Chapter 164

Julian’s POV

“Not here,” I told Amber, realizing now, with dread, what she had overheard. It wasn’t that I was never going to tell her what happened with Tony inviting who we thought was an Olivia-imposter to the hospital, but on the list of things I needed to talk to Amber about, that was towards the bottom. “When we get home.”

Amber nodded as she glanced down at Alice, likely not wanting to have this conversation in front of our daughter. Even asleep, she could wake up, or eavesdrop while she was pretending to be asleep. The last thing Alice needed right now was more fear in her life, thinking that she needed to worry about Olivia or someone else trying to hurt her again like Chase had done in the past.

We took my car home and, after tucking Alice into her room, Amber and I went into the kitchen. I put on some coffee, while she took a seat in one of the chairs of the breakfast nook. She didn’t say a word, and neither did I until the coffee was ready. I poured us both cups, then brought her one.

She cupped it with both hands and brought it to her. Maybe her fingers were cold, but, given the warmer season, I imagined she was just trying to warm herself up from the shock.

She had been suffering alongside Alice with her condition for much longer than I had. After it being dormant for so long, thanks to the magical necklace, I understood it must have been somewhat traumatizing now, not just for Alice but also for her mother, to have to watch her daughter suffer through this again.

If left to her own devices, she would probably be quiet for a long time. She might not even ask me again about what happened with Olivia or my family, instead piecing everything together in the depths of her own mind, likely inaccurately.

I couldn’t let that happen. I fully intended to tell her what happened, but there had been so much going on, that it hadn’t been in the forefront of my thoughts.

No longer. I was going to tell her the full truth of everything here and now, and so I did.

“Amber. About what happened…”

I took a steadying breath, knowing full well, as I knew here, that there were going to be parts of my story that hurt her. While I didn’t want this to happen, I couldn’t keep the truth from her either.

“Since my arrival, my mother has been confused about a great many things,” I said. “One of these things was that I…” I sighed. “She fully believed that I was married to Olivia. I wanted to correct her, but when I tried to, it was clear she was not going to handle the news well. My family intervened, forcing me to keep the secret for longer than I wanted. Then, came Becky…”

I explained in detail to Amber, leaving out nothing, how Tony had introduced Becky as an Olivia impersonator to play the part for my mother. I told her how I had tried to intervene, but my family worked against me. I explained how I eventually kicked Becky out and told my mother the truth, which was what led to her medical episode, and to me calling Amber for her help.

Then I shared what happened after Amber and Alice had left the waiting room, how the truth came out that Tony had not hired an actress but Olivia herself, hoping to trigger some kind of romance between her and me. Before Amber could think anything about that, I ensured her that this plan was unsuccessful, and that I had angrily told reminded them all of Olivia’s many transgressions.

The only thing I kept secret was how my family placed more value in Olivia’s cheating than in her attempting to take Amber’s life. That didn’t give credence to any other part of my story. Sharing that would only do to hurt Amber further. She could undoubtedly already tell my family disliked her. They certainly weren’t sending her any caring glances.

Amber remained eerily quiet throughout my explanation. She didn’t drink her coffee, just kept holding it. In the end, I didn't drink mine either, as I spent most of my time talking. By the time I had finished my story, the coffee was cold. I pushed it to the side.

“Amber,” I said, hoping to prompt some kind of response. I could tell she was upset, but she wasn’t giving me any kind of indication of how much or if there was anything I could do to fix it. “I’m sorry,” I said rather than ask her, hoping that would help fix things.

“It’s fine,” she said, but with how quiet she said it, I was sure this was anything but. I leaned forward, about to press, but she continued before I could. “Really. I could see how things happened and how they turned out as they have.”

Her understanding wasn’t the same as her forgiveness.

But other than apologizing, I wasn’t sure how I could fix that in this moment.

I felt helpless as I watched her sit quietly in her chair, clutching that cold coffee like it was some kind of life preserver.

Though we were so close, our bond felt strained.

I couldn’t see the walls she was building between us, but with the bond, I felt each brick slot into place.

All of the romantic progress I had made, all of the trust I had restored – all of it – was being slowly regressed inch my inch as she pushed me back away from her heart once more.

And all I could do was watch it happen.

Olivia’s POV

Kevin was a young, foolish doctor, easily manipulated. My favorite kind of man.

As we stood in the hotel room he had rented for me, he told me proudly about how he had attempted to dismiss Amber in front of his colleagues. As he spoke, he said how well he did and that he thought he had changed a few minds toward his way of thinking.

I didn’t have to be there to know that was bullshit. Most of the healers at the hospital already knew and liked Amber. Besides Kevin had all the charisma of a wet paper bag. He wasn’t convincing anyone of anything, even if he was right.

Still, as the man had helped me escape that predicament at the hospital, I couldn’t be angry.

He was telling me all this because he wanted me to be proud of him. He fed on that energy, probably not receiving enough attention in his youth.

To keep him satisfied, I forced a smile. “Thank you, darling. You do so much good for me.”

He smiled, preening a bit. It took everything in me not to roll my eyes.

A knock on the door drew my attention to it. Kevin’s smile vanished at once and he walked to the door, opening it slowly. Then, he stepped back and let who was there more fully into the room.

“Tony, there you are,” I said.

He shook his head, seeing me. “Julian certainly makes things difficult, doesn’t he?”

“He does,” I said. “I’ve had problems with him from the start.”

Tony walked to me. “Good thing we have a change in leadership in mind.”

I grinned. Finally, for once, I had someone on my side with some modicum amount of competence.