Chapter 153

Olivia felt a prickle of discomfort at Isabella's words. The gravity of Alexander's situation hadn't fully registered with her until now. Yet here he was, prioritizing her needs despite his own troubles.

Julian Hawthorne, who rarely engaged with Olivia, had maintained nothing but polite professionalism during their limited interactions. He'd even extended assistance during their first encounter.

Still, Olivia couldn't shake the feeling there was more to Julian than met the eye. The situation seemed to have hidden depths waiting to be uncovered.

Both Alexander and Julian spotted Olivia at the same moment.

Alexander moved to approach, but Julian was faster, practically bounding toward her with unexpected enthusiasm.

"What a pleasant surprise seeing you here!" Julian exclaimed, genuine astonishment coloring his tone.

Olivia responded with a courteous smile, quickly typing a message explaining her meeting with Alexander.

"Olivia is my guest," Alexander stated sharply to Julian. "Your focus should be on comprehending the Royal Arch project. They sent you to learn from me, not pry into my personal affairs."

Julian's face fell, his expression wounded. "Alexander, must you always be so harsh? You know I'm not here by choice. The family—"

"Enough," Alexander cut him off with an impatient gesture. "Leave us."

With obvious reluctance, Julian turned on his heel and departed.

Olivia watched his retreating figure, concern knitting her brows. She typed a warning for Alexander not to provoke Julian on her account. With Liam Blackwood already monitoring Alexander's every move, making an enemy of Julian would only complicate matters further.

Alexander's expression remained stony. "This isn't about you. I simply can't tolerate the man. If he weren't Eleanor's son, I'd have removed him long ago." He abruptly changed subjects. "What brings you here today?"

His sharp glance at Isabella carried clear irritation.

Quick to defend her assistant, Olivia signaled that she'd insisted on the outing, believing fresh air would benefit the baby's development.

Alexander's demeanor softened marginally. "Just be careful then."

Unseen by them, Julian observed their exchange from a distance. The obvious care Alexander showed Olivia planted an idea in his mind.

After persistent encouragement from Olivia, Alexander finally revealed the Hayes family's predicament.

A longstanding client had unexpectedly betrayed Whitmore Holdings.

"Terminating our partnership would be one thing," Alexander said with a shrug. "Business relationships should be mutually beneficial."

But the client seemed determined to ensure there would be no peaceful coexistence moving forward.

Worse, they'd resorted to dirty tactics, actively tarnishing Whitmore Holdings' reputation within the industry.

The client claimed their past cooperation had hinged on William Hayes' involvement. With William gone, they alleged product quality had deteriorated under Alexander's leadership, with frequent defects and subpar merchandise.

They maintained these issues had always existed but were previously overlooked to preserve the relationship. Recent events, however, had convinced them Whitmore Holdings wasn't worth further collaboration.

Olivia's heart ached for Alexander.

Even during William's prime, Alexander had shouldered most of Whitmore Holdings' operations.

The client's accusations amounted to character assassination, though their motives remained unclear.

Rubbing his temples, Alexander noticed Olivia's concerned expression. "This is my battle," he reassured her. "Don't trouble yourself. You should rest."

But Olivia shook her head, typing rapidly. "Tell me about this client. If they were truly unreasonable, you wouldn't have maintained the partnership this long."

A bitter smile touched Alexander's lips as he regarded Olivia with newfound admiration. Her perception surprised him.

"That's what puzzles me," he admitted. "Despite their temperament, they've always been reliable. We must have provoked them somehow, but despite my attempts at communication, we can't seem to bridge this divide."

Alexander was at his wit's end. The client held considerable industry influence. Failure to resolve this could spark widespread doubts about Whitmore Holdings' credibility.

Even an established entity like theirs wasn't immune to reputation damage.

Alexander knew all too well how quickly minor issues could snowball into catastrophes. Without resolution, further complications were inevitable.

After a thoughtful pause, Olivia began typing suggestions, hinting she might have a solution.

Just then, Julian came rushing back, eyes alight. "Alexander! Their manager agreed to a meeting to discuss the issues!"

Normally indifferent to Julian, Alexander couldn't suppress an approving grin. "You actually got them to the table? Perhaps you're not entirely useless."

Julian beamed, eager to please. "I can be persuasive when needed. I'm here to support you."

Alexander remained unimpressed by Julian's flattery. He had little patience for those who masked their true intentions behind pleasantries.

Keeping his gaze steady, Alexander said, "As your cousin, I'll be blunt. Stay out of trouble—you and your mother—and I'll ensure you're taken care of."

Julian feigned confusion, seemingly missing Alexander's veiled warning. "Of course! Consider me at your service."

Alexander ignored this and moved ahead with Olivia.

Julian trailed behind, maneuvering to walk beside Olivia when Alexander was distracted.

"Olivia," Julian began with apparent concern. "I know you're close to my cousin. May I ask—you've probably noticed Alexander's hostility toward me? I've been trying everything to prove my loyalty."

Olivia might have dismissed him, but she remembered Julian's intervention when she and Alexander were ambushed by paparazzi. She owed him for that.

Pausing thoughtfully, Olivia began composing her reply.