From a Wrong Turn to Mr. Right novel Chapter 37

Olivia Bennett had just poured herself a glass of water when she heard steady, purposeful footsteps coming down the stairs.

She didn’t look back. Instead, she switched to a different glass and filled it again, almost as if stalling for time.

Ethan Carter had barely reached her side when Olivia turned, offering him the fresh glass of water.

“Long day, huh?”

Under the warm, soft glow of the living room lights, her eyes crinkled at the corners, a gentle smile tugging at her lips. She looked effortlessly warm and inviting.

Something in Ethan’s chest, usually iced-over and locked away, thawed just a little. A quiet warmth pooled inside him, softening the edges he tried so hard to keep sharp.

“It’s not a big deal,” he replied, taking the water. The coldness slid down his throat, chasing away the heat in his chest.

His voice was calm, soft, and just a bit teasing. “If it’s for you, Olivia, it hardly feels like work.”

Olivia blinked in surprise, and a rosy blush crept up her cheeks before she could stop it.

Ethan didn’t say anything else. He set his glass down. “Come on. Let’s eat.”

She blinked again, the awkward heat fading from her face. “Sure.”

Susan, their housekeeper, could’ve given any chef on the Food Network a run for their money. Every meal was different, hearty, and delicious—a spread of roasted chicken, creamy mashed potatoes, garden-fresh salad, and homemade bread that filled the whole house with an inviting aroma.

Olivia’s stomach rumbled as soon as she glanced at the table.

Ethan pulled out her chair and, with practiced ease, served her a scoop of mashed potatoes and ladled some chicken noodle soup into her bowl. He glanced at her, his brow creasing with concern. “Are you still feeling sick?”

“Much better now,” she assured him.

The morning sickness that had plagued her for weeks was finally letting up. She actually felt almost normal again.

“If there’s anything you’re craving, just let Susan know. Honestly, I’m new to all of this. If you need something, just tell me, okay?”

He was trying, she realized, not just for the baby but for her. A gentle warmth blossomed in her chest.

She grinned, letting herself relax for once. “Alright. Don’t blame me if I get picky, then.”

He looked like he didn’t care at all.

Lavinia smiled, cupping his face in her hands and sighing. “She told me she’d forgotten all about it, that it wasn’t important. She said I could’ve just tossed it out. I went through all that trouble to return it, and she just threw it in the trash. Told me I’d wasted my time.”

Not important.

Just toss it out.

Daniel couldn’t get those words out of his head. The light in his eyes faded, and it felt like an invisible hand was squeezing his heart tight.

That book used to be Olivia’s favorite. He remembered the way she’d smiled, eyes sparkling, when she first showed it to him—like it was their own little secret.

It had been a precious memory for the two of them. Now, she was ready to throw it away without a second thought.

Did that mean… she’d thrown him away, too?

A sudden kiss pulled him back to the present. He looked down and found Lavinia’s eyes—so much like Olivia’s—staring up at him, and the bitterness in his heart only grew stronger.