Chapter 83: The fear of the past

After the press conference, the air surrounding Olivia and Ethan was charged with tension. The media frenzy had only intensified, and rumors swirled like a tempest through the city. To the outside world, Olivia Carter was a woman moving on, embracing a new life with a mysterious masked man, while Ethan, still carefully concealed, sat in the shadows, ready to defend his identity.

In the days that followed, Olivia was acutely aware of the whispers and sidelong glances from her colleagues at Eva Enterprises. She and Ethan worked tirelessly to maintain a semblance of normalcy, but the scrutiny weighed heavily on them both. 

"Hey, we need to stay vigilant," Ethan said one afternoon as they prepared for a meeting with their team. "If Patrick thinks he can exploit this situation, we have to be one step ahead."

"I know," Olivia replied, her voice steady but tinged with worry. "I just can't believe he's out there, flaunting his new face like it's a badge of honor. It's infuriating!"

Meanwhile, across town, Patrick—who had undergone surgery to resemble Ethan—was causing chaos of his own. Every chance he got, he flirted with Olivia, not realizing the emotional turmoil it stirred within her. He strolled into cafes, parties, and even Eva Enterprises, where he'd make a show of being charming and charismatic, with Olivia's name always on his lips.

"Olivia, darling!" Patrick exclaimed one afternoon as he approached her, a playful smirk on his face. "I just couldn't help but stop by and see how my favorite entrepreneur is doing. I heard about your big press conference. Quite the spectacle, wasn't it?"

Olivia forced a smile, trying to remain composed. "Ethan, this isn't appropriate. You shouldn't be here."

"Oh, come on," he said, leaning against her desk, his posture relaxed and confident. "You and I both know you miss having a real man around. I mean, look at me! I'm basically your ex-husband, just a little more… refined." 

The undertone of his words sent shivers down her spine, but Olivia remained unyielding. "You are not my Ethan. You're just a reflection of who he used to be."

Patrick chuckled, clearly unfazed by her dismissal. "Ah, but you're the one who divorced me, remember? Seems like you're the one who wants to rekindle old flames."

Jenna, who had been following Patrick, overheard the exchange and immediately stepped in, her eyes narrowed. "What's going on here?" she demanded, crossing her arms defensively. 

"Just catching up with an old friend," Patrick replied smoothly, flashing Jenna a charming smile. "Olivia was just telling me how much she missed me."

"Stop lying, Ethan," Olivia interjected, her voice rising slightly. "You know that's not true. You need to back off."

"Oh, but I think you like the attention," Patrick countered, a hint of arrogance in his tone. "Maybe you just need some time to realize that we belong together."

Jenna's expression darkened as she turned to Olivia, her voice dripping with condescension. "Olivia, you really should let the past go. You had your chance, and you blew it. Ethan and I are happily married now. You're just making a fool of yourself."

"Your happiness is built on a lie, Jenna," Olivia shot back, her patience waning. "You don't even know who Ethan really is."

"Don't you dare speak to me like that!" Jenna snapped, her voice raised. "I know exactly who he is—my husband! You need to accept that and move on."

The tension between the three of them crackled in the air, and Ethan watched from a distance, his hands clenched into fists. He wanted to protect Olivia but knew revealing himself would only complicate matters further. 

"Olivia, are you alright?" Ethan finally called out, rolling his wheelchair closer to her side. 

Seeing him, Patrick's demeanor shifted. "Oh, look who it is! The man of the hour! How's it feel to be hidden, 'The Masked Man'?"

Ethan's jaw tightened as he shot a look at Olivia. "I don't need to be involved in your childish games, Ethan."

"Childish? You think this is a game?" Patrick retorted, stepping closer to Ethan, his tone mocking. "You're the one who is pretending to be her man. I'm just giving Olivia what she craves: a real connection."

Olivia stepped between them, her heart racing. "Enough! This isn't about you. You have no idea what you're doing."

Patrick smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, I think I do. I'm just doing what you couldn't—being there for her."

Jenna interferes their talk and pulls Patrick out of there warning Olivia. Olivia literally lost her cool on her 'warning'.

Ethan dragged her back into the building and she finally burst inside her office. She was boiling with rage as Ethan held her close and stroke her back as if to cool her.

When she was about to scream, Alex burst into the office, his expression frantic. "Olivia! We need to talk, now!"

The tension in the room shifted as everyone turned to Alex. "What's going on?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Patrick," Alex said, ignoring her completely. "I've found something. I tracked down the doctor who performed the surgery on him."

"What?" Olivia exclaimed, her eyes wide. "You found him?"

"Yes! And he has information that could change everything," Alex replied, his voice low but urgent. "We need to meet with him as soon as possible."

"I'll come with you," Ethan said, determined to uncover the truth.

"Not yet," Alex cautioned. "We need to be discreet. If Patrick finds out, he'll do everything to sabotage us. We have to keep your identity safe."

"Agreed," Olivia said, glancing at Ethan with a mix of hope and anxiety. "We need to be careful."

As they formulated a plan to meet the doctor, the atmosphere in the office shifted. The specter of Patrick loomed over them like a dark cloud, and Olivia knew she had to stay strong.

Meanwhile, Patrick had not given up his pursuit. The next day, he showed up at a charity event that Olivia was attending, and the moment she stepped through the door, his eyes were fixed on her.

"Olivia!" he called out, making his way through the crowd, his charm turned up to full blast. "You look absolutely stunning tonight!"

Olivia forced a polite smile, her heart racing as she felt Jenna's presence close behind her. "Ethan, this isn't the time or place."

"Oh, come on!" he said, his voice laced with playful banter. "You know we could have a lot of fun together. Everyone here would love to see us as a couple."

"Everyone here loves to see you as a joke, Ethan," Olivia replied, her patience wearing thin.

Just then, Jenna stepped forward, her expression challenging. "Can you just leave her alone? She's moved on, and you should too."

Patrick chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes. "And why would I do that? I mean, look at her! She's the one who needs to face the truth. She clearly misses me."

Olivia shot Jenna a pleading look, and Jenna replied with a tight smile. "Just ignore him, Olivia. You don't owe him anything."

As the night wore on, Olivia tried her best to enjoy the event, but Patrick's presence was a constant reminder of the turmoil in her life. Each time she turned around, he was there, flirting and joking, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain her composure.

"Let's grab a drink," Alex suggested, sensing her discomfort. 

As they moved away from the crowd, Ethan's wheelchair rolled up beside them. "Everything okay?" he asked, concern etched across his face.

"Just trying to keep Patrick at bay," Olivia replied, shaking her head. "It's exhausting."

"I'll handle it if he gets too close," Ethan assured her, a protective edge in his tone.

Olivia smiled, grateful for his presence. "Thank you, but I need to handle this myself."

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit café across town, Alex met with the doctor who had performed the surgery on Patrick. The man was older, with greying hair and a cautious demeanor.

"Thank you for meeting with me," Alex said, sliding into the booth. "I need to know everything about the surgery."

The doctor nodded, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. "It's not something I discuss lightly. I took an oath, but given the circumstances, I'll share what I can."

"What exactly did you do to him?" Alex pressed, leaning forward.

"I performed reconstructive surgery to alter his facial features," the doctor replied, his voice low. "He wanted to look like someone specific, someone with a significant public profile."

"Ethan Pierce," Alex concluded, his heart racing. "And he wanted it done quickly?"

"Yes. He was insistent and well-prepared to pay for it. It's unusual, but he presented a lot of documentation about wanting to change his identity."

"Documentation?" Alex's mind raced. "What kind?"

"Just various legal documents and a backstory about needing a fresh start," the doctor explained. "I followed the protocol, but it's not something I can discuss without consent from the patient."

Alex felt a surge of determination. "But you can help us. We need to prove that this is a manipulated identity. If we can get more evidence, we can expose Patrick for who he truly is."

The doctor hesitated but nodded. "I'll see what I can gather. Just be careful. This could backfire."

As the night wore on, Olivia remained steadfast, doing her best to ignore Patrick's relentless attempts to win her over. But the more he pursued her, more the tension escalated.

At the charity event, Olivia tried to focus on her work and the people she was there to support. She spoke with potential donors and strategized about future projects with her team. However, she could feel the man's eyes on her, watching, waiting for the perfect moment to intervene.

"Olivia! There you are!" he called out, suddenly appearing at her side, a playful smile plastered on his face. "I've been looking for you everywhere!"

"Ethan, please," she said, her voice firm. "You need to stop this."

"Stop what? Wanting to be with you?" He stepped closer, his voice low and sultry. "I can't help it if you're just so captivating."

Jenna, who had been chatting nearby, overheard and marched over, her expression fierce. "What is your problem? Can't you take a hint?"

"Why do you care?" he shot back, eyes narrowing. "She's the one who's been playing hard to get."

"Because she deserves better than you! And for God's sake we are married now Ethan!" Jenna shot back, her voice unwavering.

The two began to argue, each exchanging heated words, while Olivia stood in the middle, torn between wanting to intervene and not wanting to escalate the situation further. She could see Ethan watching from the sidelines, his face a mixture of concern and frustration.

"Let's just calm down," Olivia finally interjected, raising her hands in a placating gesture. "This isn't the time or place."

As the argument simmered, the man glanced at Ethan, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "What's wrong, old pal? Jealous that I'm stealing your spotlight? Don't worry, I'm just giving Olivia what she wants."

Ethan stepped forward, fists clenched at his sides. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh, but I think I do," the man taunted, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Olivia needs someone who can really be there for her, not a ghost who hides under a mask."

"Enough!" Olivia shouted, her patience finally fraying. "You're not Ethan. You're just a man playing a dangerous game."

The tension hung in the air, heavy and thick, as everyone turned to watch. She took a deep breath, her voice steadier now. "We all know who the real Ethan is, and you will never take his place."

The man's smile faltered for a brief moment before he laughed, a hollow sound that echoed in the crowded room. "We'll see about that."

As he walked away, Jenna turned to Olivia, her expression one of concern. "Are you okay? I can't believe he keeps pushing you like that."

"I'll be fine," Olivia replied, trying to brush it off. "I just need to keep my focus on the work."

But inside, her heart raced with anxiety. The situation was becoming increasingly volatile, and she knew that Patrick was determined to keep playing his role. If they didn't find a way to expose him, their lives would remain in turmoil.

As the night wore on and the event began to wind down, Olivia's phone buzzed with a message from Alex. "I have a lead. Meet me at the café."

She glanced at Ethan, who nodded, understanding her need to dig deeper. "Let's go," he urged quietly, and together, they slipped away from the party, determined to uncover the truth once and for all.

In the depths of the café, where shadows flickered and the world felt distant, they met Alex, who was visibly shaken.

"I got something," he said, urgency lacing his words. "The doctor had some files—evidence that can expose Patrick's deception. But we have to move fast."

Olivia's heart raced at the prospect of finally gaining the upper hand. "What do we need to do?"

"Follow my lead, and we'll reveal the truth about him," Alex replied, determination shining in his eyes. "But we have to be careful. If he suspects anything, he might retaliate."

Together, they formulated a plan, ready to face the storm ahead. In the shadows of their past, the truth was lurking, waiting to be unveiled. As Olivia stood side by side with Ethan, she felt a sense of hope for the first time in weeks. They would fight for their lives, their love, and their future, no matter the cost.