Chapter 10

• CHAPTER 10.
• OLIVIA'S POV.
• Another loud horn blared from across the street. I was already at the window, pulling the curtains aside to check if the delivery man had arrived.
• Yet again, he wasn’t here. I sighed and returned to the plush couch, settling in comfortably. I picked up my phone and continued browsing about the Brown family. I wanted to see how the company was doing, and as expected, that jerk Lucas is now the CEO, with Samantha as his assistant.
• My dad is now retired. They’ve really tried to keep the legacy intact, but it’s sad that I’m here to undermine everything they’ve worked for—and I don’t even feel guilty about it.
• Just then, Jayden’s voice jolted me from my thoughts.
• “Mommy? Mommy, mommy!” He ran toward me. “Dada wants to talk to you.”
• I sat up, dropping my phone on the couch, and reached out to take the iPad from him. “When did he call you, Jay…?”
• I was still trying to talk, unaware that it was a video call, when Alessandro's voice caught my attention.
• "Hey, kitten?" His voice was like fine wine, aged beautifully over the years I've known him.
• I sank back into the couch, glancing at the iPad. "Heyyyy," I whispered, raising my hand shyly to wave at him.
• Even after all this time, looking directly into his eyes felt nearly impossible, no matter how hard I tried. I can't explain the hold he has on me; his voice alone is enough to brighten my day.
• "How is it in New York?" he asked, and I just smiled. I didn't feel the need to answer—I knew Andro well enough to anticipate that anything I said would be used against me. So, I opted to keep my mouth shut.
• "I'm not done here, and I'm not sure I'll be coming over for Christmas Eve."
• The smile on my face vanished as I reprimanded him for what he had just said, but Jayden piped up angrily.
• "Dada, you need to come for Christmas Eve! This place is so nice; you have to see it!"
• I couldn't help but laugh. Kids are something else. It was bold of him to think Andro had never been to New York in his life.
• "Sure, Jay! I’ll be there!" Andro exclaimed playfully before ending the call.
• I handed the iPad back to Jayden and watched him scamper away to his playground. His steps were eager as he walked back, and I could feel his excitement that his father would be coming for Christmas Eve. If only he knew that his father had just lied to him and wouldn't be coming this time around.
• This would be the first Christmas Eve he wouldn’t spend with Andro.
• How time flies! When I was heavily pregnant, I feared that Andro wouldn’t make a good father, but I guess I was wrong. He has been the best father figure I could wish for my son.
• A few minutes later, a knock sounded at the door. Jane quickly went to open it. I shot up from the kitchen chair and made my way to the sitting room, thinking it was the delivery man, but this time it was the decorator here to fix our Christmas lights and tree. I silently let out a disappointed sigh and retreated back to the kitchen. I couldn't wait to get my pendant back. I couldn’t even remember where I had lost it; I was too heartbroken to recall where I had left it.
• ______
• About thirty minutes later, my phone beeped, and I quickly answered when I saw it was the delivery man.
• “Hello, good evening! Are you at my doorstep?” I asked excitedly.
• Once he confirmed, I raced out, giddy with anticipation. I slammed the door behind me since I was home alone; Jane had taken Jayden to get some chocolates from the grocery store across the street.
• As I opened the door, my eyes met those of the delivery man. I swallowed hard and paused. Those deep brown eyes with full brows looked so familiar. I couldn't quite place where I knew him from, but his curly grayish hair and the glint of an earring seemed oddly recognizable.
• "Livie, you're overthinking," I told myself, shaking off the feeling and stepping forward.
• “Hello, sir. Thank you so much,” I said casually, hoping he would bring out my package immediately, but he remained still. I raised my brows in curiosity.
• “Is anything the matter, sir?” I asked.
• He slowly removed his sunglasses, revealing a flawless face.
• Dammit. He looked too handsome to be just a delivery man!
• I knew I shouldn't be feeling this way about another man, but I couldn't help it.
• “Are you going to stand there and act like you don't remember me?” he suddenly asked, making my brows furrow in confusion.
• I stared at him, still unsure what he meant..
• “I don’t understand, sir. What do you mean by that?” I tried to maintain my professionalism, even though he was getting on my last nerve. I just needed him to hand over my pendant and leave.
• “Welcome back to New York, Olivia Brown. I’ve been searching everywhere for you since that night.” He stepped closer, his gaze locked onto mine.
• I instinctively took a step back, forcing myself to appear calm while inside I was simmering with anger at how this delivery man was ruining my excitement.
• “Who are you, and why are you here?” I asked, blinking rapidly to process the situation.
• “Isn’t it obvious?” He pulled a small box from his pocket and flicked it open, revealing my pendant. My eyes lit up with delight, and I let out a sigh of relief that my property was finally returning to me.
• But as I reached for it, he slammed the box shut and looked at me.
• “Even after seeing this, you still don’t remember me?”
• I frowned deeply. “I already paid for this on eBay, so you should just give it to me before I report you and you lose your job.”
• “My job?” He repeated, sounding almost incredulous, as if he didn’t realize he was just a delivery person.
• “Give it back! Why are you withholding it when I’ve already paid?” I sneered.
• “For three reasons: First, for forcing me to hide in your restroom that night. Second, for making me search for you all these years. And third, for not recognizing me,” he replied, and I scoffed.
• This had to be some kind of joke, right? I couldn’t remember him or anything he was saying.
• Hiding him in the restroom? I shook my head, struggling to recall when I might have done that.
• Then my breath hitched, and I gulped sharply as memories flashed back… “The stranger????”
• No, no, it can’t be.
• There must be some misunderstanding. This can’t be true.