From a Wrong Turn to Mr. Right novel Chapter 91

“She said she really likes you.”

“Seriously?”

Ethan Carter nodded, absolutely certain.

Olivia Bennett felt an unexpected wave of relief.

Ethan watched her. Her face had softened, a faint, barely-there smile playing on her lips. Relief—pure and simple—washed over her.

That little shadow of worry between her brows had vanished.

He considered asking something more, but in the end, kept quiet.

———

Outside the studio.

Daniel Gill pulled up to the curb, just in time to see Helen Adams and a couple of others laughing as they locked up the studio for the night.

He looked around, scanning for Olivia Bennett, but she was nowhere in sight.

His brow furrowed. He was just about to get out and ask when his phone rang at the worst possible moment.

“Aaron Adela” flashed across the screen.

Daniel glanced once more at the group already walking away, hesitating for a second.

He swiped to answer as he pushed open the car door.

Aaron’s voice came through, rushed and anxious. “Mr. Gill, the deal with Sterling & Co. just hit a snag.”

Daniel froze, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. “What happened?”

Aaron quickly explained the situation from the other end.

Daniel’s expression darkened. “I’ll be right there.”

He hung up, and the frustration he’d been bottling up all day finally boiled over, like a volcano erupting.

He rubbed his temples, shot a conflicted, almost resentful look back at the studio, then started the engine and drove off.

The next day.

Sure enough, Adelina Lane showed up at the studio again, carrying the same tote she’d had yesterday.

Helen Adams went to greet her. “Hey, Adelina! You’re back.”

Since she’d been the one hiding it, Adelina looked a little sheepish too. She lifted the tote for Olivia to see. “I had the chef make you some chicken soup.”

“Come on in, please.”

Olivia stepped aside, still a bit awkward.

The two of them chatted back and forth, leaving Helen Adams standing off to the side, completely bewildered. Even after Adelina went inside, Helen was still trying to piece it all together.

She stared at Olivia, utterly confused. “Olivia, wait… what just happened?”

“That’s… my mother-in-law,” Olivia whispered.

Helen’s jaw dropped. “Your… mother-in-law?”

She was floored, her mouth hanging open in shock.

Honestly, Olivia herself had been stunned when she’d first realized it, so she totally understood Helen’s reaction. She waved a hand in front of Helen’s face. “Earth to Helen?”

Helen shook her head slowly, dazed. “No, I’m fine. It’s just… kind of hard to believe.”

She glanced at Adelina Lane, who didn’t look much older than Olivia herself.

And to think, all this time, Helen had been calling Olivia “sis” like they were just girlfriends.