Chapter 189

NOAH I gritted my teeth, my chest tightening painfully at Olivia’s words, even though I had already prepared myself to hear them from her. “You can build a new life, you can get married to someone else,” I said, my voice low and controlled. “But not with someone like Edward. I won’t accept that. I won’t let my daughter call a man like that her father.” The moment the words left my mouth, I knew how they sounded, but I did not take them back. Olivia let out a soft breath, then smiled, though there was no warmth in it. “Are you saying I need your permission to date or marry someone?” she asked, her tone edged with sarcasm. I held her gaze, forcing myself to stay composed. “Olivia, let’s calm down,” I said quietly. “This isn’t something we need to argue about like this.” “Calm down?” she repeated, her eyes lifting slightly as she looked at me. “From the way you’re talking, it sounds like you’ve already planned things out for me.” There was a brief pause before her gaze shifted past me. “O