The Other "I Do"

The moment I opened the door barefoot, I realized how ridiculous I was being.

"Patrick? It really is you—you're back?" Sonya Peters from the neighborhood committee beamed when she saw me and gave my shoulder a warm pat.

"Yeah, Sonya, I'm back. What's going on?"

"Oh right, I got so caught up talking to you I almost forgot." Her expression turned serious. "Patrick, you should head downstairs and take a look. There are a few black SUVs blocking the entrance to the alley, and they said they're here for you. Our streets are narrow enough as it is—people can barely get in or out now."

Frowning, I followed Sonya downstairs.

The second I stepped outside, I spotted Olivia's black car parked at the mouth of the alley.

As soon as she saw me, a bodyguard opened the door, and Olivia stepped out in her high heels.

I immediately turned to leave.

Behind me, her icy voice cut through the air.

"Patrick, stop right there!"

I ignored her and walked faster, but her personal bodyguard blocked my path a moment later.

"Patrick, what the hell is wrong with you?!"

Olivia stormed up to me in her heels and slapped me across the face without a second thought.

"You've gone way too far!"

I slowly turned my face back toward her.

The love that had once filled my eyes was completely gone.

She froze for a second, then spoke coldly again.

"Do you have any idea I left an entire room full of guests behind just to come get you? Hurry up and come with me."

I didn't want to deal with her, but more and more neighbors had started gathering in the alley to watch the drama unfold.

I might not have wanted to be around Olivia, but I wanted even less to be the center of everyone's gossip.

After weighing my options, I finally walked toward her car in my pajamas.

The rear window rolled down.

Dressed in a formal suit, Shawn looked at me apologetically.

"Patrick, sorry about this. I'm not feeling great, so Olivia wanted me to sit in the back with her. I guess you'll have to tough it out in the passenger seat."

Olivia walked up right behind him.

When she noticed me staring at Shawn in the back seat, a flash of embarrassment crossed her face.

She opened the rear door for me herself and awkwardly tried to cover for him.

"Shawn isn't feeling well, so I brought him along to get some air. You don't mind, do you, Patrick? The back seat is big enough for the three of us to sit together…"

I quickly looked away and got into the passenger seat on my own.

"I don't mind."

My indifferent attitude clearly got under Olivia's skin. She opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but stopped herself.

She slammed the rear door shut and said coldly, "Drive."

As the car pulled away, the curious neighbors were still hanging around outside, watching us go.

Olivia's expression darkened even more because of it.

"I honestly didn't expect a dirty, rundown place like that to still be livable," she said scornfully. "Showing up somewhere like that in custom couture—it's unbelievably bad luck."

Hearing that, I shot her a glare through the rearview mirror and sneered.

"Since you're so high and mighty, Ms. Ranch, you really shouldn't have bothered coming here today."

"You—!"

Before she could finish, Shawn spoke up in a pitiful voice.

"Olivia, is Patrick upset again because I came along…? Maybe I should switch seats with him."

Olivia stared at me through the rearview mirror and snapped viciously, "You stay right where you are. Let's see what he dares to do to you."

I pretended not to hear her. I closed my eyes and leaned back to rest. I needed to save my energy for the battle ahead.

'Olivia, since you won't let me walk away in peace, don't blame me for doing things my own way.'

The car finally stopped in front of a hotel owned by the Ranch Group.

Olivia was still livid. The second the car stopped, she got out and walked off without looking back.

Her bodyguards stayed close behind me, so she wasn't worried about me trying to run.

After I slowly stepped out of the car, Shawn walked over to me with a smug smirk. The weak, pitiful act was gone. Now, he stood in my way arrogantly, his face full of triumph.

"Patrick, don't get too full of yourself. Olivia is my wife now. You're nothing but a pathetic side piece she won't even acknowledge in public."

He let out a cold laugh.

"Just wait and see. In the end, the one standing beside her with a smile will be me."