Forced To Marry My Cousin's Fiancé

Chapter 107: Chapter 107

Once Ethan finished getting dressed, he walked out of the mansion and headed straight for his car.

He had some serious business to take care of. He needed to talk to someone, and he needed to do it now.

He was going to confront Olivia. She’d gone way too far by sending Lane that picture of her hugging him from behind. To anyone else, it might have looked like he was enjoying it because his eyes were closed and he was holding her hand.

Most people would assume they were back together or at least seeing each other after how sweet they looked.

It was a damn good thing Lane didn’t just jump to conclusions. He felt lucky that she’d actually asked him about it instead of blowing up or leaving like she had in the past. If she had walked out again, he didn’t even want to think about what he’d do to Olivia.

Even though he hadn’t officially talked to Olivia yet, her motive was obvious.

She wanted to wreck things between him and Lane. She’d even gone as far as having someone else there to snap the photo just so she could send it to her own cousin.

He couldn’t believe she’d sink that low. It was wild that she’d do that to family, but he figured her obsession with him had finally pushed her over the edge.

He had to admit he was partly to blame. He hadn’t just messed up with Lane.

He’d led Olivia on in the past too. But he’d already had a real talk with her about his feelings.

He’d told her straight up that things had changed and that he was in love with Lane. He’d even apologized for moving on and breaking their old plans.

He’d thought she’d made peace with it since she hadn’t complained, but clearly, the second Lane came back into the picture, Olivia started seeing her as a threat.

Well, he wasn’t going to let her pull another stunt like that. He wasn’t about to let her destroy the one thing he’d been waiting for all these years.

If he had to be heartless to get the point across, so be it. Past or no past, mother of his child or not, if she tried to sabotage him again, she was going to feel his full wrath.

Ethan hopped in his car and sped off. He arrived at the restaurant where he was meeting her in record time. He parked, got out, and walked inside with his brows knit together in a tight scowl.

As soon as he stepped through the door, a staff member asked if he had a reservation. He gave his name, and they led him to a table in the far corner, just like he’d requested for privacy.

He spotted Olivia immediately. She was decked out in a red dress.

She must have felt him coming because she looked up and beamed the second she saw him. She even stood up to greet him.

Ethan just frowned. As she leaned in for a kiss, he quickly turned his head, giving her the cold shoulder.

He took a step back just in case she’d hired another photographer to catch them in a compromising position. His face was stone cold as he looked at her. "What do you think you’re doing?" he asked, his voice low and threatening.

Olivia’s jaw dropped as she looked at him. It was obvious she’d completely misread why they were meeting.

"I thought you were here because you wanted to get back together, Ethan," she stammered. "I thought that’s why you wanted to see me."

"I’m not here for that, Olivia," he told her. "I’m not here to make up or play house. I’m here to talk about that picture you sent Lane." He saw her eyes shift the moment he brought it up.

"I know exactly what you’re trying to do. You’re trying to ruin us."

"Is Lane talking trash about me to you, Ethan?" she asked.

"Is that why you don’t love me anymore? Because she’s been slandering me?"

"No," he shot back instantly.

"Lane has never said a single bad word about you. Even when she was in love with me years ago, she never tried to wreck your character. She kept her feelings a secret even though it killed her to see us together back then. So don’t you dare blame her for the fact that I stopped loving you."

"Listen to me, Olivia. Stop whatever game you’re playing to get between us. Because no matter what you do, my feelings aren’t changing. Even if Lane gets mad at me, even if she runs away again, she is still the only one I want. I’ll never stop trying to win her back. If she leaves, I’ll search the entire world until I find her," he told her. He knew his words were cutting her deep, but he had to be blunt to make her stop.

"Consider this your warning. I’ve been nice because of our history and because you’re Tyler’s mother. But if you try to sabotage Lane and me one more time, the gloves are off. I’m telling you, Olivia, you do not want to see me angry. You won’t like it."

He didn’t give her a second to respond. After saying his piece, he turned on his heel and walked out, leaving her sitting there all by herself.

_____________

Lane looked away from her computer screen as a sharp pain shot through her temples.

Her eyelids felt heavy from focusing too hard, so she leaned back against the headrest of her swivel chair and closed her eyes, raising a hand to massage the ache.

She was still rubbing her forehead when she felt a warm hand brush against her skin. She opened her eyes and looked up into Ethan’s soft gaze. He was standing right behind her.

"Ethan..."

She started to sit up, but he stopped her.

"Stay still, Lane. Let me do it," he said gently.

Lane blinked in surprise.

She still wasn’t used to this side of him, particularly the tenderness in his voice or the warmth in his eyes.

She was so accustomed to his cold expressions that this felt like a completely different man.

As his hands began to massage her temples, she closed her eyes and let him take over. The relief was almost instant.

After a few minutes, he spoke up. "Is it still throbbing?"

She looked up at him again. "Just a little," she replied. "Thank you."

She shifted in her chair, reaching back toward the keyboard, but he stopped her again. "Take a nap, Lane. The work can wait."

"I have so much to finish, Ethan," she argued.

"I’m not even halfway through my to-do list." She didn’t want to let down the board of directors who had trusted her to run her father’s company.

"Don’t overwork yourself. Just a quick nap."

She didn’t have the energy to fight him. Her head was heavy, and she could feel the heat in her breath. When she stood up, Ethan was right there to steady her. He led her over to the office sofa, quickly clearing away some documents to make room.

"Lie down and get some real rest," he said as she leaned back.

She nodded and stretched out. He grabbed his black coat from the back of the sofa and tucked it around her like a blanket.

"You can use my desk, Ethan," she murmured.

He smiled. "Don’t worry about me. Just sleep."

She closed her eyes, feeling his gaze on her until she heard his footsteps fade toward her desk. She tried to drift off, hoping the rest would kill the headache, and before she knew it, she was out.

But when she woke up, the pain hadn’t eased. It had doubled.

Her body felt like lead, and she was alternating between burning up and shivering. It was official: she was coming down with the flu. She let out a soft groan, clutching her head.

"Are you okay?" Ethan was suddenly there, watching her from the swivel chair with deep concern etched on his face.

"I’m fine," she lied.

Ethan wasn’t buying it. He knit his brows, his eyes never leaving hers. Lane didn’t want to admit how bad she felt because she knew he’d make her go home, and she still had mountains of work.

She sat up, and his coat slid off.

She grabbed it and bunched it against her chest. The scent of his cologne was everywhere, and she desperately wanted to wrap herself in it to stop the chills. But she tried to play it cool, not wanting him to realize she was shivering.

When she tried to stand, her legs turned to jelly, and she collapsed back onto the cushions.

The room started spinning. She cursed under her breath, knowing the jig was up.

"Lane!" Ethan barked, the chair creaking as he practically lunged toward her.

He knelt on the floor so they were eye-level. He pressed his hand to her forehead and let out a soft curse. "You’re burning up."

"I-I’m okay, really..."

He ignored her, his expression hard. "Where do you think you’re going?" he asked when she tried to shift again.

"Back to work," she muttered.

"Not a chance. You’re in no condition to work. You need to be in bed."

"But I have so much—"

Ethan placed his thumb over her lips, silencing her. "Forget the work. I’ll handle it. Just rest, Lane. And please, don’t make me worry, okay?"

She finally gave in with a small nod. He was right; she was useless like this. He helped her sit back while he gathered her things, sliding her phone into her bag.

"Calvin," she reminded him. "I need to pick him up."

"I’ve got him. Don’t worry about our son. Let’s just get you home."

He helped her up, but when her knees buckled again, he didn’t hesitate.

He swept her up in a bridal carry. Instead of protesting, she just tucked her face into his chest.

Lane woke up later to the sound of a small, worried voice.

"Uncle Daddy, is Mommy okay? Should we take her to the hospital?"

"She’s going to be fine, Calvin. We’re just going to wait and see. If the fever doesn’t break soon, then we’ll go," Ethan replied.

Lane opened her eyes and saw them peeking through the bedroom door. Calvin’s eyes went wide when he saw her stir.

"Mommy!"

"Don’t come too close, Calvin," she warned quickly as he started to run over.

The boy stopped in his tracks, looking up at Ethan with big, watery eyes.

"Uncle Daddy, why doesn’t Mommy want me near her?"

Ethan picked him up to comfort him. Lane sat up slowly, leaning against the headboard.

"Calvin, baby, Mommy just has a fever. I don’t want you getting sick too. You don’t want me to worry, right?"

He shook his head. "I don’t want you to worry... but I want to hug you. How can I take care of you from way over here?"

"I’ve got her, Calvin," Ethan promised. "I’ll look after her for both of us."

Lane felt a swell of emotion as Calvin wrapped his arms around Ethan’s neck.

"Thank you, Uncle Daddy. Thank you for staying with us and not leaving."

Then, Calvin whispered something that stopped both of them cold. "I wish you were my real Daddy."

The room went silent. Lane saw Ethan freeze, and then she noticed the tears.

For the first time ever, she saw Ethan cry not out of sadness, but out of pure, overwhelming joy.

She bit her lip, trying to hold back her own tears, but they spilled over anyway.

Ethan turned to her, catching her eye, and she quickly wiped her face. In that moment, her mind was made up. As soon as she was back on her feet, she was telling Calvin the truth. He was ready.

Calvin eventually scrambled down.

"Take good care of her, okay?" He looked at Lane. "Is it okay if I stay on the sofa over there, Mommy? I just want to watch over you."

She nodded. "That’s fine, sweetie."

Ethan walked over and felt her forehead again. "You’re still scorching. Are you sure you don’t want the hospital?"

"No, Ethan. I just need some meds. Can you grab the first-aid kit? The fever reducers are in there."

Ethan didn’t move. He just stood there, staring at her with a strange, hopeful sparkle in his eyes.

"What is it?" she asked, confused.

"You can’t take any medicine, Lane."

"What? Why not?"

He leaned down, whispering so Calvin wouldn’t hear.

"I stayed inside you every time, Lane. What if you’re pregnant? We can’t risk taking anything until we’re absolutely sure."

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