Chapter 12: Jealousy Sparks Fire
Olivia didn't expect the sight of Ethan with another woman to bother her.
And yet, here she was, gripping the stem of her champagne glass so tightly she might break it.
The Montgomery family had invited them to yet another high-profile gala, and everything had been going according to plan—until she saw her.
Tall, blonde, and effortlessly stunning, Vanessa Sinclair had once been Ethan's real fiancée. Their engagement had ended years ago, but now she was back, standing entirely too close to him, laughing at something he'd said.
And Olivia? She was across the room, seething.
She wasn't jealous. Obviously not. This was all pretend.
So why did she suddenly feel like she was losing?
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An Unwelcome Blast from the Past
"Liv, you okay?" Harper nudged her, pulling her from her spiral.
Olivia forced a smile. "Of course."
Harper followed her gaze, then smirked. "Ah. I see. Vanessa."
Olivia frowned. "Why'd you say it like that?"
"Because Vanessa is… well, let's just say she doesn't like competition."
"Good thing I'm not competing."
Harper gave her a knowing look. "Sure."
Olivia turned away, refusing to let Vanessa get under her skin. But as she did, she nearly bumped into someone.
"Well, well," a smooth voice drawled. "Olivia Parker."
She looked up—and inwardly groaned.
Nathan Caldwell.
Ethan's childhood rival, and the last person she wanted to deal with.
"Nathan," Olivia greeted coolly.
"You're looking stunning tonight." He smiled. "No wonder Ethan finally put a ring on it."
She clenched her teeth. "It's not like that."
"Oh?" Nathan raised a brow. "So if I asked you to dance, I wouldn't be stepping on his toes?"
Olivia hesitated—just long enough for Nathan to take her hand.
"Come on, Liv. Let's make him jealous."
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Ethan's Reaction
Ethan had been watching Olivia all night, trying to act indifferent.
But when he saw Nathan Caldwell leading her onto the dance floor, something inside him snapped.
His grip on his whiskey glass tightened.
"She looks good with him," Vanessa murmured beside him, a smirk playing on her lips.
Ethan turned to her, unimpressed. "Jealous?"
Vanessa laughed. "Please. You're the jealous one."
Ethan scoffed—but his eyes remained locked on Olivia.
Nathan was twirling her across the dance floor, leaning in far too close, whispering things that made her laugh.
Ethan's blood boiled.
Without another thought, he set his drink down and strode toward them.
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A Dance with Fire
Olivia felt Nathan's hand press against the small of her back, guiding her across the dance floor.
She wasn't sure why she had agreed to dance with him—maybe to prove a point. Maybe because Ethan looked far too comfortable with Vanessa.
But when she spotted Ethan storming toward them, she knew she had just made a very dangerous move.
Ethan tapped Nathan on the shoulder.
"My turn." His voice was calm—too calm.
Nathan smirked. "We were just getting started."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "I wasn't asking."
Olivia barely had time to react before Ethan's hand replaced Nathan's, pulling her close.
And just like that, the fire between them ignited.
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Dancing on the Edge
Ethan held Olivia too close. Their bodies moved in perfect sync, tension crackling between them.
"What the hell was that?" he muttered, voice low.
"I could ask you the same thing," she shot back. "Vanessa looked very cozy with you."
Ethan's grip tightened. "So, what? You decided to use Caldwell to get a reaction out of me?"
"I didn't—" She huffed. "You know what? Maybe I did."
Ethan smirked, his voice dropping. "It worked."
Olivia's breath hitched.
This wasn't fake anymore.
The way he was looking at her—possessive, intense—made her heart race.
"Tell me, Liv," he murmured, "when Caldwell touched you… did it feel like this?"
Before she could respond, Ethan dipped her—slow, deliberate—his lips dangerously close to hers.
Olivia's pulse pounded.
And just when she thought he might kiss her, he pulled her upright and whispered, "You're mine tonight, sweetheart."
A shiver ran down her spine.
Because for the first time… she wasn't sure if he was still pretending.
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