016

ENRIQUE

The moment we stepped out of the restaurant, the flashing lights hit us like a thousand suns exploding all at once. Cameras clicked in rapid succession, capturing every step, every breath, every flicker of emotion on Olivia's face.

I tightened my grip around her waist, angling my body so that she was shielded from the worst of it. She was already overwhelmed, and I would not let them have her like this—exposed, vulnerable, afraid.

"Mr Garcia! Enrique! Do you have anything to say concerning the scandal with your wife's father"

"How does it feel to know your direct competitor could be sentenced for drug dealing. It would make you the-?"

"You should know better than to peddle uncompounded rumors like this, reporter" I turned to the man who had asked the question.

He shied backwards, his eyes darting away from my face.

I wanted to snap his neck just for the fun of watching his head hang uselessly to the side.

"Olivia, does this mean you are also involved in this scheme and is this the reason, Liam left you?"

A microphone was thrust toward her, so close it nearly smacked against her cheek. She flinched. A small movement, barely noticeable, but I felt it. A tremor that ran through her body, up her spine, and straight into my chest like a knife.

A dark rage coiled inside me. Not just because they were hounding her like a pack of vultures circling their next meal.

I exhaled to keep myself in check… this was not the time to go rogue.

I had anticipated this so why was I acting out of the ordinary?

Because this was my fault.

This was happening because of me.

I am the reason she is being dragged into all this, the reason these cameras are here, the reason why the world is now watching her family unravel.

And it wouldn't end here.

This was only the beginning.

I clenched my jaw and pulled her closer, guiding her through the madness, my arm a provided a flimsy barrier around her to keep them away from her. I could hear her sharp, uneven breaths. Could feel the tension radiating off her.

She hadn't signed up for this.

She wasn't supposed to be caught in the crossfire, I thought to myself although it was funny because what exactly had I been expecting?

For the public to magically forget she was the daughter of the man I was bent of ruining?

When I married her, it was supposed to be clean. A contract. A signature on a piece of paper. A means to an end.

But now?

Now, she was standing in the wreckage of my war.

And I hated it.

Hated the situation. Hated my father.

Hated myself.

By the time we reached the car, I barely managed to hold myself together. I opened the door for her, watching as she slid inside, her hands gripping the edge of her dress like she was trying to hold herself together.

I swallowed down the lump in my throat and got in beside her, shutting the door.

The second the world was locked outside, silence filled the space.

She did not look at me.

She did not say a word.

And somehow, that was worse than if she had yelled… sobbed.

I wanted her to throw a fucking tantrum and not sit there like the world had crushed her

I started the car, pulling out onto the road, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white.

I gritted my teeth, trying to tell myself that this is not surely not what I should be thinking about.

She should not be at the forefront of my mind.

Then my phone rang.

I glanced at the screen.

Her father

I glanced at her, watched the way her eyes remained staring at her fingers.

 "We are on our way to you." I muttered into the receiver.

His voice was low. "No. Go to the police station."

My entire body stiffened.

"What?"

"I have been arrested."

The words slammed into me, knocking the air from my lungs.

I knew this was bound to happen too and somehow, I felt absolutely no fulfillment.

"Do not say anything to anyone without your lawyers," I said tightly. 

"I won't."

"Good. We are on our way to you"

The call ended.

I exhaled slowly, keeping my eyes on the road.

 "What happened?"

I did not respond immediately.

I didn't know how to.

I turned my head slightly, just enough to see her watching me, her brows slightly furrowed, her fingers twisting in her lap.

"Who was that? What did he say?"

I gripped the wheel harder. "It is your father."

A flicker of fear crossed her face. "And?"

I hesitated. For the first time… Enrique Garcia hesistated.

It was bloody laughable.

 I did not want to say it. I did not want to be the one to rip the ground out from under her.

"He has been taken to the police station and we are going to meet him there"

The car was silent.

Then—she shattered.

I saw it happen in real time.

The moment her mind registered the words.

The moment her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening.

Her hands shook as she covered her mouth, as if she could physically stop the sob that threatened to break free.

But she couldn't.

A soft, broken sound escaped her lips, and then she fell apart.

I could not take it.

I could not just sit there and watch her drown.

Without thinking, I pulled the car over to the side of the road, unbuckled my seat belt, and reached for her.

She did not resist.

Did not hesitate.

One second she was trembling in her seat, and the next—she was in my arms, curled against me, her body shaking with the force of her grief.

I held her tightly, my arms wrapped around her small frame, pressing her as close as I could. Her sobs wrecked her, loud and desperate, her fingers clinging to my shirt like it was the only thing keeping her from falling apart completely.

I pressed my lips against her hair, whispering anything and everything.

"It is going to be okay."

"I promise you, Olivia."

"I won't let anything happen to him."

I wanted to believe the words.

But deep down, I knew the truth.

As long as her father refused to sell, refused to cave—this would not stop… it would only get worse.

I would not be able to stop until his company was mine… then and only then would I be able to save my brother.

Surely, you all can understand that?

He is my family… the only one who mattered to me.

Even I could not convince myself no matter how hard or how many times I thought it.

I closed my eyes, holding Olivia tighter as she sobbed into my shoulder.

I would die for my brother in a heartbeat… give my life for him. I would kill for him without hesitation.

That was how it had always been… how it should be even now.

Since the ball… since my father's warning in the form of Roman, I knew I had to pick.

And I knew I would always pick my brother.

Enrique's POV

Olivia's sobs had faded into quiet sniffles, but she did not move from my arms. She stayed curled against me, her fingers still gripping the fabric of my shirt, as if letting go would make everything worse.

I ran a hand up and down her back, trying to calm her. I didn't speak. There was nothing I could say that would make this better. No empty promises that would fix what was happening.

After a while, her breathing evened out.

She pulled away slightly, her face still pressed against my chest. "We should go."

Her voice was small, tired.

I hesitated. I wanted to keep her here, hold her a little longer, but she was right. We could not sit on the side of the road forever.

I reached for a napkin in the glove compartment and handed it to her. She took it with shaky hands and wiped her face, her eyes red and puffy. She looked fragile. Too fragile.

The silence between us was awkward as we drove.

I turned again to glance at her

Her gaze was fixed out the window, her hands clenched into fists on her lap.

When we finally reached the police station, I parked quickly and got out, moving to her side to open the door. She stepped out without a word.

I placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her inside.

The moment we stepped in, an officer at the front desk looked up.

"We are here to see Robert Baker," I said.

The officer hesitated for a second before nodding. "Follow me."

We walked down a long hallway and when we entered the small visiting room, Olivia' s father was already sitting at the metal table, looking exhausted but composed.

The moment Olivia saw him, she rushed forward. "Dad!"

His face softened as he stood up, wrapping his arms around her.

I stayed back, watching as she clung to him, her voice shaking. "What the hell is going on? What are they saying about drugs?"

Her father let out a heavy sigh as he pulled away, his hands still resting on her shoulders. "It is a misunderstanding, Olivia."

Her brows furrowed. "A misunderstanding?"

He nodded. "They came to the house . Said they had some questions. I told them I had nothing to hide, so I agreed to come here to write a report."

Olivia's breath hitched. "Then why did they issue a search warrant? What are they looking for?"

Her father rubbed a hand down his face. "Apparently, someone tipped them off. Said my warehouses were being used to store illegal substances. They are searching them as we speak, but I know they won't find anything. I have nothing to do with drugs."

Olivia shook her head, frustration clear in her eyes. "This doesn't make sense! Why would someone say that? Who would do this?"

His expression darkened. "Someone who wants to see me fall."

We all knew who that was.

I clenched my jaw. Me.

He turned to me in that moment and muttered a thank you.

Before I could respond, the door swung open.

A police officer stepped in, his expression grim.

"I am going to have to ask you both to leave."

Olivia stiffened. "Why?"

The officer did not look at her. "Mr. Baker is being transferred to prison pending his hearing"

Olivia's hands dropped to her sides. "Excuse me?"

The officer's jaw tightened. "Drugs were found at the warehouse."

The words hit like a bomb going off in the small room.

Olivia's face didn't change. She looked almost… stunned. Like her mind couldn't register the information.

She then took a step back, shaking her head. "No. That is not possible."

The officer did not say anything.

Her father let out a slow breath, his shoulders straightening. "Where exactly did you find them?"

The officer hesitated. "Hidden in one of the storage crates."

Olivia turned to her father, panic rising in her voice. "Dad, tell them! You don't have anything to do with this!"

 "I already told them that."

The officer sighed. "I am sorry, but at this point, the case has escalated. He has to be taken into custody."

"No," Olivia snapped, her voice breaking. "You cannot do this! This isn't right!"

I stepped forward, my voice firm. "He is cooperating. He has been here answering your questions. There is no reason to detain him."

The officer did not look fazed. "That is not up to me."

Olivia turned to her father, her eyes pleading. "Dad, do something!"

 "It's okay, Olivia."

"It is not okay!" Her voice cracked. "This is insane!"

I watched her father turn to me.

"Take her away from here"

Olivia shook her head violently, tears spilling down her face again. "Dad, please—"

The door opened again.

Two more officers entered. It was time.

One of them pulled out a pair of handcuffs. Olivia let out a choked sob. "No, please—"

I reached for her, pulling her into my arms.

She fought against me at first, struggling to get to him, but I held her tight.

We watched the officers led her father away with Olivia still struggling in my arms and all I could think about was… there had to be another way.