Chapter 418

As soon as Atticus stepped out of the car, he knew something was wrong. The engine was acting up, and white smoke was pouring out. It was clear the car wasn't going anywhere.

This was odd.

His car was always kept in top shape by professionals and had never had any issues before.

What was going on today?

To make matters worse, the car had broken down in the middle of nowhere. If they were closer to Graceful Haven Church, Atticus could have asked Olivia to walk the rest of the way.

Now, stranded on a deserted road, he had no choice but to call for his bodyguards.

Just as he hung up the phone, Atticus turned around to see Olivia, who had somehow gotten out of the car and was now standing beside him.

"Is the car broken?" Olivia asked, having seen the white smoke herself. The atmosphere between them was already awkward, and she felt the need to say something.

"Yeah, it won't start. I've called for help," Atticus replied.

"Guess we'll have to wait here for a bit," Olivia suggested.

In the past, Atticus would have dreaded being alone with Olivia. Her feelings for him had always been so obvious and intense that he couldn't handle it and didn't know how to respond.

So, he had kept his distance, hoping she would eventually see that their relationship wasn't meant to be.

But now, the thought of her giving that love to another man filled him with an inexplicable sense of frustration and discomfort.

And the source of all these feelings was Olivia.

When Atticus realized this, he was shocked.

Olivia, seeing the situation, decided to call Isabella.

"Isabella, it's me. We're on the road, but the car broke down. We have to wait for help, so I don't know how long it will take. You and Emilio go ahead and have fun. We'll join you as soon as the bodyguards arrive."

Although winter had passed, it was still quite cold outside, especially in the countryside.

With no shelter, the cold wind made them shiver.

Despite this, Olivia didn't get back into the car.

She didn't want to.

But the person sitting inside was him. After everything that had happened between them, pretending nothing had changed and going back to being friends was impossible for her.

Moreover, she hadn't completely moved on from Atticus. A few words of conversation were manageable, but being in the same confined space for an extended period would surely reveal her true feelings.

She didn't want to be rejected by him again in that cold, indifferent tone.

But the next moment, Atticus grabbed her wrist and, without a word, pushed her back into the car.

Olivia looked at Atticus, who had also gotten back in, with surprise. Before she could say anything, his deep voice broke the silence.

"It's cold outside. You're not dressed warmly enough, so don't wander around. If you get sick, Isabella will blame me for not taking care of you."

The flicker of emotion that had just risen in Olivia's heart was instantly extinguished.

So, he didn't care about her as a person, only as Isabella's friend.

With the car heater on, Olivia didn't want to talk to him. She turned her head to look out the window and, after a while, couldn't help but ask, "How long until the bodyguards get here?"

Being alone in the car with someone she liked was both sweet and painful for her.

But she didn't want to continue like this.

Atticus had made their relationship clear enough. She was afraid that if she couldn't control her emotions, they wouldn't even be able to remain friends.

Atticus, unaware of what was bothering her, assumed she was just upset about not making it to Graceful Haven Church.

He glanced at his watch. "They've probably just left. It'll take at least thirty minutes for them to get here."

After all, they were quite a distance from the Wilson family estate, and they had been driving for a while.

"Okay," Olivia replied, not knowing what else to say.

For the first time, she felt time dragging on. She was usually the life of the party, never letting things get dull.

But with Atticus, her mind went blank.

No topic seemed to work between them.

Left with no choice, she pretended to sleep.

After all, Atticus wasn't the type to start a conversation. In this strange atmosphere, she might as well take a nap.

But just as she closed her eyes, Atticus's voice broke the silence.

"Are you still tired?"

She had just gotten up not long ago, so Atticus was curious. "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Ever since he realized he had feelings for Olivia, Atticus couldn't bear to push her away anymore.

Now that it was just the two of them, he didn't want to waste this opportunity.

Olivia usually talked so much that he didn't know how to respond. But now, she didn't even want to say a word to him.

This was unsettling for Atticus.

Olivia kept her eyes closed but finally responded, "Yeah, I didn't sleep well last night, so I want to catch up on some sleep now."

She lied without batting an eye, just to avoid talking to Atticus.

Seeing her reaction, Atticus recalled what Isabella had told him that morning.

So, Olivia was really planning to forget about him and start a new relationship?

Wasn't this what he had always wanted? So why did it hurt so much now that it was happening?

Why was he feeling this way?

He had been the one rejecting her all these years, refusing to accept her feelings.

He had wasted so much of her time. Now that she was finally ready to move on, he couldn't bear it.

Habits were dangerous things.

Even though he prided himself on being disciplined and restrained in matters of the heart, her years of companionship had left a mark on him.

He didn't want to let go.

Once the thought took hold, the urge to have her overwhelmed him.

"Olivia, I need to talk to you," Atticus said, closing his eyes.

His mind was a mess, and even though he had the words, he didn't know how to start.

Should he ask if she still had feelings for him, or should he first confess his own feelings?

But what if she really was ready to move on? Wouldn't his words just complicate things for her?

Olivia waited for what felt like an eternity, but Atticus didn't continue. Her frustration boiled over.

"Mr. Wilson, can you just say what you mean? What's the point of stopping halfway? Do you think this is funny?"

"I don't mean it like that. I really have something to tell you!" Atticus's tone was serious, and his authoritative presence made it hard not to believe him.

Olivia was both angry and speechless. She bit her lip and said, "Fine, go ahead. I'm listening."

Atticus was momentarily at a loss for words.

Looking at Olivia's beautiful face, his heart skipped a beat.