From a Wrong Turn to Mr. Right novel Chapter 3

Daniel Gill’s dark eyes narrowed, and Olivia’s words stabbed him deep, like a knife twisting in his chest. He felt raw, gutted, almost speechless from the pain, but his face stayed perfectly composed, as if nothing could shake his resolve.

Olivia shot him a sidelong glance, then looked down and let out a short, bitter laugh. “Wow, you really believed that, huh? Did you honestly think I’d let you drag my name through the mud? Please. I’m just sick of hearing your nonsense, that’s all.”-

At her words, Daniel let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

Olivia caught his look and felt nothing but a cold, aching emptiness inside.

What had she ever seen in Daniel Gill? Or maybe—maybe he’d never really been this person before.

“If you’ve got something to say, spit it out. I don’t have time to watch you put on your wounded-lover act. You spend all day playing the heartbroken Romeo at Lavinia’s place and then come here for an encore. Even I’m tired for you.

“If you really want to impress someone, save your energy for Lavinia. After all, her family practically owns half the city.”

Olivia’s stomach twisted with disgust just looking at him. She didn’t want to spend another second in his presence.

“Olivia,” Daniel’s voice was low, almost broken, “does it have to be like this between us?”

Her eyes flashed with sharper sarcasm, silent but so cutting that Daniel felt a cold ache spread through his chest, like a black hole sucking him in.

He looked at her, lost and hurting, his throat tight as if he’d swallowed broken glass.

Lowering his gaze, he tried again, voice gentle, coaxing, “Olivia, stay with me. I promise, you can do anything you want—open your own studio, chase any dream. I’ll make sure you have everything you need.”

Everything you need...

He hesitated, as if the word itself was too heavy, too out of place after everything he’d done.

Olivia’s lip curled in disgust. “Girlfriend? Seriously? And what does that make Lavinia, then? Who is she to you, Daniel?”

She looked him up and down, her gaze icy. “Honestly, I don’t even know what you want anymore. Maybe I never really knew you at all. Maybe this was your plan from the start.”

Her mockery was almost palpable now, her eyes shining with hurt and anger.

Daniel’s throat closed up, his whole body aching. He couldn’t deny it—he had approached Olivia with ulterior motives at first. But the longer he’d known her, the more he’d realized how special she was.

If there had been any other way, he’d have taken it. With her, he’d only lied about one thing. His feelings for her had always been real.