"I know you’re inside, Olivia!" Christian Monroe shouts, pounding on the door panel with his fist, the echo resounding loudly.
"Open up!" Christian’s voice grows more uncontrollable, filled with restrained anger. "We’re not done! You think you can hide behind Alexander Rington forever?"
Alexander moves silently. His tall frame slices through the space between them, standing directly in front of Olivia like a steel fortress. His breath is steady, slowly catching fire from the anger burning in his chest after reading the DNA test results just minutes ago.
"Stay here," he whispers. His voice is rough, low, but exudes absolute authority that doesn’t need to shout. He raises his hand, signaling Olivia not to move from her spot.
Alexander steps toward the door. He quickly turns the brass lock and swings the door wide open.
Christian almost throws his fist into empty air before Alexander’s tall body blocks every gap in the door. The man is stunned, taking a step back as their eyes lock with each other — Christian’s filled with defiance, Alexander’s with a deadly stare.
"You’ve crossed the line, Monroe," Alexander says, each word sharp like a scalpel. Not with shouting or raised voice, but with piercing clarity.
Christian clenches his fists, trying to gather the remaining courage he has. "This is a personal matter between me and Olivia, Mr. Rington! She’s my ex-fiancee, and she’s been hiding something from me for five years!"
"She owes you no explanation," Alexander cuts in. He tilts his head slightly, looking down at Christian with a condescending gaze. "And you’re on my private property, disturbing my employees, after I warned you yesterday at the hospital."
"He’s carrying a child that’s not his!" Christian points into the room, shoulder bumping Alexander. His eyes blaze with suspicion. "Ethan! Who’s his father, Alex? Why are you protecting him since last night? Do you know who the man was that slept with her five years ago?"
A punch flies before Christian even finishes his sentence.
It’s not a raw fist but Alexander’s palm slamming into Christian’s chest so hard that the man is propelled backward, crashing into the marble wall behind him. The loud thud of body hitting the wall echoes through the corridor.
"Watch your mouth," Alexander whispers, taking a step closer until they’re mere centimeters apart. His eyes darken completely. "One more word about Olivia or that child from your filthy mouth, and I guarantee Monroe Holdings will lose all its licenses across Britain before sunrise tomorrow."
Christian’s face suddenly pales. He clutches his broken chest, staring at Alexander with a mix of anger and genuine fear. He knows that threat isn’t just empty talk. The power of Rington Group could destroy his family’s business with a single phone call.
"Get out," Alexander commands.
Christian adjusts his rumpled suit with trembling hands. He shoots a hateful look at the office interior before turning and walking quickly toward the elevator, the sound of hurried footsteps fading behind him.
Alexander sighs deeply, calming the rush of adrenaline in his neck. He closes the thick wooden door again, locking it tightly, then turns to face Olivia.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly becomes heavy and suffocating. Olivia remains frozen in the corner. Her tears have dried, leaving faint traces on her pale cheeks. She stares at the lab report lying on Alexander’s desk — the sheet containing the truth of her life’s biggest secret now laid bare.
"He’s right," she whispers, breaking the silence. Her voice almost drowns in the hum of the air conditioner.
Alexander walks closer. Every step feels like a countdown to a bomb. "What do you mean?"
"Christian is right about one thing," Olivia lifts her chin, daring to meet the sharp gaze of the man in front of her. "I’ve been hiding Ethan. I kept him away from the world, from my family, and from you."
"Why?" Alexander demands, his voice trembling slightly, revealing the pain he’s trying to hide. "Why didn’t you look for me, Olivia? Why did you let my son grow up not knowing who his father is?"
"I looked for you!" Olivia shouts. Her defenses, built up all this time, collapse instantly. "I was looking for that stranger who left me in that hotel room! I went to that place a week later, after I realized I was pregnant!"
"But there’s nothing!" Olivia steps forward, pointing at Alexander’s chest with trembling fingers. "The CCTV footage that night was erased! The guest recordings disappeared! And when my family found out I was pregnant without knowing who the father was, they didn’t care! They threw me out! My father kicked me out to Manchester like trash just to save the family’s name from scandal!"
Alexander’s breath catches. The pieces of the puzzle that had haunted him for years suddenly fall into place. Someone had cleaned their tracks that night — someone ensuring they would never find each other.
"I worked sixteen hours a day just to rent a cramped, moldy room," Olivia continues, her voice hoarse with tears. "I took the cheapest vitamins, gave birth to Ethan alone in a public hospital without a single hand to hold me. And now you come with a DNA test and shout as if you’re the victim here?"
"Olivia..." Alexander steps forward, reaching for her hand.
Olivia pulls her hand away sharply. "Don’t touch me, Mr. Rington!"
"He’s my son!" Alexander declares tremblingly, letting his cold defenses melt away. "Five years, Olivia. I lost five years watching him grow. I didn’t know he was growing up! If I had known that night, if I had known you were pregnant, I would have never let you walk out of that room alone!"
"But you weren’t there!" Olivia retorts. "It was just me and Ethan. I raised him, comforted him when he was sick, and I won’t let anyone, including a powerful CEO like you, take him away from me!"
"I don’t intend to take him from you," Alexander says softly. His hand raises, trying to calm her down. "I want to be his father. I want to make up for all those lost years."
"It’s too late," Olivia replies coldly. She packs her bag, slinging the leather strap over her shoulder with stiff movements. "That paper doesn’t change anything. To Ethan, you’re just the boss who brings fruit to his hospital room."
Alexander watches as Olivia heads for the door. "You can’t run anymore, Olivia. Not from this place, and not from me."
Olivia stops right in front of the door handle. Without looking back, she responds, "Try to stop me, Alexander."