Chapter 18
Chapter 18:
She was dressed in something sleek and expensive, her long hair braided neatly over one shoulder—every inch of her appearance carefully assembled. Olivia noticed Kailey at once. She hesitated for just a second before crossing the room with a practiced smile. “Kailey, I didn’t expect to see you here p>
Kailey had no interest in conversation. She simply nodded and took another slow sip of water.
Something shifted in Olivia’s expression. Her lips tightened. “Kailey, I honestly don’t think I’ve done anything to you, so why the hostility p>
“You’re imagining things,” Kailey replied simply. She felt nothing at all toward Olivia—not anger, not warmth, nothing.
That indifference unsettled Olivia far more than anger ever could, as though Kailey found her beneath notice.
Olivia forced another smile. “If there’s no issue between us, then as Ryan’s girlfriend, shouldn’t I be someone you try to get along with? Maybe we should spend more time together p>
Kailey looked genuinely puzzled. “You’re dating Ryan, not me. Why would I need to spend time with you p>
Olivia stiffened, then her voice turned wounded. “How can you say something like that p>
“Then what would you prefer I say?” Kailey set down her glass, her gaze even and direct. “Olivia, whatever you and Ryan have is your business. Just don’t involve me in it p>
Kailey was no fool. Olivia’s endless, carefully phrased questions had nothing to do with kindness—they were simply meant to confirm one thing: that there was truly nothing left between her and Ryan.
Kailey found it almost laughable. Ryan had already made his rejection unmistakably clear, so what more could Olivia possibly be digging for?
𝗢𝘳𝘨𝖺𝗇𝘪𝘻𝖾 𝘆о𝗎𝗋 𝘭𝗶𝖻𝗋a𝗿у 𝗈ո.с𝗈𝘮
At last, Olivia’s smile slipped. “Can you honestly say you feel nothing for Ryan p>
“I once did,” Kailey answered plainly, holding her gaze. “But not anymore. Not now, and not ever again. You don’t like me, and I have no interest in you. Let’s stop pretending we need to be friendly. We’re better off as strangers p>
Olivia had clearly come prepared to put her in her place, but Kailey’s bluntness left her momentarily without a response.
After a pause, Olivia’s expression hardened. “You sound very righteous, but you have no shame at all. You’re a grown woman still living under the same roof as a man who isn’t even related to you by blood. Doesn’t that embarrass you p>
When Kailey had first left for university, she had wanted to move out. Ryan had refused, insisting she couldn’t manage on her own. Now Olivia was wielding that fact like a weapon.
Kailey’s hands curled into tight fists at her sides. “I’m leaving soon p>
Olivia didn’t let up. “Soon? When exactly p>
Kailey opened her mouth, but before she could answer, a calm voice cut through the air.
“Does your boyfriend know you’re cornering his niece like this p>
Nora stepped in with her arms folded, planting herself squarely beside Kailey. “Miss Marsh, you have lived nearly thirty years. Do you really feel no embarrassment intimidating someone so much younger than you p>
Olivia’s face flushed with anger. “Ms. Barrett, this has nothing to do with you p>