The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 268

Chapter 237: Olivier tensed

Bella POV

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“I don’t think either of us did anything wrong, Olivier. I think we both just got handed something complicated. He carries a tremendous amount of guilt for my mother, Elaine. He didn’t know she died, and he didn’t know I existed. His reaction to me isn’t a rejection of you or your mother. It’s years of unanswered questions finally hitting him at once.”

He was quiet for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was lower and rougher.

“Our father is not easy to love,” he said. “He is distant and works too much. He never shows thanks. I have spent my whole life trying to get his attention, but I do not think he knows how to give it.”

I looked at him, and everything suddenly made sense.

“You just described my husband,” I said.

Olivier stared at me in shock. Then, he let out a short, surprised laugh. He looked embarrassed, like the laugh had escaped before he could stop it. It was the first real emotion I had ever seen from him.

“That is either very comforting or very scary,” he said, shaking his head, “depending on what you mean by

that.”

“Both,” I said, giving him a real smile. “Caleb was exactly like that for years. He is better now, but it took hard work. It took someone refusing to let him stay that way.”

Olivier looked at me, and his expression softened. “Maybe our father needs the same thing,” he said slowly. “Someone who refuses to let him stay distant”

“Maybe,” I agreed. “Or maybe he just needs his children to stop acting perfect and actually talk, just like we are doing right now.”

He did not argue, which was a huge step for him.

“Enzo told me you did a background check on us before we met,” Olivier said, with a small smirk. “He thought it was smart. I thought it was aggressive.”

“It was necessary,” I replied. “When you build a business from nothing and protect a child, you do not take chances on strangers, even if they are family.”

“Fair enough,” Olivier said, taking a sip of his coffee. “Enzo also mentioned your son, Tom.”

“Yes,” I said, smiling at the mention of my boy.

“He told Enzo that his dinosaur facts were completely wrong during a video call,” Olivier said, looking amused. “Enzo’s whole university group knows about it.”

“Tom takes his dinosaurs very seriously,” I laughed. “He changes the toy models on my desk based on his

mood.”

“And your daughter, Grace?” Olivier asked. “I saw her picture on our father’s tablet.”

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<Chapter 237- ehvier tensed

“She is a lot to handle,” I admitted. “She just started walking, and she is already trying to run the whole house.

“She looks like she has a lot of personality for a baby,” Olivier said, shaking his head.

“She does,” I said, leaning forward. “She never slows down. Yesterday, she tried to climb the sofa, fell down, and just stared at the cushions like she was mad at them.”

Olivier smiled a little. “Enzo says she is so cute, I can only imagine.”

Clum

“She is,” I laughed. “She does not like everyone. If she likes you, you know it. If she does not, she will just turn away.”

“Like her mother, then,” Olivier said quietly.

“I suppose so,” I replied. “I had to learn to be tough, Olivier. When Caleb sent me away, I was completely alone. I had to build a wall around myself to protect my son and my business.”

“I understand that,” Olivier said, setting his cup down. “Our father raised me to think the same way. He told me everyone is an enemy until they prove they are not.”

“That is a very lonely way to live,” I told him softly.

“It is,” he admitted, looking out the window. “But it kept the business safe. After our mother died, work was all I had left. I thought if I lost control of the company, I would lose my family too.”

“You will not lose it,” I said firmly. “I have Hart Worldwide. I do not want your job, and I do not want your

stress.”

Olivier looked at me. “Enzo told me you were completely calm when he came to your office. He said you just told him to sit down and drink coffee.”

“He brought my exact coffee order,” I smiled. “That bought him five minutes. But he stayed because he was honest. He told me he was glad I existed.”

“Enzo has always been emotional,” Olivier said, his tone soft. “He does not think about strategy. He just feels.”

“Sometimes that is better,” I said. “You cannot always live your life behind a desk.”

“Maybe,” he murmured, leaning back. “Father wants us all to come to Lyon next week. He wants to show you the company and have dinner with your children.”

“I know,” I said. “He told me.”

“Are you going to bring Caleb?” Olivier asked.

“Yes,” I answered. “Caleb is my husband, and we are a team now. Do not worry, he knows how to behave.”

“Good,” Olivier said. “Because if he upsets you or our father, I will step in. I might not like the drama you brought, Bella, but you are still family. We protect our own blood.”

A strange feeling washed over me. It felt like protection. I had never felt that from a sibling before.

“Thank you, Olivier,” I said quietly.

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