"A pretend courtship," Olivia mused, considering the idea.


    "Exactly," Lucas confirmed. "We can be friends and allies, nothing more. But to the outside world, we''ll appear to be a developing couple."


    Olivia extended her hand with a genuine smile. "I ept your proposal, Mr. ckwood."


    =


    Lucas took her hand, bringing it briefly to his lips in a gentlemanly gesture. "Until next time, Miss Winters."


    As his car pulled away. Olivia turned back toward Grandmother''s wing of the Stone Estate, unaware that was watching from the shadows


    (Olivia''s POV)


    I walked back toward Matriarch Evelyn''s wing, my mind racing with thoughts of the arrangement Id just made with Lucas. A pretend courtship could give me the breathing room I desperately needed from Ethan''s


    suffocating presence.


    Lost in thought, I didn''t notice the figure emerging from the shadows until it was toote. A strong hand gripped my wrist, pulling me into the darkness of the garden path.


    "What did he say to you?” Ethan demanded, his amber eyes glowing with barely contained fury.


    110


    I tried to pull away, but his grip was like iron. "Let go of me."


    "Answer me," he growled, his voice dropping to that dangerous register that made my skin prickle with


    warning.


    "It''s none of your business," I replied, lifting my chin defiantly.


    His nostrils red as he inhaled deeply, scenting me for any trace of Lucas. "You''re my wife. Everything about you is my business."


    Tm not your anything," I shot back. "You made that clear years ago when you chose Victoria over me and


    Lily."


    At the mention of our daughter''s name, pain shed across his face before his expression hardened again. "You will reject Lucas''s courtship."


    It wasn''t a request; it was amand. The Alpha in him expected immediatepliance.


    "No," I said simply, my emerald eyes meeting his amber ones without flinching. His grip tightened painfully. "No?"


    "I have the right to choose who I want to be with, I stated firmly. "And I don''t choose you."


    Something dangerous flickered in his eyes. Before I could react, he pulled me against him, one hand tangling


    in my hair to hold me in ce.


    "You''re mine," he growled, his lips crashing down on mine in a dominating kiss.


    I struggled against him, pushing at his chest with all my strength. My resistance only seemed to infuriate


    him further.


    He broke the kiss, his breathing ragged. "Do you really think Lucas ckwood wants you? A woman with your past? My wife?"


    His words were designed to hurt, to remind me of my ce. But I was done being hurt by Ethan Stone.


    "At least he treats me with respect," I retorted. "Which is more than I can say for you."


    Ethan''s eyes darkened dangerously. "Respect? Is that what you call it when a man pursues another man''s


    wife?"


    "Ex-wife," I corrected sharply. "As soon as the papers are filed."


    Chater 63 A Silent Chall


    His grip on my wrist tightened to the point of pain. "There will be no divorce."


    "You can''t stop me,” I challenged, though we both knew he could. As Alpha King, his influence extended throughout the Northern Territories.


    "What about Lily?" he asked suddenly, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "Would you betray her memory so easily?"


    The mention of our daughter sent a wave of grief through me. How dare he use her against me?


    "Don''t you dare bring her into this,” I hissed, tears pricking at my eyes. “You weren''t there when she needed you. You have no right to speak her name now"


    His face contorted with a mixture of rage and something else—something that looked almost like genuine pain.


    "Miss Winters?" Bernard Sheppard''s voice called from the path ahead. "Are you there? Madam Stone is asking for you."


    Ethan''s grip loosened slightly at the interruption. I seized the opportunity, wrenching my wrist free.


    "I''ming, Mr. Sheppard," I called back, my voice remarkably steady despite the turmoil inside me.


    I turned to leave, but not before delivering one final blow. My foot connected


    solidly with Ethan''s shin, making him grunt in surprise more than pain.


    "Stay away from me," I warned, before walking quickly toward Bernard''s voice. (Ethan''s POV)


    I watched Olivia walk away, rubbing my shin where she''d kicked me. The physical pain was nothingpared to the rage and jealousy consuming me.


    Lucas ckwood. Of all the men she could have chosen, it had to be him-my business rival, an Alpha whose power nearly matched my own.


    But beneath the angery something else, a persistent thought that had haunted me for years: Lily wasn''t dead. I couldn''t exin how I knew, but the certainty lived in my bones. My daughter was alive, and Olivia had hidden her from me.


    I pulled out my phone and dialed Maxwell Chen''s number. He answered on the first ring, as always.


    "Sir?"


    "Intensify the search," I ordered without preamble. "I want to know everywhere Olivia goes, everyone she speaks to. If Lily is out there, I will find her."