Chapter 35: The Dark Night

After a long, relaxing bath, Olivia stepped out of the tub and wrapped herself in a plush robe, her skin still warm from the water. She stood in front of the mirror, running her fingers through her damp hair, feeling serene—until it suddenly hit her.

She had nothing to wear.

Looking around, she realized her dress was already in the laundry, and Ethan was nowhere to be found. Flustered, she grabbed her phone and dialed his number, whispering, "Ethan, I have no clothes to change into. I threw the one I was wearing in the laundry."

There was silence on the other end, followed by a soft chuckle. "And why exactly would you need clothes?" he teased. "It's our honeymoon, Liv."

Blushing furiously, Olivia cursed under her breath. "Ethan, be serious. If you're not going to get me something to wear, I'll roam the beach in this robe or worse—without it!" 

Ethan laughed, his deep voice vibrating through the phone. "Go check the wardrobe, you little vixen."

Curious, Olivia opened the wardrobe doors and found a collection of revealing lingerie and a few light, summery dresses. She bit her lip, half amused and half annoyed at Ethan's choices. Choosing a bright red lingerie set and a white, floral-knit summer dress that barely grazed her thighs, she looked at herself in the mirror. The dress was beautiful, but she wasn't sure whether to be happy with his taste or frustrated by the revealing outfit.

Deciding to cover up a bit more, she pulled a satin robe over her dress and made her way to the beach where Ethan said he'd be waiting. As she wandered along the shore, her feet sinking into the soft sand, she looked for him, her heart fluttering with excitement.

Suddenly, she felt strong arms wrap around her from behind. Smiling, she assumed it was Ethan, and she instinctively leaned back into the embrace. But something felt off. The hold was different—too forceful, too unfamiliar. Before she could react, a large hand clamped over her mouth, and a massive shadow enveloped her.

Her heart raced in panic as she realized it wasn't Ethan. She struggled to break free, but the man's grip was too strong. He dragged her toward a secluded area of the beach, where the old, abandoned cabins stood in eerie silence. Olivia tried to scream, but the effects of a drug began to dull her voice. Her vision blurred, and her movements became sluggish.

Meanwhile, Ethan was waiting at the spot he'd told her to meet him. As the minutes ticked by, his anticipation slowly turned into concern. She was late, and Olivia was never late. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number. It went straight to voicemail.

His stomach dropped. Just then, a message pinged on his phone. It was from Jenna—a picture of Olivia, in the dress he had picked out for her, in the arms of an unfamiliar man, smiling. Ethan's heart pounded in his chest, but as he looked closer, he noticed something was wrong. The smile on Olivia's face in the picture seemed forced, and something about her expression felt off.

Without wasting a second, Ethan called for security and started searching the beach, shouting Olivia's name. His heart raced with panic, each step pushing him deeper into the sand, his mind spinning with fear. Finally, he spotted her phone lying abandoned in the sand, confirming his worst nightmare—Olivia had been kidnapped.

He alerted the security team and rushed to the nearby cabins, demanding they check the security footage. The cameras caught the moment: Olivia being hugged, then her smile fading as she realized it wasn't Ethan. She tried to pull away, but before she could, the man overpowered her and carried her toward the abandoned cabins.

Ethan's blood boiled with fury as he raced toward the dark, secluded area. Inside one of the cabins, Olivia was tied to the wooden beams, her eyes wide with terror. The man who had taken her stood before her, his eyes filled with hunger as he leered at her. She trembled, praying desperately for Ethan to find her.

The man bent over and unwrapped her robe, revealing the summer dress beneath. He smirked, pulling out a knife and slowly slicing through the fabric, his eyes dark with intent. Olivia's heart pounded in her chest, her voice hoarse from trying to scream, her body frozen in fear.

As the man continued cutting through her dress, the door to the cabin swung open with a deafening crash. Before the intruder could react, a fist connected with his face, sending him crashing to the ground. It was Ethan. He stood over the man, his body vibrating with rage as he delivered blow after blow until the man was unconscious.

Ethan rushed to Olivia, her small frame shaking as she collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Her tears soaked his shirt as he held her tightly, his own heart breaking at the sight of her terror. 

"Liv, I'm here. You're safe now," he whispered, his voice trembling with guilt. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone."

Olivia clung to him, her body shaking with fear and exhaustion. She couldn't form words, but her grip on him said everything—she needed him. He held her tightly, stroking her hair and whispering over and over, "I'm here. You're safe. I'll never let anyone hurt you again."

Ethan's heart ached as he realized the depth of the danger she had been in. He vowed never to let his guard down again, not when it came to her. As the security team arrived, they took the man away, leaving Ethan and Olivia alone in the cabin.

He lifted her into his arms, carrying her back to the beach where they had been moments before, but the mood had changed. The peaceful night was now filled with fear and regret.

Holding her close, he whispered, "Forgive me, Olivia. I'll never let anything like this happen again."

And though Olivia didn't say a word, she nodded against his chest, still too shaken to speak. All that mattered was that she was safe—back in his arms, where she belonged.