Chapter 1 - The Gala Exit
Olivia did not look back as she walked through the heavy gilded doors of the Plaza.
The blinding flashes of the paparazzi cameras still burned white hot against the back of her retinas.
She could hear heavy, frantic footsteps echoing on the marble floor right behind her.
"Olivia, wait!"
It was Liam, his voice cracking with a desperate panic she had not heard in years.
She kept walking, her silver heels clicking rhythmically against the cold pavement of the New York street.
The crisp night air hit her face, bringing a sudden rush of clarity to her racing mind.
Liam burst through the doors, completely ignoring the reporters who were shouting his name.
He grabbed her arm, his grip tight enough to bruise.
"You cannot just walk in there and humiliate me like that," he hissed, his face pale with anger.
Olivia looked down at his hand until he slowly, reluctantly let her go.
"I didn't say a single word, Liam," she replied, her voice dangerously calm.
"Your guilt is what humiliated you."
Liam stared at her slightly swollen stomach, his jaw clenching in obvious disbelief.
"Are they really mine?" he asked, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper.
Before Olivia could slap him for the disgusting insult, a massive black Rolls Royce pulled up to the curb.
Two men in dark suits stepped out, immediately blocking Liam from getting any closer to her.
The rear door of the luxury car opened smoothly.
Alexander Sterling, New York’s most elusive and ruthless billionaire, stepped out into the flashing lights.
He wrapped a warm, protective arm around Olivia's shoulders and glared at her ex-husband.
"She is done talking to you, Hayes," Alexander said in a voice that commanded absolute obedience.
Liam stumbled back in shock, unable to comprehend why a titan like Alexander was protecting his discarded wife.
Alexander guided Olivia into the warm interior of the car and shut the heavy door behind them.
The car sped away from the chaotic scene, leaving Liam completely stranded on the sidewalk.
Olivia let out a long, shaky breath and leaned her head back against the leather seat.
Alexander poured her a glass of sparkling water and smiled faintly.
"That was a spectacular performance," he murmured, his dark eyes shining with amusement.
"But I see you brought the leather folder just like I asked."
Olivia tightened her grip on the documents she had been holding all night.
"I have the papers," she confirmed, handing the folder across the console.
Alexander opened it, scanning the signatures with a predatory gleam in his eye.
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"Excellent," he whispered.
"Liam has absolutely no idea that he just signed away the core patents to his entire company."
