Even After Death

Chapter 18

Thankfully, Olivia did not fall over because Kelvin pulled her at the last minute. She noticed Ethanstanding not far away, apathetic.

He was unconcerned about her condition. But again, he might have mistaken her action as an attemptto gain his pity. Given his hatred toward her, she wouldn’t expect him to care.

It was Kelvin who inquired with concern, “Mrs. Miller, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. It’s probably low blood sugar.” Olivia hurriedly made up an excuse before following behindEthan.

The garden was covered in white after a night of snowing. The housekeepers were nowhere to befound, so no one was there to clear the snow.

The short walk from the car to the house made her pant. Fighting against the wind and snow, Oliviacraved the warmth indoors.

Ethan stood by the door with a smirk on his face. “I have to give it to you. Your acting has improved.”

Back then, in order to keep him by her side, Olivia had used up all ideas, including crying and throwingthreats, which she never thought she’d resort to.

She felt the irony in Ethan’s remark, but instead of explaining herself, she chuckled. “Thanks.”novelbin

She coldly walked around him to get indoors and immediately felt better, thanks to the warmth. Takingoff the thick padded jacket, she poured herself a glass of water and leaned softly into the couch.

“So, are you getting a divorce or not?”

“I’ll tell you when I’m getting a divorce. You will live here for now.”

She sat there with a calm look on her face while toying with the hanging pom poms on her beanie.

“Ethan, you asked for a divorce on the seventh day after my preterm birth. Your urgency puzzled me fora while, but I finally got it after I came across that kid who looked like you. You wanted to leave me assoon as possible to start a family with Marina.”

With a quiver in her voice, Olivia went on, “For one year, I stubbornly put aside your coldness and yourbetrayal by reminding myself of how good you had treated me in the past. I thought keeping a womanwas just a phase you were going through and that I would always be your wife.

“I even thought that you had an affair because I wasn’t good enough. So, I was ready to change foryou, and I was willing to overlook your mistakes. Come to think of it now, I was an utter idiot. When youwere enjoying family time with another woman and your kids, I was hopelessly waiting for you in alonely home.

“It took me a year to accept the reality and my foolishness. That’s why I’m letting you go. Seek yourhappiness or start your new family; it’s none of my business.”

Olivia stood up and stumbled her way toward him, tears sliding down her cheeks. She stopped in frontof him and examined the calmness he exhibited.

Seated upright and expressionless, he had an imposing air about him, as though he was a stricthomeroom teacher who’d fly into a rage at any time.

In the past, he only reserved his coldness toward outsiders and treated her with tenderness. Beforeshe knew it, she had become an outsider to him. There was no reason to cling to him anymore.

With her head hanging low, Olivia spoke with a rare despair, “We should let go of each other. How doesthat sound?”

He felt a little sorry upon hearing the plea, and he noted the exhaustion in her expression, just like asolid dam that had given way after many years of enduring the raging waters. It crumbled into pieces,falling apart and vanishing into the floods.

Giving up was way easier than staying one’s ground. No one knew how long she had withstood thechallenges before she gave up on her faith.

Olivia was right, though. Ethan wanted a divorce as revenge and also to legalize the status of his out-of-wedlock children.

Ethan was surprised to find that he wasn’t as happy as he expected when Olivia gave up on him after ayear. “Giving up on you? Dream on! You will be staying here from today. Remember, you’re mineforever!”

Olivia’s tears dripped onto Ethan’s face, which made him affected by her sadness. Frustrated, he tookout his phone and showed her the photo of Keith in an ambulance.

“If you stay in touch with him, his family will meet the same fate soon. Olivia, you’d better forget aboutliving a free life.”

“You jerk! You should’ve come at me! Why did you hurt Keith?”

Olivia wanted to slap him, but he grabbed her wrist. With a nasty look in his eyes, he growled, “Yousure care a lot for him. Don’t forget that you’re still Mrs. Miller as long as we aren’t divorced.”

“I …” Before Olivia could say a thing, she was scooped into Ethan’s arms. He was blinded by anger ashe threw her onto the bed.

Thankfully, she landed on the soft, custom-designed bed she had ordered and did not get hurt. Still,she could see stars after being rough-handled. Feeling sick, she slumped onto the bed and stared at

him with fear.

He loosened his tie impatiently, seemingly possessed by demons. Then, he came to her with a cruelsmile. “Liv, you were with him for a few days, weren’t you? Did he get intimate with you?”

He sounded more perverted when he mentioned her nickname, which he hadn’t been using for a while.Goosebumps appeared over her skin.

Ethan was like a shackled beast, ready to break free and lurch at her at any time.

She shook her head and explained, “We’re just friends. Our relationship isn’t as filthy as you implied.”

“Filthy? Hah!”

Ethan snickered and dragged Olivia by the feet. She fought against the sickness in her body andstruggled to break free, but they were like David and Goliath. Little did she know that Ethan hadn’t sleptwell for a few days because he had been searching high and low for her.

Driven by hatred, he desperately needed to release his pent-up emotions. He took off her shoes andsocks. After a year without sex between them, he felt an uncontrollable desire rising in him, which wasreflected in his eyes.

Olivia knew that look too well and begged him with a shaky tone, “No, Ethan. You can’t …”