The Day I Went Silent Chapter 04
“No.”
Julian refused flat out, without a second thought.
Olivia looked at him quietly.
Julian avoided her eyes, his tone turning rigid. “Chloe has too much pride for something like this.
It was just the child making things up.”
“I’ll teach Oliver a good lesson when I get back.”
“Don’t stir up trouble. If this gets out, your family will suffer too.”
There was actually a faint hint of a threat in his words.
Olivia clenched her fists, then released them, forcing a scoff from deep in her throat before closing her eyes and falling silent.
Julian was still waiting for her to retort.
His wife had never been one to let things slide. In the past, whenever she heard things like this, she would always say fiercely, “You trust Chloe that much? Do you still have feelings for her?”
“If you like her, then go live with her!
Why even bother with a divorce!”
He used to find it annoying, but now he was willing to properly coax a jealous Olivia.
But he waited and waited, and Olivia didn’t say a word.
Unable to hold back, he spoke, his voice dry: “Don’t you have anything to say?”
Olivia’s expression was indifferent. “You’ve already threatened me with the Sterlings. What else is there to say?”
This felt deeply off.
Julian wanted to say more, but Chloe sent a voice message.
He played it on speaker.
“Julian, don’t forget to accompany me to the banquet this afternoon.”
Olivia finally opened her eyes and looked at Julian.
Julian thought she was upset, and he finally felt a little relieved.
“Chloe’s in the entertainment industry—she’s vulnerable to gossip and bullying. I’m only escorting her to ward off ill-intentioned people.”
“She isn’t like you, staying safe at home. She’s out there fighting for her career alone.
It’s hard for her to struggle all by herself.”
“Don’t overthink it.”
“But since you haven’t recovered yet, I can…”
Olivia interrupted him: “Hurry up and go. Don’t keep her waiting.”
Julian froze on the spot, completely stunned. “What did you say?”
“I said go.
I want to rest.”
Julian stiffened for a long moment, laughing out of sheer anger. He stood up and headed for the door. “Fine, Olivia, you’re really something!
Don’t regret this.”
“Wait—”
He didn’t turn around, but he stopped in his tracks, his voice carrying a hint of ‘I knew it’: “If you want me to stay, just say it. There’s no need to hide it.”
Olivia’s tone remained completely unruffled. “I just wanted to say that you forgot your car keys.”
Julian’s face darkened.
He stood frozen in place for a long time. Once he was sure Olivia had no intention of asking him to stay, he snatched up his keys and stormed out the door.
Olivia watched his retreating back and touched her chest.
So this was what it felt like to no longer care.
For the next few days, she stayed quietly in her hospital room, recovering from her injuries.
The nanny kept calling, rambling about Oliver’s tantrums, his refusal to eat, and how no one could help him with his parent-child schoolwork. To every word of it, she gave the same reply: “Go find his parents.”
“I have nothing to do with him.”
The nanny choked on her words, and the sound of a little boy sobbing came through the phone.
“Is she still blaming me?
I didn’t mean it.
I really didn’t know this would happen…”
“Why is she being so petty…”
Olivia hung up the phone right away.
Her days were rarely this peaceful, until Chloe came to the hospital to visit her.
Dressed in a red gown with flawless makeup, she walked in, set down a fruit basket, and made herself comfortable on the chair beside the hospital bed. Her lips curled into a smirk: “Mrs. Vance, being hospitalized isn’t very pleasant, is it?”
Olivia frowned, a vague sense of foreboding washing over her: “What does that have to do with you?”
“I just pity you.”
Chloe smiled delicately, her eyes glinting with malice, “You have no career of your own, the Vance family never treats you well, your husband doesn’t love you, and even the stepson you’ve slaved over loves someone else. Aren’t you utterly miserable?”
“Why not give the position of Mrs. Vance back to me.
After all, Julian and Oliver both love me.”
A sharp pain twisted in Olivia’s chest for a fleeting moment.
She took a deep breath and sneered: “Go tell Julian.
If he agrees to remarry you, I have no objections.”
Chloe’s smile froze, her expression twisting: “Do you think he would choose you?
Olivia, you really are blind to reality.
You’re nothing but a dog by his side.”
Olivia found this utterly baffling.
She never thought Julian would choose her; the secret affection and hopes of her youth had long been worn away.
She had meant what she said with absolute sincerity, so why was Chloe reacting so strongly?
“Julian will divorce you sooner or later.”
Seeing her confused expression, Chloe gritted her teeth even harder, “Today I’ll show you who is more important in his heart!”
Olivia’s heart skipped a beat!
The thick scent of smoke drifted in through the crack of the door, followed by a scorching wave of heat.
Screams erupted from outside the door: “Fire!
Fire!”
Chloe had actually started a fire!
Soon, the ward door was burst open. Julian, looking frantic, rushed in and tried to scoop up Olivia: “There’s a fire, I’m getting you out…”
“Julian…” Chloe had somehow slumped to the floor, her face deathly pale and her expression pained, “I think I sprained my ankle…”
Julian froze, his expression going blank for a split second.
“It’s fine, take your wife out first.”
Chloe forced out, “If I don’t make it out in time, just tell Oliver I’m abroad. Don’t let him know…”
“What nonsense are you talking about!”
Julian closed the distance in a few long strides, scooped Chloe into his arms, and bolted for the door.
“Olivia, wait for me, I’ll be right back to save you!”