Chapter 108

Angela POV

"She's not answering. This isn't like her," I said, worry coloring my voice."It's so late, where could she have gone?"

Christopher placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder."Don't worry, I'll stay here with you until Olivia returns."

"She's not answering. This isn't like her," I said, worry coloring my voice.

Christopher placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "I'm concerned about you and your friend. Let me stay until you reach her."

Just then, my phone chimed with a text message. I quickly opened it to find a message from Olivia:

Don't worry about me! I went back to the hotel to look after that man-the one we took to the hotel together. He'll need someone when he wakes up, and I think this might be my chance! Goodnight! xx

The color drained from my face, and my phone nearly slipped from my fingers.

"Angela?" Christopher's voice sharpened with concern. "What's wrong? What happened?"

I shook my head, struggling to find words.

"Nothing... just... I'm worried about her. She barely knows that him, yet she went to his hotel..." I said, collapsing onto the sofa.

"Olivia is a smart woman," Christopher reassured me. "She knows how to protect herself."

I opened my mouth to explain why I was so concerned, then closed it again.

How could I tell Christopher that the man Olivia was so enamored with was my ex-husband-the father of my children-without revealing the past I'd worked so hard to leave behind?

Christopher leaned forward, his amber eyes searching mine. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Nothing significant," I sighed, wrapping my arms around myself. "It's just... returning to New York has been an adjustment."

"Whatever you need, I'm here,"Christopher walked over and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"You're shaking," he said, his eyes reflecting concern. "Where's the coat I gave you earlier?"

Only then did I realize that in my panic over Olivia's absence, I had somehow misplaced the cashmere coat he had draped around me earlier.

"I should go find it," I said simply. "Excuse me for a moment."

In the guest bedroom, I slipped on Christopher's cashmere coat, trying to gather my composure. The evening's events had left me rattled in ways I couldn't fully process.

When I returned to the living room, Christopher was ending a call.

"That was David," he explained, slipping his phone into his pocket. "He's gone to look for Olivia."

"Thank you," I said, settling back into my chair.

Christopher studied me for a moment. "Why did Olivia go to that hotel in the first place?"

I hesitated, weighing my words carefully. "To check on... the man we helped earlier."

"This man, who is he to Olivia?"

"No one, really. Just someone she's been admiring from afar who happened to be completely intoxicated tonight."

Christopher studied me with suspicion in his eyes, making me feel suddenly uneasy. But ultimately, he said nothing about his doubts.

"I'll make sure Olivia is safe," he said simply.

He typed out a quick message on his phone, then set it aside.

"You should rest now. It's been a long day, and the twins will be up early."

"I should wait until we hear from Olivia," I protested, even as exhaustion tugged at me.

Deep inside, I knew what I was truly worried about. The image of Olivia unbuttoning Sean's shirt at the hotel flashed through my mind... I shook my head, telling myself it wasn't possible, that such a thing couldn't be happening...

Christopher stood and gently guided me toward the bedroom. "I'll wait. Go rest."

"But-"

His finger pressed gently against my lips, silencing my objection.

The gesture was intimate, possessive in a way Christopher had never been before. His eyes held mine, amber depths glowing with an intensity that made my breath catch.

"Trust me," he murmured, his voice dropping lower as he leaned closer. "I'll take care of everything."

I didn't get a word out before his mouth crashed into mine, hard and wet, his tongue shoving past my lips like he couldn't wait another second.

My hands slammed against his chest, clawing at the tight shirt stretched over his muscles, trying to push him off-but it was pathetic, trembling.

He didn't budge. Instead, he grabbed my hips with both hands, yanking me against him so hard I felt the thick bulge in his jeans press into my stomach.

One hand slid up under my cardigan, rough fingers raking over my bare skin, cupping my ass and squeezing tight, pulling me up until my legs brushed his thighs.

My brain was a mess, spinning out. This was Christopher-my quiet, wait-for-me Christopher.

Now he was a beast, grinding against me, his teeth nipping my bottom lip, his tongue thrusting deeper, tasting me like he'd been starving for it.

I wanted to scream, to shove him off as his hand slipped lower, fingers teasing under my waistband, brushing the edge of my panties.

But my body froze, stuck on the guilt chewing me up-I owed him, didn't I?

After all he'd held back, how could I stop him when he groaned into my mouth, hips rocking slow and dirty against me?

But...It's not right, just not right...