Chapter 348

Olivia

I glanced around the living room after Clint left, taking in the surroundings. After Clint had mentioned Edward’s eyes, it was like something was just… off, even without Edward being here anymore.

I would have to talk to Nathan later, I was sure of it. Not just about Edward trying to handle the twins, but also about his eyes. Maybe he would have some insight.

Just as I settled onto the couch and started thumbing through a parenting magazine I had hardly touched, the doorbell rang. I sighed, reluctantly putting the magazine aside. I opened the door to find Angela standing there, a bright smile on her face, and felt my insides soften a bit.

“Hey, Olivia! Got a minute?”

“Of course,” I said, ushering her in. “It’s good to see you.”

We sat down in the living room, and Angela looked around. “Nathan and Edward are out?”

“Yeah, they went to the Council building. So, I finally have some time to myself, and now with you.” I gave her a warm smile. “What’s up?”

“I was just on my lunch break and figured I’d come bug you. We haven’t had a chance to talk since Nathan’s little announcement last night, so… How is it so far?”

I sighed, my gaze drifting to my lap. “It’s… Something.”

Angela tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “‘Something?’ Spill.”

I took a deep breath. “I just don’t know how to feel about Edward living here. He’s Nathan’s family, yes, but I can’t just shake this feeling that I don’t know him well enough to trust him around the twins.”

Angela nodded, her face serious. “That’s completely understandable, Olivia. This is your home. You should feel safe here.:”

“That’s the problem,” I said, wringing my hands together. “I talked to Nathan about it, and he thinks we should give Edward a chance to get settled. He wants to believe in his uncle.”

“And what do you want?” Angela asked.

I paused, looking away for a moment as I collected my thoughts. “I want to believe that Nathan’s judgment is sound, but as a mother, I can’t help but feel cautious. What if Edward’s intentions aren’t what they seem?”

Angela leaned forward, putting her hand on mine. “Listen to me. Nathan might be the Alpha, but you are the lady of this house. In a lot of ways, this is more your home than it is his. You get to choose who lives here and who doesn’t.”

I looked at Angela, her words sinking in. “I guess I’ve been so focused on not causing any waves that I forgot I have a say in this, too.”

“Exactly,” Angela affirmed. “And remember, your first duty is to your children. You need to do what feels right for them, even if it goes against what Nathan wants.”

I nodded, feeling my resolve strengthen. “You’re right. I’ve been letting my fears and hesitations dictate my actions. It’s time to put my foot down.”

“So what are you going to do?” Angela inquired.

“I’m going to talk to Nathan,” I said, conviction filling my voice. “We need to change the terms of our agreement. Edward should stay in a hotel until we can figure things out. Until I can be sure that his intentions are pure and that he poses no threat to my family.”

Angela smiled, squeezing my hand. “That sounds like a wise decision, Olivia.”

A weight lifted off my shoulders, one I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying. I knew the conversation with Nathan wouldn’t be easy, but it was necessary. It was a line I had to draw in the sand, a stand I had to make for the safety and comfort of my family.

Angela and I chatted for a little while longer, but my thoughts were already on the evening ahead, on the difficult conversation that loomed over me. As she left, she gave me a hug and said, “You’re doing the right thing, Olivia.”

As I closed the door behind her, I took a deep breath. Whatever came next, I was ready to face it. I had my priorities straight, and top of the list was keeping my children safe, even if that meant shaking up our living situation.

Because at the end of the day, this was my home, my sanctuary. And I’d be damned if I let anyone compromise that.

…

The day was surprisingly chilly for late August, and the sun was out, casting a golden glow over the neighborhood. I wanted to take advantage of the weather, and also the fact that Nathan was out, to cook a nice family dinner.

With Edward now living with us, the tension had been thick in the air. A homemade meal felt like it might just bring a sense of normalcy back into our lives.

After bundling up Aurora and Elliot in their coziest onesies, I nestled them into their double stroller. They looked up at me, their baby blue eyes wide and curious.

“Okay, kiddos, we’re going on a little adventure to the grocery store,” I announced as I locked the front door behind us.

The grocery store wasn’t far, a pleasant 10-minute walk. Once inside, I headed straight for the fresh produce, picking out crisp bell peppers, a head of garlic, and ripe tomatoes for a pasta sauce. I grabbed some organic chicken breasts and a bunch of basil before heading to the checkout line.

Behind the counter was Mary, a woman in her late fifties who always had a warm smile on her face. She began scanning my items while cooing at the twins.

“Oh my, look at these two bundles of joy! How are they doing, Olivia?”

“They’re good, keeping me busy as always,” I said, chuckling. “Elliot is determined to start standing. I swear, one of these mornings I’m going to find him wandering around the house and not anywhere near his crib.

Mary chuckled, bagged the last of my items and looked up. “I saw you at the banquet last night, Olivia. You looked absolutely radiant. A Luna we all can be proud of.”

My cheeks flushed. “Thank you, Mary. That’s really kind of you to say.”

Mary’s eyes then fell on the tabloid magazine on the counter, featuring a picture of Edward. “Oh, and it’s so exciting to see Edward back in town after all these years! I can’t believe we all thought he was dead.”

“Yeah, it’s been quite the rollercoaster,” I said cautiously. I hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Did you know Edward at all back when he was around?”

Mary thought for a moment, her eyes squinting as if trying to focus on a distant memory. “Actually, yes. We went to high school together. He was such a sweet boy, a bit of an athlete too. All the girls used to fawn over him. He was so cute.”

I chuckled. “I can picture that. He does have that athletic look.”

Mary seemed to be reminiscing now, her eyes a bit dreamy. “Oh yes, and he was cute and fit, no doubt about it. But I don’t remember him being quite so tall.”

I looked at her quizzically. “What do you mean?”

“Well…” Mary paused, as if choosing her words carefully. “He was tall, but not over six feet like he is now. Must have had a growth spurt at some point. Or maybe I’m just remembering wrong.”

I felt a prickle of unease run down my spine. It was highly uncommon for people to continue growing after the age of 20-25. I knew that; everybody did. “A growth spurt? At his age?”

Mary shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. “Stranger things have happened, I guess.”

“Right,” I said, taking the bags from the counter. “Well, thank you, Mary. Have a good day.”

“You too, dear. Give my best to Nathan.”

I nodded and began pushing the stroller back towards home, but my mind was racing.

A late growth spurt? How was that possible?

I found myself thinking back to Angela’s advice: to trust my gut when it came to the safety of my home and my children.

As much as I wanted to believe that everything was fine, and that Edward was just an extended family member who deserved a second chance, these little inconsistencies kept popping up.

Was it possible that my initial instinct was correct—that this was an imposter after all?