Karlyn’s voice dropped, almost a whisper. “I never lie to Jackson. He saw me sitting on our bed, saw the worry on my face. He didn’t even have to ask before I spilled everything.”
I leaned back, letting out a long, slow breath. “Well, that’s it then. If Fancy Boy’s got Jackson’s attention, the only thing we need to worry about is the mess that’s coming—and cleaning it up after.”
Jess snorted, shaking her head. “Speak for yourself, woman. I’ve got a house full of kids and a grown man-child who’s a walking disaster on two feet. If a mess shows up here, I’m not cleaning up a damn thing.”
The sound of Oliver’s laughter lingered in my mind, sharp and unwelcome. Instinctively, my gaze flicked toward the doorway, half-expecting him to barge in once more. At that moment, my phone chimed—a single, intrusive ping breakingthe tension. I reached for it, thumb sliding across the screen, and a slow smile spread across my face. “Well, now this is very interesting.”
Karlyn’s curiosity was immediate. “What is?” she asked, brows knitted with concern.
I angled my phone so both Jess and Karlyn could see the message glowing on the screen. “It seems we’re not the only ones concerned about Mr. Oliver Thorpe,” I said, voice low but steady. The warning was clear—and now, unmistakably, we weren’t alone in our suspicions.
Unknown: Don’t trust Oliver Thorpe.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Miranda
“Come on, Savy,” Oliver whined, stretching out the syllables in my fake name for effect. “Why not? You need a break before your residency. I say we pack our bags and jet off to the Maldives. You know you could use a break and some sun.”
I shot him an incredulous look. “Are you saying I look like shit?”
Oliver only grinned wider, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Well,” he began, unable to conceal his amusement, “you said it, not me. You know I think you’re beautiful no matter what you look like.”
I narrowed my eyes and let out a groan, shaking my head at his backhanded comment. “You need to work on your compliments.”
The truth was, I didn’t want to be anywhere except my own bedroom upstairs. I was only outside because Oliver was adamant that fresh air would help clear my mind. While I appreciated that he didn’t bring up Massimo or the circumstances that brought me back home to Tennessee, I hadn’t anticipated just how determined Oliver was to spirit me away from home. I loved him—no question about that—but sometimes his energy could be a bit overwhelming.
Wanting to steer the conversation elsewhere, I asked, “Did you ever get that problem fixed? You know, about the video?”
Oliver let out a grunt. “No, and I’ve decided I don’t care.”
“Oli,” I groaned, frustration tingeing my voice. “What if your parents see it?”
He only shrugged, unconcerned. “Not the first time I’ve disappointed them. Probably won’t be the last.”
I forced a shaky laugh, trying to keep my tone light even as anxiety clawed at my chest. My palms were slick, and my pulse thundered in my ears—a relentless drum that made it hard to breathe. “Just promise me you won’t do anything reckless. I can’t handle another crisis before residency starts.” The words trembled out, tighter than I intended. Oliver rolled his eyes with a boyish huff, but there was a glint of mischief in his grin as if the promise might be worth breaking just to see me smile.
“Only if you promise to spend a few weeks on the beach with me, sipping mojitos. And if you agree, I swear I won’t mention you-know-who,” he said, trying for levity, voice softer as if he knew just how close I was to breaking.
His words hit a fault line I’d been desperately holding together. I met his gaze, and suddenly my throat constricted; the world seemed to narrow to the space between us. Warm tears spilled over before I could stop them, hot and insistent, blurring his face. My heart thudded so violently I was sure he could hear it. Embarrassment and panic tangled in my chest, stealing my breath. I pressed trembling hands to my cheeks, trying to hide the sob that threatened to escape.
Oliver was beside me in an instant, arms circling me with a fierce tenderness. His hand rubbed gentle circles on my back, but I felt the tremor in his own chest. “Savy, I’m sorry. I swear, if I ever see him again...” His jaw clenched, voice rough with protectiveness. “Let’s just get away. Let me take care of you—let me help you forget.”
My vision swam, and I drew in a ragged breath, voice barely a whisper. “It’s not that easy, Oli.” My lips trembled as I wiped my eyes, fingers cold and clumsy. The truth crouched at the tipof my tongue—dangerous, terrifying.He deserves to know. You can’t do this alone. Just say it.I forced myself to look at him, searching for the familiar trust in his eyes. “I’m pregnant.”
The word hung heavy between us. Oliver froze—every muscle rigid, his lips parting in shock. For a moment, something dark flickered across his face—surprise, maybe pain—before he smoothed it away. He swallowed, eyes darting as if searching for the right thing to say, then forced a steadying breath and reached for my hand, anchoring me to him. His grip was shaky, but his voice found its warmth again. “We’ll figure this out. I promise. Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I suspected before I left Chicago and took the test when I got here. God, Oli, what am I going to do now?”
I tried to steady my breathing, but emotion kept catching in my throat. “He doesn’t know. When he finds out, he will never let me go.”
The silence pressed between us for a heartbeat, stretching thin and taut.
Oliver shook his head slowly, squeezing my hand as if reassurance alone could hold me together. “I will handle him.” The resolve in his voice soothed my panic just enough for a small, trembling hope to bloom inside me. “But the first thing we need to do is get you packed. Home is nice, but you need space. Lots of space to cry and get ready for your residency. Which reminds me, you’re gonna have to switch to another hospital.”
“What?”
“Think about it,” Oliver continued, his voice softer but edged with urgency. “Everyone in Chicago knows you. The second you start showing, word will get back to him—and then you’ll never be free. This isn’t just about starting over; it’s about survival. You need to put as much distance between you and your old life as possible. Another hospital, another state. Somewhere he’d never think to look.”
