Rebirth of an Eloped Actress: Career First, Love Second

Chapter 197: I Took Advantage of You

The room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of Alexander’s ragged breathing. Olivia felt that not finishing Alexander off earlier had been an act of mercy.

Forty-eight pearls. But as she looked at his heaving chest and the beads of sweat dripping from his forehead, she cursed under her breath. “Did I owe you something in a past life?”

Muttering to herself, Olivia ran to the bathroom, grabbed a towel soaked in cold water, and wiped Alexander’s face. The chill from the towel helped dissipate some of the heat, and the faint scent unique to Olivia wafted into Alexander’s senses. He shut his eyes, forcing himself to suppress his primal instincts.

“Are you stupid? How can a grown man be so careless on a business trip and let himself get drugged?” Olivia’s voice was filled with irritation. She really wanted to leave him there. However, considering his current condition, it was impossible to predict what might happen. Until Vance arrived, she had no choice but to keep an eye on Alexander.

“Dumb as a brick,” she muttered.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, followed by Jared’s voice. “Olivia! Why haven’t you come down for dinner?”

Olivia paused, preparing to answer when a hand suddenly grabbed hers from the edge of the bed. “Don’t go…” Alexander’s hoarse voice carried an uncharacteristic vulnerability. Startled, Olivia looked at Alexander, who kept his eyes tightly shut. In both this life and the last, it was the first time she had heard him sound so weak.

Opening her mouth, she took a deep breath and called out, “I’m not hungry. You guys go ahead and eat.”

What a disaster! When the hell is Vance going to get here?

Jared was confused. He distinctly remembered Olivia saying earlier that she was starving. It didn’t make sense for her to suddenly not be hungry.

Meanwhile, Hudson, noticing that Olivia hadn’t joined them in the private dining room, came to check on her.

“Mr. Hudson.”

Chapter 197: I Took Advantage of You (continued)

Jared scratched his head. “She said she’s not hungry and told us to eat without her.”

Hudson’s eyes flickered with concern. “Is she feeling unwell?”

Jared shook his head.

Hudson walked up to the door and knocked gently. “Olivia, are you alright? Are you feeling sick?”

Inside, Olivia sighed in exasperation. She was perfectly fine. It was someone else who wasn’t.

Eight peans. Strangely, when Hudson’s voice reached her, Olivia noticed that Alexander’s grip on her hand seemed to tighten.

“I’m fine. I just ordered takeout. You all eat,” she said with a resigned sigh.

My feast! My delicious meal! Damn you, Alexander!

After a long pause, Hudson and Jared finally left the doorway. Olivia tried to pry her hand free, using considerable force, but couldn’t budge it. “Weren’t you supposed to be weak?”

How does he still have such a strong grip?

Alexander, his mind foggy, instinctively clutched Olivia’s hand in the darkness. The faint sense of calm he felt allowed him to drift into a deep sleep.

When morning sunlight streamed through the window, Alexander slowly opened his eyes, wincing at the pounding headache. But the softness in his palm made him pause. He turned his head instinctively and found himself tightly gripping Olivia’s hand. She lay beside him, her serene profile pure and angelic.

Olivia? Why is she here?

Confusion flickered in Alexander’s eyes. Then, the fragmented memories of last night began to resurface. Disjointed and blurry, they made it hard for Alexander to piece together what had happened.

Sensing his wakefulness, Olivia opened her eyes. “You’re awake?”

Alexander gave a slight nod. The cool sensation on his chest made him glance at his open collar. Raising an eyebrow, he turned to Olivia.

Olivia rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me you think I took advantage of you last night.”