Chapter 199

He exhaled sharply. "I need to ask you something," he said, his tone heavy, diverting the conversation from her excitement.

Olivia was puzzled. "What is it?"

"Do you know the heir of the Lucano family? The one from Fiorenza?"

Olivia frowned. "No, I don't. Why?"

"The Lucanos' heir? No way," Chris repeated, surprised. She had hoped to meet him during her time in Fiorenza, but the opportunity never arose.

"You don't know him?" Chris pressed.

"Not at all," Olivia insisted. "What's going on? Why are you asking?"

If she did know someone from the Lucano family, things would be very different. They were one of Fiorenza's most powerful families; countless elite families yearned to marry into them, though such opportunities were rare.

Chris finally explained, "The Ashford family has a crucial deal with them pending."

"Got it. Sorry, I can't help," Olivia replied, assuming he was seeking a favor.

"It's fine," he said.

She wasn't interested in the Ashfords' business dealings. What mattered to her was, "Are you picking me up tomorrow?" She needed him to come in person; Fred's people were still watching her, and she feared they might try to prevent her departure.

His silence, following her urgent request, made Olivia uneasy. "What's wrong?" she asked, noticing his unusual delay in responding.

He finally said, "Olivia… you probably won't be discharged tomorrow."

"What?" she gasped, her face paling. Her breath hitched in her throat.

Panic set in. "But, Chris, you said I could leave tomorrow. You promised!" Everything had been arranged. Why the sudden change? She had even bet on it with Stephanie—three hundred thirty-three thousand dollars! Moving into the Shallow Bay Area tomorrow secured her winnings. Why was this happening?

Chris sighed. "Olivia, I'm sorry. There's a problem with Shallow Bay Area. The owner won't sell."

Olivia was speechless. "So… you never actually bought Whispering Bay, did you?" Everything he promised—allowing her to recover there—was empty? Her chest tightened.

Chris remained silent, unsure how to respond. She struggled to breathe. "Then… can I still leave the hospital?"

"You can," he finally said, "but you'll have to stay somewhere your family owns."

"My family?" she exclaimed incredulously. Did he seriously not have a single property where she could stay? She couldn't believe this. He had promised her discharge tomorrow. Now he was saying she could leave, but only to her parents' house?

"Olivia, let's not see each other for a few days. I'll talk to you later." Before she could react, he hung up, leaving her with the feeling he was running away. Coldness enveloped her. She sat numb for a long time.

When Catlin returned home, she found Olivia distraught. "Sweetie, what's wrong? Why aren't you in bed?" It was late.

Olivia stared at her mother, her voice barely a whisper. "Chris just said we shouldn't see each other for a few days."

Catlin froze, then quickly reassured her, "Didn't I tell you? The Ashfords have an important deal; he's just busy."

"No… it's not just that. He never actually bought Whispering Bay." A whole week had passed, and he had done nothing for her.

Catlin's face darkened. "Didn't he say it was already bought? That they were even changing the curtains to your liking?"

Olivia clenched her fists. He had said that. So what was he talking about now?