Olivia’s POV

My hands trembled as I gripped the edge of the bathroom sink’s ceramic surface. I took deep, deliberate breaths, fighting to steady my emotions. I refused to let my past traumas drag me down. I was determined to push forward.

Every detail of the Charme restaurant brought back memories of Alexander and the devastating end to our story. Five years had passed, yet he still haunted my thoughts, as if determined to torment me.

I squeezed my eyes shut, focusing on my daughter, Mia, the most precious person in my life and my greatest treasure. I needed to regain control, to summon the strong, independent, and focused woman I had nurtured through years of struggle.

Lifting my head, I met my reflection in the mirror and took another deep breath. “You’ve got this, Olivia,” I told myself firmly. I reached into my purse for my makeup bag, quickly retouching my face, fixing my hair, and adjusting my outfit. There—now I looked polished and unstoppable. No one, nothing, would break me.

Gathering my belongings, I left the bathroom and headed back to the VIP area. From a distance, I saw two men had joined Ethan at our table—likely the Elysium Designs representative and his lawyer. Their backs were to me as they exchanged greetings with Ethan, who offered a professional smile and shook their hands.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you in person,” Ethan was saying as I approached. “Oh, here she is—Olivia Thompson, the mastermind behind our groundbreaking project!” he announced when he spotted me. The two men turned toward me. I started to form a warm smile to greet them, but it froze the moment I recognized one of them.

“Olivia… I’ve finally found you,” Alexander said, standing before me in the flesh. His gaze was intense, like a weary traveler spotting an oasis in the desert. A soft, emotional smile spread across his face, as if he’d been longing for this moment.

I blinked rapidly, my mind racing to process the sight of him. My legs wobbled, threatening to give out. What was Alexander Vaughn doing here? After all these years, I hadn’t expected to see him. This was Manhattan, though—his domain. Was he the Elysium Designs representative?

But that wasn’t his company. Alexander was a billionaire who controlled a vast empire of elite businesses. Why would he bother meeting with small-time candidates for an advertising campaign for a fashion brand?

“You two know each other?” Ethan asked, glancing between us, clearly puzzled as Alexander and I locked eyes. I tore my gaze away and forced my feet to move steadily toward the table.

“Pleased to meet you, gentlemen. I’m Olivia Thompson,” I said, shaking hands with the man accompanying Alexander, then reluctantly with Alexander himself. Touching his hand after so long sent a jolt through me, stirring a whirlwind of emotions.

“A pleasure to meet you. I’m Dr. Rivera, Mr. Vaughn’s lawyer,” the man said. “Please, let’s have a seat.”

We all sat down, Ethan beside me, with Alexander and his lawyer across from us. Alexander’s eyes remained fixed on me, brimming with emotion. He opened his mouth slightly, as if desperate to say something before I slipped away again.

“You look incredible, Olivia. Time has been kind to you,” he said, his gaze unwavering. “I still can’t believe I’ve finally found you.”

Ethan, sitting next to me, chuckled lightly. “That’s interesting. First this place, now you—it seems Olivia is full of surprises,” he said, referring to my unexpected connection to billionaire Alexander Vaughn. I had never told Ethan about my history with Alexander. He knew I’d been married, but not to whom.

“And you are?” Alexander asked Ethan, his tone cool and disinterested. As the one with power, he didn’t need to feign politeness, but Ethan had to play nice if he wanted Alexander’s approval for our project.

“I’m Ethan Brooks, sir. Olivia’s friend and business partner,” Ethan replied.

“Partner?” Alexander raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, she’s the heart of SparkVibe Studio. That company thrives because of her brilliance,” Ethan said, smiling at me.

“Ethan’s being generous. He’s the majority owner,” I said honestly.

“Only because I hold the most shares,” Ethan countered, making me blush with his praise. “Truth is, without you, SparkVibe wouldn’t exist. I met Olivia by chance when I’d lost faith in myself. She came into SparkVibe and transformed everything. Now, we’re gaining the recognition she and her team deserve. It’s all her doing.”

I knew what Ethan was doing. Like me, he was caught off guard by Alexander Vaughn’s presence at this lunch. This was his chance to “sell” me, highlighting my skills and achievements in hopes that a billionaire like Alexander might recruit me for one of his massive companies. Our Elysium Designs project was a speck compared to what working for Alexander could mean.

Ethan was a loyal partner, willing to lose me at SparkVibe if it meant I could achieve greater things. He genuinely cared about my growth. But what would he think if he knew this man he was so eager to impress—this man he was showcasing me to—was my ex-husband?

“We reviewed your project demo, and it’s outstanding,” Dr. Rivera said, adding his own praise.

“I’m telling you, she’s a natural,” Ethan continued. “I love SparkVibe, but it feels wrong to keep talent like hers confined to our small office. Olivia deserves bigger opportunities.” Oh, Ethan, please stop!

“Are you in love with her or something?” Alexander asked Ethan bluntly, catching me off guard. My eyes widened. Why would he ask that?

“Is it that obvious?” Ethan laughed, unfazed, while I shifted uncomfortably, scratching my neck. This wasn’t going to end well. Running into my ex-husband after so long felt like a bad omen.

Alexander leaned back in his chair, sighing, his eyes still locked on me. “Do you remember this place, Olivia?” he asked, referring to the restaurant. I didn’t respond.

“I was so furious about what happened here that day that I bought this place. Yes, I did. And do you know whose name it’s in? Yours. This restaurant has been yours for three years. I’ve been searching for you relentlessly, and now I can finally say I bought it for you.”