His Dangerous Love On Ice (Olivia and Zane) novel Chapter 198

Olive’s POV

I pulled up to Walter’s house with my stomach in knots.

Not because seeing him still hurt-that wound had scabbed over years ago, turned into something dull and manageable.

But because I knew what I’d find inside.

My mother. Broken. In the house of the man who’d left us both behind.

I killed the engine and forced myself out of the car, walking up the pathway to the front door.

Walter opened it before I could knock, his face scrunched up with concern..

“She’s in the living room,” he said quietly. “She hasn’t said anything. Just sitting there crying.”

I nodded and pushed past him without responding.

The second I walked into the living room, I saw her.

Diane sat on the couch with her face in her hands, shoulders shaking with silent sobs, looking so completely destroyed it made my chest tightened at the sight.

This wasn’t about Walter this time. Neither was this about their divorce or his new life or any of that old pain.

This was fresh. Raw. Devastating.

“Mom,” I said softly.

She looked up, and the devastation in her eyes almost knocked me backward.

Mascara running in dark tracks. Hair disheveled. Whole body trembling.

“Olive, she whispered. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know where else to go.”

I crossed the room and sat beside her, pulling her into my arms.

She collapsed against me, sobbing so hard her entire body shook, and I just held her while she fell apart.

We sat like that for several minutes-her crying, me holding her, neither of us speaking.

Finally, she pulled back slightly, wiping at her face with shaking hands.

“I can’t be in that house,” she said, her voice wrecked. “I can’t look at our bedroom. Can’t walk past the kitchen where we had breakfast every morning. Can’t-everywhere I look I see him. See them. And I just-”

She broke off, fresh tears spilling.

“I know,” I said quietly. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”

I helped her stand, and we walked toward the door.

Walter was hovering in the hallway, and when he saw us coming, his eyes went straight to me.

Really looked at me.

His expression shifted-concern deepening into something more worried.

“Olive,” he said carefully. “Have you been crying?”

I hadn’t realized it was obvious. Hadn’t thought about the fact that my own eyes were probably red and puffy from the stress of the past week.

“I’m fine,” I said flatly.

“You don’t look fine.” He stepped closer. “What happened? What’s going on?”

Diane was moving toward the door, but Walter’s voice stopped her.

“Diane,” he said gently. “Where are you going? You can’t-you shouldn’t go back to your house right now. I know I’m scared of Annie showing up, but…not like this. At least… tell me… what’s going on?”

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