From a Wrong Turn to Mr. Right novel Chapter 189

Bang!

His fist slammed into the wall.

He didn’t even feel it—numbness had settled too deep in his bones for pain.

————

Olivia Bennett let Ethan Carter lead her away from the party, his stride long and impatient. She struggled to keep up, heels clicking frantically across the hardwood. After a while, Olivia just stopped, breathless.

Ethan turned back, brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?”

Olivia frowned back at him, arms crossed. “Are you mad?”

Ethan’s jaw was tight, his eyes still burning with anger. Mad didn’t even begin to cover it. He’d wanted to deck that guy—hell, he almost had.

But Olivia already knew; she could read it all over his face.

“I just didn’t want to cause a scene at Naomi’s birthday party,” she said quietly, “and I didn’t want anyone getting hurt. Especially not you.”

She left out the part where Ethan had already landed two solid punches on Daniel Gill. It wasn’t like he’d come out of it empty-handed.

Ethan saw how carefully she was explaining herself, and something inside him softened. His scowl faded. “I’m not mad at you,” he said, voice lower now.

He wasn’t lying—she could tell.

Olivia looked up at him, a little uncertainty in her voice she didn’t even realize was there. “Then why’d you storm off so fast?” she muttered, hugging herself. He hadn’t said a word, just oozed that don’t-talk-to-me vibe. She’d barely dared to breathe.

If she hadn’t been forced to stop, she wouldn’t have dared.

Ethan blinked, then pulled her gently into his arms. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

The familiar warmth of his embrace washed over her, melting the last of her defenses. All the steel she’d shown with Daniel crumbled in Ethan’s arms. Her eyes burned, and before she knew it, tears welled up and soaked her lashes.

Ethan noticed instantly. He tipped her chin up, concern written all over his face. Sure enough, her eyes were shining with tears.

She slipped from his arms, taking a shaky breath. “Does it look like I’ve been crying?” she asked, tilting her face up to him.

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, dabbing gently at her cheeks. “Your eyes are a little red.”

Olivia pressed her lips together.

Ethan smiled, trying to reassure her. “But it’s not that bad. No one’ll notice unless they’re looking.”

She relaxed a little. “Okay. Let’s go back out there.”

Ethan tucked the handkerchief away, took her hand, and led her out.

As soon as they reached the living room, Adelina Lane spotted them and frowned. “Olivia, your eyes are a little red, honey. Are you alright?”

Before Olivia could answer, Naomi Barton chimed in, peering closer. “Yeah, it looks like you’ve been crying.”