Chapter 2
Just like that, five years had already gone by since Andrew and Olivia first got tangled up with each other.
Five years ago, Andrew was still a college student in Capital City. He'd gone hiking with his roommate, but thanks to a random mishap, they got separated on the trail.
The cell signal up there was so bad that he couldn't reach his friend at all. Getting anxious, Andrew hurried along and ended up slipping and taking a nasty fall.
As luck would have it, Olivia was sitting on a stone nearby. She reached out, grabbed his arm, and saved him from a world of hurt.
Olivia's features were icy and delicate, like she'd stepped right out of a painting. Her voice was crisp and melodic as she asked, "Are you alright?"
Andrew looked up, breath catching in his throat. One glance and he was a goner.
His heart hammered so loud he could barely think, pulse thumping in his ears.
He knew that moment that he was doomed.
He twisted his ankle and could barely walk, so Olivia ended up helping him all the way down the mountain and even took him to the hospital.
Andrew tried to get her number to thank her, but she politely—though coldly—turned him down.
Andrew spent days asking around, desperate to find out who she was.
It wasn't until a week later, when he went to cheer on his sister at a tennis match, that he finally found out Olivia was actually his sister Emily Johnson's friend.
Andrew was riding high. Energized and giddy, he pulled out all the stops—scheming and showing off nonstop, just trying to get Olivia to notice him.
But no matter what wild stunt he pulled, she barely blinked.
If anything, the harder he worked, the higher she built her ice wall.
He trailed after her for a solid two years—practically her shadow—and she acted like he was invisible.
By the time he graduated, Andrew was about to head back to Southport to be with his family. He finally decided to stop chasing after Olivia and give up on her for good.
But out of nowhere, Olivia appeared at his dorm building, blocking his path. She looked him dead in the eye and asked, "Will you marry me?"
His heart felt like it could burst. Without a trace of hesitation, Andrew nodded, every dream he'd ever had coming true in that moment.
Andrew thought she liked him and that she just didn't know how to express her feelings.
After the wedding, Olivia never once reached out or let him get close. Andrew figured it must just be her extreme germaphobia and thought they would get over it. He kept convincing himself that if he was patient enough, she'd finally let him in.
He tried to take the initiative since he was the husband. He racked his brains and tried every trick just to bridge the gap between them, but every move he made only made Olivia draw back farther, treating him like he was some kind of contagious disease.
Olivia's passionate longing for the statue was a harsh slap in the face—a savage wake-up call that smashed every ounce of pride and every last hopeful daydream Andrew had ever held.
She never loved him—not even once.
His nose was burning with grief, and by the time he got home, his eyes were a swollen, red mess from all his tears.
Olivia, who'd already headed off to the old house, suddenly turned up again—caught rummaging around in front of the safe.
Hearing his footsteps, she glanced up. "Where's that watch my mom gave you?"
Andrew pushed down all his tangled emotions, reached into the very bottom of the safe, and pulled out that watch worth millions, handing it over without a word.
Her mom, Mrs. Lawrence, had given it to him the very first time he visited after he and Olivia set their wedding date.
Andrew blurted out, "What do you need it for?"
Olivia checked the watch over coolly. "Ethan's got a banquet tonight, but he's got nothing decent for his wrist. You never wear it anyway. He needs something decent on."
Andrew stared at her in disbelief, resistance flaring up inside. "But your mom gave this to me."
It wasn't that he didn't like it. He just never wore it because it was way too valuable, and he was terrified of scratching or losing it.
Plus, these watches were a matching couple's set. If Ethan and Olivia wore them together, what would people say?
Olivia looked visibly annoyed now.
"This belongs to the Lawrence family. Ethan's living with my family, so by tradition, the watch is supposed to be his. My mom gave it to you, but honestly, you had no right to accept it," Olivia said, her tone deadpan.
Andrew fell silent.
The Parker family was pretty average. Ethan marrying into the Lawrence family was way out of his league, and Mrs. Lawrence had always looked down on him.
But the Johnson family was just as powerful as the Lawrence family, and Andrew's parents sent over a small fortune for Olivia when they got married. That was why Mrs. Lawrence was willing to hand over the matching watches to them. It was all about keeping things equal between the families.
Olivia snatched the watch and headed out without even looking back, leaving behind a single cold remark, "Don't be such a baby. This is for Ethan."
She didn't even slow down. "There's an auction in a couple days. I'll buy you another watch to compensate," she added offhandedly, barely breaking her stride.
If this had been before, just the thought of her taking him to an auction and buying him a present would've made him over the moon.
He wouldn't have cared if she wanted one watch or ten—he'd have handed them all over, no questions asked.
But now, watching her disappear down the hallway, Andrew's fists tightened unconsciously, and a wave of sour bitterness cut right through him.
Whatever. The watch was never really his. After the divorce, he'd have to return it anyway.