From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer novel Chapter 43

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**Chapter 7**

Alexander stood frozen, a statue in the midst of a storm, his eyes trailing the determined silhouette of Olivia as she retreated into the distance. A wave of unfamiliar panic surged within him, sharp and jarring, clawing its way into his chest like a wild animal seeking escape.

He instinctively took a step forward, a desperate urge to call her back, but a gentle yet firm grip on his arm halted him. It was Chloe, her touch soft and reassuring, yet filled with an urgency that cut through the chaos of his thoughts.

“Alexander…” Chloe’s voice was a gentle whisper, a soothing balm against the turmoil swirling inside him. She tilted her pale face upward, her blue eyes searching his. “You need to go after Olivia. She has been by your side for all these years. You can’t just let her walk away like this. Our trip can wait.”

His gaze was reluctantly pulled back to Olivia’s vanishing figure, and he felt an invisible fist tightening around his heart. The weight of her departure pressed heavily on his chest, a sensation he was unaccustomed to and desperately wanted to dismiss.

“She doesn’t matter,” he replied, forcing the words out, his voice edged with an unnatural hardness. He turned back to Chloe, trying to smooth his expression into the calm demeanor he was known for. “Since she’s being so disobedient, she won’t be joining us on the trip. Let her stay home and contemplate her behavior.”

With a swift motion, he pulled out his phone, his fingers tapping the screen with a sense of finality. “Get the jet ready. Chloe and I are leaving now.”

Outside the mall, Olivia stepped into the world, her presence drawing the gaze of countless onlookers. Eyes followed her, some filled with curiosity, others with judgment. Fingers pointed, hushed whispers floated through the air, and hidden cameras clicked surreptitiously. Here was a woman in a slip dress, her forehead bandaged, yet exuding a chilling composure that hinted at trouble brewing beneath the surface.

But Olivia felt no fear. Her stride was unwavering, her gaze steady and unyielding, as if the chaos enveloping her simply did not exist. She walked directly into another store, her mind set on a singular goal. She quickly grabbed the most unassuming white tee and a pair of jeans, changed in the fitting room, paid without a second thought, and exited with purpose.

Task One Hundred. Complete.

It was time to move on.

Back at the villa, her phone buzzed insistently, cutting through her thoughts. She glanced at the screen, and her heart sank a little. It was a message from Alexander: [Taking Chloe to the Maldives. We’ll be back in a week. Stay home. Reflect. I expect an apology when I return.]