Chapter 80: An Unwelcome Encounter

To celebrate their hard-fought legal victory over Mathew and the reclamation of Eva Enterprise and Carter Couture, Ethan and Olivia decided to treat their family to a private dinner at their favorite restaurant, The Silver Cove. It was a place filled with memories of happier times, and they were determined to create new ones. The table was set for their closest allies—Emma, Alex, Linda, Max, and Eva. Laughter and chatter filled the air, a beautiful contrast to the tumultuous times they had endured.

As they settled in, the atmosphere was filled with warmth. Olivia beamed at Eva, who was excitedly recounting her adventures at preschool. Max was equally engaged, laughing at Eva's animated gestures. Ethan watched them with a smile, his heart swelling with pride and love. He couldn't help but think about how far they had come.

After dinner, Olivia excused herself to the restroom, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time. As she made her way back to the dining area, she suddenly felt a shiver run down her spine. Standing at the entrance was Patrick, or at least, someone who looked exactly like Ethan. He wore casual clothing, a cap pulled low over his eyes, and a mask that concealed most of his face, but Olivia recognized those eyes—the same eyes that had once held her heart captive.

"Olivia," Patrick said, his voice smooth and taunting as he approached her, trying to hide his smirk behind the mask.

"What do you want?" Olivia snapped, her heart racing. She glanced around to see if Ethan was near, but he was still occupied with the others.

"Just thought I'd say hello," he replied, leaning in slightly, as if trying to close the distance between them. "After all, I'm your ex-husband."

She felt a surge of anger and revulsion. "You have no right to call me that," she retorted. "You're nothing but a coward who stole my life."

Patrick stepped closer, invading her personal space. "Oh, come on, Olivia. Don't act like you don't recognize me. I'm the one who's always loved you, who deserves a second chance," he said, trying to twist the knife. "Don't you miss the times we had? It was always you and me against the world."

He moved even closer, a smirk creeping onto his lips. "Why don't we share a little kiss? Just to reminisce?"

Olivia's heart raced with fear and anger. "Get away from me!" she shouted, feeling her temper boil over. She kicked him hard in the leg and followed it up with a quick punch to his nose, causing him to stumble back in shock.

"Do you really think I'd ever kiss you?" she hissed, her voice low and furious.

From a distance, Ethan caught sight of the commotion. His heart dropped when he saw Olivia confronting someone who looked like him. A deep protective instinct surged through him, and he started to rush towards her, but Olivia caught his eye and subtly shook her head, signaling him to stay back.

"Olivia, wait!" Patrick yelled, his voice dripping with frustration. "You can't treat me like this! I'm still your husband in spirit. This is all a misunderstanding!"

Ethan froze in his tracks, feeling an overwhelming mix of emotions—anger at Patrick for daring to approach Olivia and concern for Olivia's safety. He had to remain composed, for both their sakes. If Patrick discovered that Ethan was alive and well, their entire plan would unravel.

Olivia stepped back, glaring at Patrick with fierce determination. "You're nothing to me! You had your chance, and you blew it. I won't let you ruin my life again," she declared, her voice steady despite her racing heart.

Patrick's expression darkened, realizing he was losing control of the situation. "You think you can just move on without me? I'll show you what you're missing out on," he spat, his tone menacing.

As he reached for Olivia's arm, Ethan's blood boiled over. He couldn't stand by any longer. Just as he was about to make his way over to Olivia, a hand gripped his shoulder. It was Alex, his best friend, who had been observing the scene with concern.

"Ethan, wait. Let her handle this. You can't expose yourself," Alex whispered urgently. "If Patrick finds out you're alive, it will ruin everything."

Ethan nodded reluctantly, forcing himself to stay put as he watched the exchange. Olivia stood tall, her resolve evident. She had faced her demons and wasn't going to back down now. Patrick, realizing he was outmatched, finally stepped back, but the glint of anger in his eyes suggested he wasn't finished.

"Enjoy your little dinner, Olivia. This isn't over," he said, before turning and striding away.

Once he was gone, Olivia felt her heart race slow down. She looked around for Ethan, finally spotting him at the table. Relief flooded over her as their eyes locked. He nodded slightly, an unspoken understanding passing between them.

"Are you okay?" Ethan asked, wheeling over to her, concern etched on his face.

"I'm fine," she replied, shaking off the encounter. "Just annoyed."

Ethan sighed, feeling the tension leave his body. "I'm glad I didn't rush in. I didn't want to blow our cover," he said, his voice low.

"Thank you for trusting me," Olivia said, leaning to kiss him on the cheek. "But I swear I won't let him get away with this."

"Neither will I," Ethan replied, determination flashing in his eyes.

They returned to their table, where the rest of the family had been watching the scene unfold, concern etched on their faces.

"What happened?" Linda asked, looking between them with a frown.

"Just an unwelcome surprise," Olivia replied, her voice steady.

"More like a threat," Ethan added, his tone serious. "We need to be more careful from now on."

As the night continued, the tension gradually melted away. They shared stories, laughter, and joy, but in the back of Ethan's mind, he knew that Patrick was still a danger lurking in the shadows. He would do whatever it took to protect Olivia and Eva.

After their dinner, Olivia felt a renewed sense of strength. She held Ethan's hand tightly, knowing that they could face anything together. And with the support of their family, they would be ready to confront whatever challenges lay ahead.