Divorced But Never Letting Go Chapter 131

ADRIAN

 “Who was that on the phone? And why are you sweating like that?” Kate asked as she stepped closer, her sharp gaze fixed on me.

 “Oh, I’m sweating? I honestly had no idea,” I mumbled, wiping my face and realizing she was right. My skin was damp.

 I hesitated, unsure how to explain. I couldn’t summon the courage to tell her that Rene had her claws in me now. Kate wouldn’t believe me anyway—not when Rene had already manipulated Cyril.

 “Now you’re freaking me out,” Kate snapped, her voice tense. “Why aren’t you saying anything? First, you froze when you saw me walk in, and now you’re sweating under an air conditioner? Please, make it make sense to me.”

 She was fuming, and I’d never seen her this angry before. Clearly, I was testing her patience.

 “It’s Rene,” I admitted at last, my voice low.

 I stepped back, putting some distance between us. I didn’t want to see the expression on her face.

 “Rene?” Kate repeated, her brows knitting together in confusion.

 “But how is that possible? How did she even get your number? Is there something you’re not telling me?” she pressed, suspicion lacing her tone.

 Her words stung more than they should have. This was exactly why I hadn’t wanted to tell her.

 “What do you mean, Kate? Are you implying I might be having an affair with her?” I shot back, frustration spilling into my voice.

 She was making me feel guilty even though I’d done nothing wrong.

 “Okay, I’m sorry,” Kate said, her tone softening. She sighed heavily, her anger giving way to uncertainty.

 “It’s just that…” she trailed off, pausing as if realizing how unfair her accusations had been.

 Just when I thought the interrogation was over, Kate hit me with another question.

 “So… what did you two discuss?”

 I pretended not to hear her, hoping she’d let it go. But, of course, Kate wasn’t one to give up that easily. She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she spoke again.

 “I just asked you a question, Adrian. What did you two talk about? And don’t even try telling me it’s none of my business because I’m not backing down on this.”

 Her persistence cranked up the tension, making every second feel heavier. She was relentless, and I could feel my control slipping.

 I thought I had everything handled. I thought I could outmaneuver her. But I was wrong. Kate wasn’t playing the same game anymore—it was like she’d been waiting for this moment, preparing for it.

 With a resigned sigh, I gave in. “Rene wants me to break up with Olivia… and be with her.”

 The words tasted bitter as I spoke them. But Kate had backed me into a corner, and I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

 She gasped, her shock turning into outrage. “What does that bitch want from us again? Wasn’t it enough that she stole Cyril from Olivia? Now she’s coming after you too?”

 Kate didn’t even know where Olivia was, and she was already fuming. I couldn’t imagine what would happen when she eventually found out that Olivia had been arrested—for something she didn’t even do.

 Her eyes widened suddenly, and she fired another question I’d been dreading.

 “Wait… does Olivia know about this? And hold on—where is Olivia? I just realized I haven’t seen her since I got here.”

 That was the one question I’d been avoiding, and now it was staring me right in the face.

 I knew this moment would come eventually, but I hadn’t expected it to hit so soon, not when I was still trying to pull myself together.

 Before I could answer, a memory flickered in my mind—Olivia’s desperate plea for me not to tell Kate about her arrest.

 Now I was stuck—caught between satisfying Kate’s relentless curiosity and betraying the trust Olivia had placed in me.

 Kate, fed up with my silence, took matters into her own hands. She pulled out her phone and dialed Olivia.

 I watched helplessly. I knew Olivia wouldn’t answer.

 And I was right.

 After a few failed attempts, Kate let out a frustrated sigh and shot me a glare. Dragging her words slowly, she said, “Where. Is. My. Boss? What have you done to her, Adrian?”

 “What have I done to whom? Don’t be ridiculous, Kate. You know I’d never do anything to hurt Olivia,” I shot back, doing my best to keep my cool.

 But Kate wasn’t buying it.

 “You heard me, didn’t you?” she pressed. “I didn’t have water in my mouth when I asked you the first time. It can’t be a coincidence that Olivia suddenly goes MIA right after you get off the phone with Rene.”

 Her words cut deep, and I knew that no amount of deflecting would save me now. She wasn’t going to let this go.

 At that moment, I realized I had no choice. I’d have to betray Olivia’s trust—if only to stop Kate from digging herself deeper into a misunderstanding.

 “Okay,” I sighed. “I’m ready to tell you everything—if you agree to stay calm.”

 Kate’s eyes narrowed, but she nodded. “Fine. I’m calm. Now explain, because I’ve been trying to make sense of this, and nothing’s adding up.”

 Her voice was calmer, but I could tell she was barely holding herself together. She was breathing heavily, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if all that yelling had strained her vocal cords.

 I took a deep breath and finally confessed, making sure to leave no stone unturned.

 “Olivia… was arrested this morning. The police think she’s connected to Cyril’s accident.”

 “Okay? So what happened? I don’t want to believe this crap you’re telling me,” Kate said, her tone laced with disbelief.

 “I know it sounds ridiculous, but that’s exactly what happened,” I replied firmly. “And honestly, I have nothing more to say.”

 Frustrated, I gestured toward the dining area, grabbed a bottle of liquor, and poured myself a glass. I downed it in one gulp, hoping it would dull the pounding in my head.

 Kate followed me, her footsteps slow and deliberate, like she was trying to keep her cool.

 “Please tell me this is a joke,” she said, her voice quieter now but no less intense. “Why would anyone arrest Olivia for Cyril’s accident? She hasn’t even been to New York in ages. Do they not realize that?”

 “That’s exactly what I told them,” I muttered, surprised that, for once, Kate and I were on the same page.

 “This is insane,” Kate sighed, rubbing her forehead as though trying to piece it all together. “Which station is she being held at? We need to talk to her, figure out what’s going on. I’ve been calling, but she’s not answering.”

 At her question, my heart sank, and I felt a wave of guilt crash over me.

 I hadn’t asked.

 I hadn’t even thought to ask which station they’d taken Olivia to.

 How do I explain that to Kate? How do I tell her that I made such a colossal mistake?

 My throat went dry, and I started to stutter. The room felt ten degrees hotter, and my mind raced for a way to salvage the situation. But there wasn’t one.

 I’d let Olivia walk away with those officers without asking the most basic, most critical question:

 “Where are you taking her?”

 And if anything happened to her, I’d have to live with that—forever.