Chapter 111

Angela POV

"Angela, you're finally back!" Olivia exclaimed as we entered her apartment. "I haven't seen you all day. Was it a special date with Christopher?"

Christopher smiled slightly. "If you want to call it a date, I wouldn't object."

I felt heat rising to my cheeks. "We were looking at schools for Aria and Ethan," I explained, setting down my purse on the console table. "Nothing romantic about registration paperwork."

Guilt flashed across Olivia's face. "Oh my God, I completely forgot about that! I'm so sorry, Angela. I should have gone with you."

"It's fine," I assured her, helping Aria with her coat. "Christopher knows all the best private schools in the city."

I hung our coats in the closet, then turned to Olivia with practiced casualness. "By the way, you called me twice around noon. Was there something urgent?"

I watched as Olivia's expression flickered, her fingers suddenly twisting together. "No... nothing special. Just wondering when you'd be back."

My intuition immediately flared-she was hiding something. But I simply nodded, letting the matter drop.

"Aria, Ethan, go change into your house clothes," I instructed, watching the twins disappear down the hallway before turning back to the adults in the room.

Christopher leaned against the kitchen counter, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. "So, Olivia, how was your evening at that bar last night? Did you find what you were looking for?"

Olivia's head snapped toward him, then toward me, her eyes narrowing. "You told him? About the bar?"

"I was concerned," I said simply.

"Angela," Olivia's voice took on a hard edge I'd rarely heard before. "We agreed that even while living together, we'd maintain our independence and not interfere in each other's personal lives. Why would you tell Christopher about me going to a bar?"

"She was merely concerned for your safety," Christopher interjected smoothly, his voice gentle but firm. "Bars these days can be unpredictable environments, especially for a beautiful single woman."

I watched Olivia's expression soften slightly at the compliment, though resentment still lingered in her eyes. This concerned me even more-whenever anything related to Sean came up, Olivia seemed unable to control her emotions.

After her encounter with him at the hotel last night, her infatuation with him appeared to have deepened significantly.

Later in the kitchen, as we prepared dinner, I carefully sliced vegetables while Olivia seasoned the fish.

"So," I ventured, "did you manage to get that green-eyed man's contact information?"

"I did!" Olivia exclaimed excitedly. "He seems cold and distant, but I'm sure I can win him over!"

Olivia's knife paused mid-chop. "Angela," she said, not looking up from the cutting board, "you spent the whole day with Christopher, didn't you? He's been so good to you, even arranging accommodation in the city. If I insist on you staying here, would that interfere with your relationship development?"

I looked up at Olivia, feeling a wave of disappointment wash over me. Despite my outward composure, I could feel something shift between us-a subtle fracture in our friendship.

Dinner was a quiet affair. The tension around the table was palpable; even the twins seemed to sense it, eating quietly without their usual chatter and playfulness.

As we finished our meal, I looked at my children with a gentle smile. "Ethan, Aria, you both behaved very well tonight. Why don't you go rest in your room for a bit, then pack your things?"

From the corner of my eye, I saw Olivia's face drain of color.

"We'll be moving to a hotel downtown tonight," I explained calmly, my voice betraying none of the turmoil I felt inside.

The twins exchanged a quick glance before quietly excusing themselves from the table.

After they left, I deliberately took my time finishing the last bite of seafood salad, savoring the delicate flavors while gathering my thoughts.

"Angela, I'm sorry," Olivia whispered, her voice small.

"It's fine." I smiled.

I knew Olivia wasn't truly concerned about my relationship with Christopher. She simply didn't want me staying here to "interfere" with her pursuit of Sean.

In my room, I methodically packed our belongings while booking a suite at The Four Seasons on my phone. A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in," I called, zipping my suitcase closed.

Ethan appeared in the doorway, his small frame silhouetted against the hallway light. "I've packed everything, Mama," he reported solemnly.

"And Aria?"

"She's ready too."

I wheeled my suitcase into the hallway, where Olivia stood waiting, her expression a complex mixture of regret and defiance.

"Are you really leaving?" she asked, arms crossed protectively over her chest.

"We need to be closer to the school for tomorrow's enrollment," I explained, the excuse sounding hollow even to my own ears. "It's more convenient."

"Let me drive you, at least," she offered.

"Thank you, but I've already called a car." I turned to my son. "Ethan, please go get your sister."

Olivia's eyes followed the boy as he disappeared into the guest bedroom.

"Before we go," I said quietly, turning back to my friend of many years, "I have something to say. You may not want to hear this, Olivia, but as your friend, I need to warn you-before falling for someone, make sure he's actually single. Make sure he doesn't have a girlfriend or fiancée. Don't end up hurting yourself." I picked up my handbag. "That's all I can say. We should go now."

I didn't wait for her response. The twins emerged from their room, Aria chattering excitedly about bringing Olivia chocolates from the hotel, both children seemingly oblivious to the tension between the adults.

As the apartment door closed behind us, worry gnawed at my heart. I knew I couldn't stop Olivia's infatuation with Sean-those green eyes had cast a spell too powerful to break with mere words.

Walking toward the elevator, I wondered if I should have told her the truth-that the mysterious green-eyed man was the father of my children, the husband I had deliberately left behind five years ago.