The Stolen Life- My Mother Gave My Fiancé to Her Favorite Student novel Chapter 93

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“If you’re done, feel free to leave. Didn’t you say we should keep things professional? Or are you worried I’ll jump you?”

Jack’s expression darkened. Without another word, he turned on his heel and slammed the door behind him.

Late that night, a blaring alarm pierced through the sound of rain hammering the roof.

Olivia shot upright in bed. Lightning lit up the sky outside; thunder cracked loud enough to shake the windows.

She rushed to the window and yanked the curtain aside–just in time to see Jack throwing on a raincoat and running out into the storm.

A second later, they nearly collided in the hallway.

“Floods hit the riverbank,” he said, jaw tight, water dripping from his chin. “We’re being deployed for disaster relief.”

“Stay here,” he added firmly. “Don’t run around.”

Before she could respond, he was gone–swallowed by the rain.

Olivia stood frozen at the window, watching as military trucks roared out of the gates.

Just then, the cafeteria cook, Mrs. Jenkins, burst out of the staff quarters, sobbing. “My grandson’s

still in the housing units by the river! What do I do?!

Olivia didn’t hesitate. She grabbed a raincoat and ran out into the night.

By the time she arrived, the scene was chaos.

The riverbank had collapsed. Muddy floodwater churned, carrying branches and debris with it.

Soldiers shouted over the storm, their boots sloshing through knee–deep water.

Jack stood on a rise, soaked to the bone, barking orders in a hoarse voice. “Squad One–get the

civilians out of the east block! Squad Two–reinforce the levee! Move!”

Then everyone froze. As if they’d all seen a ghost.

Jack turned, following their stares.

There she was.

Olivia stood a few yards away, rain flattening her long hair against her pale face. She looked like

she’d stepped out of another world, like the chaos around her didn’t touch her–but everyone could

feel the weight of her presence.

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Olivia slowly came to as someone wiped her face with a warm towel.

“Captain Rivers, you haven’t slept in two days. I’ll stay with Olivia.”

“No need,” came Jack’s hoarse reply.

Before the nurse could insist, someone burst in. “Captain! Miss Ross has a fever again. She’s been calling your name nonstop!”

Jack hesitated, then stood up. “Take good care of her.”

His footsteps faded away.

When Olivia woke again, dusk was settling outside the window.

A round–faced female soldier sat by her bedside, letting out a relieved sigh. “Finally awake!”

Olivia’s eyes instinctively flicked toward the door.

The soldier quickly smiled, reading her mind. “Don’t misunderstand. Captain Rivers saved Miss Ross first, but he came right back and rescued you too. He’s been taking care of you ever since. He just went to check on her a moment ago. If you want to see him, I’ll call him for you.”

“No need,” Olivia’s voice was dry. “I want to know–have all the evacuees been moved?”

The soldier blinked. “Yeah, thanks to your help. You moved the most people during the flood. The whole unit’s impressed.”

She hesitated, reluctant. “But… are you really going to finish your retraining and head home soon?”

“Yes, I have to leave,” Olivia whispered.

But it wasn’t home she was returning to–it was the countryside, where she would marry.

After sending the soldier away, Olivia forced herself to get up and pack. Her suitcase was nearly bursting, yet the cherished photo of her mother was conspicuously absent.

“Looking for this?” Emily’s voice, laced with a familiar taunt, drifted from the doorway as she waved the yellowed photograph.

“Give it back!” Olivia snapped, standing abruptly as her vision blurred.

But Emily didn’t budge. Instead, she took two steps back, pulled a matchbox from her nurse’s pocket, and lit a match with an audible snap.

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“Fine. Here you are” She held the flame to the edge of the photo, letting it catch

Olivia’s breath caught. Her vision went red, in a flash, she lunged forward and slapped Emily hard across the face

Smack!

Emily staggered back, the photo slipping from her fingers as flames consumed her mother’s face

Olivia tried to snatch it away, but Emily raised her hand, letting the photo burn to ashes that scattered across the floor

Eyes blazing, Olivia grabbed Emily’s collar and stared her to the ground,

“Olivial”

Jack’s voice thundered from the doorway.

In the next instant, he pulled Olivia away, causing her to stumble into the table.

He glanced down at Emily, who was covering her face as tears streamed quietly.

“Jack, don’t blame Olivia, It’s my fault. I knew she hated me, but I was worried about her health and came to see her secretly. That’s why she got angry

“Apologize,” Jack said, his voice cold as ice as he stared at Olivia.

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Olivia stood stiff as stone, soaked to the skin, her clothes clinging to her like a second, frozen layer.

“Miss Hart!”

A familiar voice cut through the rain.

Mrs. Carson, the longtime housekeeper who had served Olivia’s family since before she was born, came running with a large umbrella, breathless and panicked. The moment she saw Olivia’s drenched figure, her eyes filled with tears.

She fumbled out a thick cloth bundle–inside was a stack of cash. “Your father sent me to give you ten thousand. Miss Olivia, please… just go home and say you’re sorry. He’s already arranged your marriage out in Lakewood County–God knows you can’t spend your life out there.”

Olivia shook her head. “That arrangement’s exactly what he wants. No matter what I say, it won’t change a damn thing.”

Mrs. Carson choked up, wiping tears as they dripped into the mud. She’d served Olivia’s mother since before she could walk, had watched Olivia grow up like her own blood. And now, she could

only grip her sleeve helplessly.

“But you’re his daughter…”

“His daughter?” Olivia’s voice was barely a whisper, bitter and calm. “The day he brought that woman and her daughter into our house, I stopped being his anything. These days, he’s too busy playing daddy to someone else’s child.”

Mrs. Carson cried harder.

Olivia’s gaze drifted toward the wall, where a little wildflower bent beneath the wind and rain-

flimsy, but still holding on.

“I’ll be okay.” She took the money. “No matter where I end up.”

“And I’ll make damn sure I live better than any of them.”

Back in her dorm, she changed out of the drenched clothes, picked up the suitcase she’d already

packed days ago, and headed out.

At the front gate, one of the young soldiers standing watch looked up in surprise.

“You’re heading home, Miss Hart?”

Olivia looked out into the misty hills beyond the compound–somewhere out there was a place

she’d never been, a “home” her father had picked for her, and a marriage waiting with a stranger

she hadn’t even met.

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ardness. “Will you/uhy ever convebackerck? Mrs.

oked bacon saved,”saved.”

I’m not coming back back.”

in, never once looking backig back.

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glaze fooked toward the window. Outside, the downpour was relentless, rain pouring ining in hatets that blurred the view beyond the glass. There was no sign of Olivia anywherevhere.

ressienetarkened as he stoodi from his chair.chal

I day

jht.

ere,

entedatently latehis sleeve. “Areiyou going out to look for Olivia?” Her tone was sweet,weet, turboesan. it’s amuit/spouring out there. She’s probably just standing around, hoping you’ll you’ll escue her.”

ftly tsongyt anyagkamasiethe unease in her eyes. Jack frowned.vned.

ut Olivia tikeiviatikeelsatile said sharply. She’s not the type to pull stunts. Since the daye day he’s taken eveke orderyeader head–onisBut this storm’s serious she could be in danger.“nger”

cochis voice despitedespstfhBeselg Seeing that, Emily’s eyes flickered with frustration,ation, ckly maskedritaand stoadcastwood, asewelt ihesitating before she spoke.

how stubborn shedsn.sheds.gif patite out there’ howy laonly make her dig her heels in.els in. er to wait iboutit give hersantespame’space?”

aused.

e was

idy left why

d been pushing boundariesmarie amdoreae.dlfherealf heegaveihen an inch now, who knew

e’d pull next?ill next?

d he sat back downkface/unfeadableadable.

at indulge her.

Lurned. She

er shougnesaugele hicden biedent beneath concern.

d downstairs, a bottleadfoole of exdicinaedicine in band: But when he Hart had been ordered to standother währene was no trace her. Not

ked puzzled. “Haven’t seen Miss Hart this morning ainting, sir”

oze. Slowly, anger began to simmer beneath his path exterioexterior.

ven just bereicher voice soft with faux regret. “Wow. Olivia really blewilyobleff you off?

skipping the punishment. Let’s just leave it bevokay?, okay?

iding

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The young soldier standing nearby frowned and quickly stepped in.

“That’s not what I meant, Captain. Miss Hart didn’t skip punishment–she stood in the rain all day

and night. We all saw it. I just meant I haven’t seen her today. She left in the middle of the night.

Said her reform period was up, and she was going home.”

His cheeks flushed a little as he recalled last night. She didn’t complain once. Just stood there,

soaked to the bone. Didn’t say a word. Honestly… Miss Hart’s tougher than she looks.”

He added quietly, “She really cares about you, sir. Maybe… maybe it’s time to let things go.”

Jack’s brows furrowed.

She just left. Not a word. No goodbye.