searching mine. “And call me if anything happens.”

We nodded, both touched and a little scared by the gravity in her voice.

As Cade and Layla left, promising to return soon, I couldn’t shake the feeling that despite the meal, the laughter, and the brief moments of joy, we were all still walking a tightrope.

But for that moment, standing there in the doorway with Nathan, holding the amulet tightly between my fingers, I knew that I could at least take solace in knowing that we weren’t walking it alone.

Once Cade and Layla pulled out of the driveway, Nathan closed and locked the door, turning to face me with a newfound gravity in his eyes.

“You glad it’s over?” I murmured, turning the amulet over in my hand.

Nathan nodded, but said nothing. Instead, in one swift movement, he pulled me into his arms. I nearly dropped the amulet from shock, my eyes widening ever so slightly.

It was then that I realized that I would never get used to this, this closeness between us. Every time Nathan touched me, it felt like an electric shock in the sweetest way possible.

“I love you,” he murmured into my hair, his lips brushing my neck.

I shivered, a soft smile gracing my lips. “I love yo—”

But then, suddenly, everything went dark.