Chapter 12
Oliver lay on the stiff hospital bed, the cold glow of his phone screen illuminating his pale, unshaven face. The video replayed for what had to be the twentieth time. Over and over, he watched the same scene–Hannah and Scott, sitting in that luxurious restaurant, laughing and smiling like they didn’t have a care in the world.
At first, he told himself it wasn’t real. It had to be some sort of trick, or maybe Hannah was just trying to make him jealous. There was no way she could’ve moved on this quickly. No way she could be that happy without him.
But as he stared at the video, his denial started to crack. There was no bitterness in her smile, no fake laughter. She looked genuinely happy.
His chest tightened, and tears welled in his eyes. He blinked furiously, trying to keep them from falling, but it was no use.
He thought back to their happier moments, back when everything felt right.
He remembered how she used to cuddle up to him during movie nights, her head resting on his shoulder as they shared popcorn. She’d always insist on picking the movie, and even though she had a terrible habit of choosing cheesy rom–coms, he never complained. There was the time he’d surprised her with a picnic by the lake. It had been a spur–of–the–moment idea, but the way her eyes lit up when she saw the setup made it worth it. They’d spent hours there, talking about their future and laughing about nothing. She had leaned into him that day, her fingers intertwined with his, and he’d thought to himself that he’d never let her go.
But he had.
And then there was the night she’d fallen asleep in his arms, exhausted after a long day. He’d brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead, whispering. “I’ll always take care of you, Hannah.”
His chest ached as he realized how much he had broken those promises. Tears fell freely now as he replayed the video again, his thumb shaking as it hovered over the screen. “Why did I let her go?” he muttered to himself, his voice hoarse.
A sharp knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts. One of his staff entered, looking uneasy.
“Sir, Naomi is here to see you,” the man said.
Before Oliver could respond, Naomi pushed past him and stormed into the room. Her face was pale, her eyes wild, and her movements jittery.
“Oliver,” she began, her voice trembling. “Please, we need to talk.”
He sat up, glaring at her. “What the hell do you want, Naomi?”
She clasped her hands together, tears streaming down her face. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for things to go this far. I just wanted us to be together. I didn’t think-”
“Vou didn’t think 21” Oliver shouted cutting har aff. “You didn’t think when unu daetraund He left me hanging, so I disappear forever
13:59 Wed, 2 Apr
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“Oliver,” she began, her voice trembling. “Please, we need to talk.”
He sat up, glaring at her. “What the hell do you want, Naomi?”
She clasped her hands together, tears streaming down her face. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for things to go this far. I just wanted us to be together. I didn’t think-”
“You didn’t think?!” Oliver shouted, cutting her off. “You didn’t think when you destroyed
everything!”
Naomi flinched, her tears falling faster. “I didn’t mean to destroy us, Oliver. I just-
“You didn’t destroy us, Naomi,” Oliver spat, his voice dripping with venom. “You destroyed her. You killed our child with Hannah. Do you even understand what you’ve done?”
Naomi sobbed, trying to move closer, but Oliver shoved her back. She stumbled, nearly falling, her cries echoing through the room.
“It was all your fault,” he continued, his voice shaking with anger. “Everything. Hannah’s gone because of you. Our baby is gone because of you!”
“I didn’t mean to!” Naomi screamed, her voice breaking. “I didn’t mean for it to go this far! Please, Oliver, I’m sorry!”
Before Oliver could say anything else, nurses rushed in. Naomi’s screams grew louder as they tried to restrain her. She flailed wildly, her desperation turning to hysteria.
“Oliver! Please! Don’t leave me!” she cried as the nurses sedated her. Her voice weakened as the drugs took effect, and soon she was limp in their arms, her sobs fading into silence.
Oliver watched as they carried her out of the room. He felt no pity for her–only hatred.
Later that evening, Oliver sat on the edge of his hospital bed, his mind racing. He had made up his mind. He couldn’t sit here any longer. Hannah was out there, and he needed to find
her.
“Get me a ticket to Sydney,” he ordered one of his staff. “As soon as possible.”
“Sir, are you sure-”
“Just do it!” Oliver snapped.
Within hours, he was on a flight, ignoring the concerned looks from the flight attendants as he downed glass after glass of whiskey. His thoughts were a chaotic mess, but one thing was clear–he wasn’t going to let Hannah go.
When Oliver arrived in Sydney, it didn’t take him long to track her down. He had people working around the clock, and soon enough, they found her.
She was at a park, sitting on a bench with Scott. They were laughing, her head tilted back.
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his mind. He couldn’t sit here any longer. Hannah was out there, and he needed to find
her.
“Get me a ticket to Sydney,” he ordered one of his staff. “As soon as possible”
“Sir, are you sure-”
“Just do it!” Oliver snapped.
Within hours, he was on a flight, ignoring the concerned looks from the flight attendants as he downed glass after glass of whiskey. His thoughts were a chaotic mess, but one thing was clear–he wasn’t going to let Hannah go.
When Oliver arrived in Sydney, it didn’t take him long to track her down. He had people working around the clock, and soon enough, they found her.
She was at a park, sitting on a bench with Scott. They were laughing, her head tilted back as she smiled at something he said. Scott leaned closer to her, his hand brushing against
hers.
Oliver’s chest tightened at the sight. It felt like a punch to the gut, seeing her so happy with someone else.
No. He wouldn’t allow it.
Without thinking, Oliver stormed toward them. Hannah turned her head just as he approached, her eyes widening in shock.
“Oliver?” she said, her voice laced with disbelief.
He ignored Scott completely, grabbing Hannah’s arm and pulling her to her feet.
“Hannah, you’re here,” he said, his voice a mix of relief and desperation.
“Let go of me,” she said, trying to pull away.
But Oliver held on tighter, his eyes pleading. “Please, Hannah. Just hear me out.” Scott stood, stepping in between them. “You need to back off,” he said firmly.
“This has nothing to do with you,” Oliver shot back, his anger flaring.
“It has everything to do with me,” Scott replied, his tone calm but resolute. “You lost her, Oliver. It’s time to let her go.”
Hannah’s heart raced as she stood between the two men, unsure of what to do.
