Chapter 137

Olivia kept shaking her head as she typed rapidly on her phone screen.

"I'm perfectly fine, just a little cold. And I have matters to attend to here. Thank you for your concern, but I can handle this alone."

With those words typed out, Olivia quickened her pace and practically fled the scene.

Julian watched Olivia's hurried retreat, his warm expression gradually turning impassive.

Eleanor approached silently, her voice barely above a whisper. "You should stay away from that woman. She's nothing but trouble."

Julian gave his mother a questioning look. "What do you mean by that?"

Eleanor's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Her prescription fell from her bag earlier. It's specifically for pregnant women. Clearly she's expecting, and who knows whose child it is?"

Julian's eyebrows knitted together in thought.

Everyone knew about Olivia's relationship with Liam Blackwood, even though Julian was relatively new in town. Yet something told him Liam wasn't the father.

Given Liam's power and influence, if Olivia were carrying his child, he would have personally ensured she received proper care and accompanied her to all medical appointments.

As the adopted daughter of the Winslow family, Olivia would naturally use such an opportunity to secure her position.

Her secretive behavior raised red flags. Julian suspected the baby might belong to someone else - perhaps Alexander?

A sudden spark of interest lit up Julian's eyes as he considered the possibilities.

Eleanor warned him in a hushed tone, "Remember, avoid women like her at all costs. Besides, with William under our control, we don't need to take unnecessary risks."

Julian shot his mother a disapproving glance. "You're missing the bigger picture. High risk brings high reward. Haven't you noticed? We've been doing well, but Alexander hasn't exactly been welcoming. Once he takes over Whitmore Holdings, we'll become irrelevant."

Bitterness crept into Julian's voice as he continued, "If you'd brought me back to the Hayes family sooner, we'd be in a much stronger position now."

Eleanor's lips trembled slightly, the words caught in her throat as she struggled to respond.

Instead, she adopted a softer tone to placate her son. "Alright. If this is what you want, I'll support your decision."

But Julian's irritation was palpable. "I'll take care of this myself. Stop following me."

Seeing the disappointment in her son's eyes, Eleanor felt a sharp pang in her chest. She had once been the beloved princess of the Whitmore family, but her marriage into the Hawthorne family had led her down a path of hardship.

This was especially true after her husband discovered that William, known for his ruthlessness, wouldn't offer any support simply because Eleanor had married into the Hawthorne family.

After their wedding, Eleanor endured years of abuse from her husband.

When Julian was born, Eleanor longed to return to the Whitmore family, but her husband forbade it.

Over the years, the Whitmore family never inquired about her married life, let alone offered any support or intervention.

Initially, Eleanor resented her husband, but with time and constant manipulation, her anger shifted toward the Whitmore family. If only William had checked in occasionally, provided financial assistance, or secured a decent position for her husband, perhaps her life wouldn't have been so bleak.

These painful thoughts brought tears to Eleanor's eyes.

Just then, her phone rang.

Eleanor hastily wiped her eyes and answered, only to receive urgent news from Mercy Hospital about William's rapidly deteriorating condition that required immediate family presence.

While some distant relatives from the Whitmore family were present, none were close enough to make medical decisions for William.

The only direct relatives available were Eleanor and Alexander, and with Alexander unreachable, the hospital had contacted Eleanor.

Upon hearing the doctor's explanation, an enigmatic smile spread across Eleanor's face. "I'll come to the hospital immediately," she responded. "Have Julian search for Alexander. Call me if you need anything else."

The doctor hesitated but ultimately agreed.

Eleanor suddenly wanted to inform Julian about the situation. But as she reached for her phone, the memory of her son's disapproving expression made her pause.

Determined to prove her capability, Eleanor steeled herself and hurried off.

Time passed quickly, and soon Olivia found herself arriving early at the restaurant for her meeting with Alexander.

A sleek BMW pulled up. Since the incident involving Whitmore Holdings, Alexander had maintained an unusually low profile. He stepped out, his typically stern features softening into a subtle smile when he spotted Olivia, holding a bouquet of pale yellow roses.

Noticing Olivia's slight frown, Alexander quickly explained, "I saw these and thought they were beautiful, so I brought them as a token of appreciation."

Olivia eyed the flowers but gently shook her head, declining them. She typed out a message: "I'm sorry, but I'm allergic to pollen and can't accept these. Thank you for the thought though."

Her response rejected Alexander while preserving his dignity.

Alexander's smile faltered momentarily before he quickly composed himself. "I should have considered that. No worries. My grandfather always told me to treat you like a sister. Let's keep things casual between us."

The word "sister" seemed to relax Olivia slightly, lightening the atmosphere between them.