From a Wrong Turn to Mr. Right novel Chapter 169

"Relax a little, will you?"

Olivia Bennett let out a laugh. "Come on, what could possibly happen to me at home?"

But as soon as she said it, she caught the way Ethan Carter’s face suddenly turned serious.

She blinked, then quickly backtracked. "Okay, okay, nothing’s going to happen to me at home. Promise."

Ethan ran a hand over his forehead, but the frown on his face softened into a half-smile at her quick recovery. "How are things with Mom?"

"Great, of course," Olivia said, toweling off her face after her shower. "Your mom’s a sweetheart. Why would we ever have any issues?"

"Good. And don’t be so formal with her, alright?"

Olivia stared at his face on her phone screen and sighed. "You’ve told me that a million times already."

"Sick of hearing it?"

"Nope," Olivia replied, her eyes clear and honest. "I actually love it when you nag."

Ethan just shook his head, grinning. "Liar."

Olivia shot back immediately, "I’m being totally sincere!"

"Doesn’t look like it."

"Sincerity is a feeling, Ethan. You have to feel it in your heart."

"Not feeling it," he teased.

She just rolled her eyes, undeterred. "That’s because you’re not trying hard enough."

Their conversation was all over the place—just little bits of nothing, bouncing back and forth, but it was comfortable.

Eventually, Olivia finished getting ready for bed and ended the video call.

She switched off the lamp. The room fell quiet. Olivia lay there for a while, drifting off—until she shifted over, half-asleep, reaching for the familiar warmth beside her. Her hand brushed against cool, empty sheets.

She pressed her lips together, staring at the ceiling in the darkness.

Habits are a dangerous thing.

***

***

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

Olivia dressed up a little before heading out with Adelina. When they pulled up to the Baker estate—a sprawling mansion that looked straight out of a magazine—Olivia couldn’t help but be impressed. The place was huge, elegant, and buzzing with life.

By the time they got there, the main hall was already full of guests—old money, socialites, and business tycoons, all mingling and laughing over glasses of champagne and plates of hors d’oeuvres.

But Naomi Barton had left instructions, so the butler whisked Olivia and Adelina past the party and up the grand staircase.

"There you are! Took you long enough," Naomi greeted Adelina with a laugh.

Adelina rolled her eyes in mock annoyance. "You were just waiting for me to make an entrance, huh?"

"Obviously! If you didn’t show, I wouldn’t bother coming downstairs," Naomi replied, turning her curious gaze on Olivia. "And you must be Olivia?"

Adelina stepped in, "Olivia, this is Naomi. You can just call her that."

Olivia gave Naomi a warm smile and handed over the neatly wrapped gift she’d brought. "Happy birthday, Naomi. Wishing you good health and all the happiness in the world."

Naomi’s eyes lit up with genuine pleasure. "Thank you, sweetheart. I’m so glad you could come."