Watch Me Win Alpha (Olivia and Ethan) novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

As Mom diced garlic with practiced ease, Grandma hummed a tune I recognized from my childhood. It was the same lullaby she used to sing when I scraped my knee after falling off my

bike.

I squeezed my chest. “Remember when I insisted I could ride

without training wheels?”

Grandma chuckled. “And promptly crashed into that hydrangea

bush.”

Mom laughed–first genuine laughter I’d heard in days. “You

came inside, shrub in hand.”

We set the pot on the burner, the spicy aroma filling the

kitchen. The chemistry between us felt different–like we’d all

stepped back into a version of home I hadn’t realized I missed.

Over the simmering sauce, I took a steadying breath. “So… I need

to tell you both something.”

Grandma glanced at me, eyebrows knitting. Mom stopped

stirring pasta water.

“I’ve decided to finalize the divorce,” I said firmly, though my

heart fluttered. “I want it. I’m done with the Hawthrone drama.”

Mom set down her spoon, reaching out to grasp my hand. “You’re doing what’s best for you, Liv.”

Grandma, stirring sauce, murmured, “Best for your head and

heart.”

I lifted a spoonful of sauce to taste it. It was perfect–my version

of home. “I’ll leave for New York in three days.”

Mom wrapped her free arm around me. “We’ll miss you,

sweetheart. But you’re strong.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Lunch was warm–literal and emotional. We shared memories:

Grandma’s funny stories about my childhood teeth–brushing

rebellion, Mom’s half–remembered college adventures when

she first dreamt of motherhood. My worry melted with each

anecdote.

Between bites, Mom sipped water thoughtfully. “Are you sure,

Liv?”

I swallowed. “This is small to me now. I’ve lost more than I ever

expected, but I’m not losing myself.”

Grandma hummed in agreement. “The world may shake, but

you stand steady.”

After lunch, sunlight streamed through the windows. I combed

through my phone one last time–news still roiled online, but I

recognized something: people were polarizing, but lines had

By freezing the loans tied to the Hawthrone and Windsor families, he’d put them both in a corner. At a time when the world debated my worth, he’d spoken through action. He made it known that I was not to be trampled. That I washis secretary.

I didn’t need to ask for a shield.He gave me one.

That thought warmed something deep in my chest. It didn’t solve everything, not yet, but it reminded me I had something to fall back on. A stable place to rebuild. Not just physically, but

mentally. I wasn’t entirely alone anymore.

The car ride back to New York felt lighter than it had in days.

The wind through the cracked window, the soft hum of tires on

asphalt, even the rhythm of my own breathing–it all felt like a

small victory.

I pulled into a highway service area just past noon, near a

wooded stretch that usually stayed quiet. I wanted to stretch my legs, maybe grab a snack.

I was still gathering myself when Yve stirred.

Chapter 76

“Look left. That man–same one from three nights ago.”

My body didn’t flinch, but my heart dropped. I kept my eyes trained on the mirror instead of turning outright. I saw him.

Leaning against the side of a weathered gray sedan was a man, maybe in his forties. Brown leather jacket, beat–up sneakers, a casual cigarette between his fingers, phone pressed to his ear. He was facing sideways, but his gaze flickered–almost too often -in my direction.

Three nights ago, at a convenience store just outside the city, I had seen that same man. He had stood behind the chip aisle pretending to browse, yet his reflection in the cooler doors gave

him away. Now here he was again.

I didn’t panic. Icouldn’tpanic.

Chapter 77

Chapter 77