Chapter 5 Five

Olivia stirred from her sleep. She stretched her arms and instinctively wrapped them around the warmth beside her. It felt nice and comforting.

She smiled and drifted back to sleep.

But realization hit her with lightning speed. Her eyes shot open, wondering whom she had been hugging with unbridled possessiveness, and she nearly let out a shriek. Clayton lay beside her.

Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. She immediately released her hold on his bare torso, the remnants of sleep fading from her system.

Olivia had never seen him naked before. This was her first time. She tried hard to look away, but she couldn't help but survey his body.

The word "beautiful" wasn't typically used to describe a man, but at that moment, as Olivia gazed at him, it was the only word that came to her mind.

He was beautiful in a way that transcended typical standards. He was beautiful despite the scars. In fact, he had countless scars tracing along his skin, but it was the bullet scar near his heart that made her pause. It was deeper than she had thought.

Without thinking, her fingers moved toward his scar, but the moment her skin made contact, Clayton's eyes flew open, his body reacting before his mind could catch up.

In an instant, he rolled over, pinning Olivia's hands above her head. She let out a shriek that echoed in the stillness of the room.

"I-it h-hurts," Olivia winced, trying to free herself from his unyielding grip.

Clayton's expression shifted from sleepiness to alarm. The fear and pain in her eyes doused him like cold water. He quickly released her and rolled off her.

"I'm sorry, Olivia."

She could see the embarrassment in his eyes, the way he struggled to find the right words, but she couldn't bring herself to say a word because she was too stunned to speak.

Olivia abandoned the bed.

She hurried to the bathroom and found herself standing in front of the mirror. Her hair was a wild mess, and her cheeks were flushed. Clayton's oversized shirt hung loosely on her frame.

She sighed and splashed cold water on her face.

After tidying herself up, she took a moment to compose her thoughts.

With one last glance in the mirror, she stepped back into the bedroom. Clayton still sat on the bed, evidently worried and regretful.

"I'm going home," Olivia announced.

"Would you like to have breakfast before you go?" he offered.

She wasn't sure if it was out of kindness or guilt for what had happened moments ago. Either way, she couldn't stay. She had to be at the hospital in about an hour.

"There's a scheduled surgery for a patient, and I can't be late for my shift today," she told him.

Clayton got up and grabbed a fresh shirt and pants to put on. "I'll drive you home."

She hesitated for a moment but realized it was more convenient than waiting for a cab. "Okay."

Inside the car, they drove in silence.

The journey felt like an eternity. No one dared to speak or initiate a conversation. Olivia thought it was better that way since there was nothing to talk about anyway.

When Clayton finally parked the car in front of the Hilton Mansion, she felt an instant relief.

"Thank you." She turned to him, her hand already pushing the door open.

His lips parted slightly, as though he wanted to say something, but he pressed them into a thin line. Instead, he gently grabbed her hands, checking her wrists for bruises. When he didn't see any, relief crossed his eyes, and he released her.

She didn't wait to see if he had something to say and simply got out of the car. She darted toward the house before anyone could see her wearing an oversized shirt with nothing underneath except for underwear.

The house was quiet. Olivia tiptoed to the foyer, careful not to make any noise. When she reached the hallways, she skittered to her room. Only when she was safely inside did she release the breath she'd been holding.

After a brief glance at the wall clock, she prepared for work.

-

She hoped her parents would still be asleep when she finally made it downstairs, but perhaps her prayers didn't reach the heavens because when she reached the bottom, they were waiting for her in the living room.

Mr. Hilton sat on the couch reading his morning newspaper and enjoying a cup of coffee while Mrs. Hilton sat opposite him, arms crossed tightly, lips pressed into a thin line.

Olivia knew what was coming and had prepared herself for it.

"Do you have any idea how much you embarrassed us last night?" Mrs. Hilton got up, her face a mask of disappointment as she looked at Olivia.

Olivia had grown used to this, but she still felt heat rise in her cheeks.

It was pointless to argue. She had learned the hard way that fighting back only made things worse. Instead, she let their harsh words enter one ear and exit the other.

"I'm sorry." The words emerged from her lips. Olivia didn't mean them, but it was all she could offer.

Mrs. Hilton opened her mouth to unleash another wave of criticism. But just as Olivia prepared for the onslaught, her phone rang.

She quickly glanced at the screen and saw Nurse Jessy's name. She stepped away from her parents and answered the call. "Hello?"

"It's Jessy," the nurse's voice came through. "I'm letting you know that the surgery will proceed as planned. I wanted to make sure you'll be in attendance."

"I'll be there soon!" she replied. "Actually, I'm about to leave the house right now."

Olivia could hear Jessy's voice asking if she was alright after what happened last night, but all Olivia could think about was escaping the suffocating atmosphere of the house.

When the call ended, she turned to Mr. and Mrs. Hilton. "I have to go. There's an urgent matter at the hospital."

Whatever argument her parents had in mind was suspended in the air.

Olivia was already rushing to the door without waiting for them to say a word. She stepped outside, a laugh of pure relief bubbling up from her throat.

She hopped into her car, reminding herself to treat Jessy to lunch.