Escape Before Getting Married

The next morning, when I woke up, the space next to me was already empty.

I figured Oliver had left for work, but as I stepped out of the bedroom, I saw him coming out of the kitchen with two plates.

He gave me a small smile. "You're up. Go wash up."

I nodded and headed to the bathroom.

When I returned to the dining table, I noticed the sandwiches and coffee on the plates. I couldn't help but frown.

Oliver noticed my reaction and asked cautiously, "What's wrong?"

I looked up at him and asked, "Didn't I mention I don't like sandwiches?"

Oliver's face froze for a moment before he stood up, saying, "What would you like instead? I can go get it."

"No need," I interrupted calmly, "I just don't like them, not that I can't eat them. I'll manage."

Oliver seemed taken aback by my response. He tried to smooth things over, "It's no trouble. I'll get something else. It's not like we can't afford it."

I laughed softly and took a bite of the sandwich, "See, it's not poisoned. I can eat it."

The breakfast was anything but pleasant, especially with Oliver watching me intently the entire time.

By the end of the meal, I broached a topic that had been on my mind. "Once I wrap up this project, I'd like to go help Amanda."

Amanda Simons was my close friend, a genuine heiress, and Oliver knew her, too.

However, she had been dealing with her father bringing a new woman and her half-siblings into the family after her mother passed away.

Amanda knew she couldn't fight her father directly, so she chose to smile and grow stronger quietly.

She'd made significant progress, but she was not quite ready to confront her father yet, which was why she asked for my help.

Oliver's expression darkened instantly.

"Do you really have to go?"

"Yeah. You know her family situation. She doesn't trust anyone else. Our company is on solid ground now, and the people I've trained are capable. Besides, with you in charge, my absence won't make much of a difference."

"What do you mean, 'won't make much of a difference'? We built this company together. Now you want to drop everything to help someone else. Are you planning on leaving me too?"

He quickly realized how his words sounded and tried to backtrack, "No, I didn't mean that. I just meant that I can't manage the company alone…"

I cut him off, my tone firmer than ever, "You can!

"Oliver, you can do this on your own."

My words settled the matter. Oliver started to say something but then held back.

We went to the office separately. I spent the whole day focused on pushing my project forward, barely thinking about Oliver.

Later, after work, someone knocked on my office door.

Without looking up, I called out, "Come in!"

I was surprised to see Oliver standing there. "What are you doing here?"

He replied calmly, "You didn't respond to my message."

I glanced at my phone and saw his message from an hour ago about making a dinner reservation. I hadn't replied.

I rubbed my temples, feeling exhausted. "I've been so busy I didn't notice my phone."

Oliver nodded understandingly. "Do you need any help? I can…"

"No, thanks. I'm handling this project on my own, and you probably don't know all the details. Just sit over there and rest. I'll finish up here, and then we can head out."

Oliver agreed and sat down, then asked, "Did you skip lunch?"

I blinked, confused, and noticed the untouched lunch my colleague had brought me still sitting on the desk.

"Oh, I must have forgotten. I've been so swamped."

"Felicity, you don't need to rush," he said, his voice softening, carrying a tenderness I hadn't heard in a while.

I stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"I just want to finish this project quickly so I can help Amanda. She really needs me."

With that, I lowered my head and went back to my work, not giving him another glance.