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Rex pulls in a ragged inhale and slowly lifts his head. His dark eyes snare mine as he rasps, “I love you, Olive. So damn much. And it’s because I love you, I have to save you and let you go. I can’t fail another woman again.”

The elation from seconds ago morphs into anger, a cannonball tearing through my chest.

I recognize the resignation in his eyes, the acceptance. He isn’t even willing to work through this with me, even after I tell him I’d be with him every step of the way. How can a team function if one player gives up?

You can’t change someone who doesn’t put in the work.

And I won’t force him to change, to love me, to choose me despite whatever hardships he’s going through.

He needs to make the choice himself.

I deserve that and more.

A heavy weight presses on my chest as tears pool under my eyes. Gradually, I stand up, my breathing uneven. I lean down and dip my forehead against his.

“Thank you for trusting me with the truth. Life isn’t hopeless, even if you think it is. Sometimes, we need hardships to grow. In my culture, the phoenix is a lucky animal. Beautiful, powerful, good. And if you remember, it grew out of the ashes.”

I press a soft kiss on his forehead, then walk away. But before I leave the room, I pause at the door.

“Hope is there, Rex. Even if you don’t see it. Get help, even if it isn’t with me.”

Chapter Fifty

“There’s only so muchwe can do. The OPMC is scrutinizing every move with this case. High profile, splashed all over the news. But I’ll try my best to pull some strings,” Dr. Xavier Cross, a renowned cardiologist and the only doctor I can call a friend outside of Olivia, says over the phone. He has inroads into the New York State Office of Professional Medical Conduct.

“I don’t care. Dr. Lin is innocent in all of this.”

“The headlines don’t look good. And the photos, man,” Xav murmurs.

It’s been a week since Monaco, and I’m seething as I scroll through the headlines on my laptop inside The Orchid’s gentlemen’s club.

“Prominent NYC psychiatrist under investigation for inappropriate relationship with patient.”

“Who is Dr. Olivia Lin? The woman in the center of a doctor-patient scandal with the party prince.”

“How many more victims? How to protect yourself from predator doctors when seeking treatment.”

“Shit!” I slam my laptop shut and stride to the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking Central Park in the private room permanently reserved for my family.

Calm the fuck down. Treat this like any other marketing crisis.

But it isn’t.

“Is there anything I can do? The photos aren’t that risqué.” I blow out a breath.

“You were caught kissing, and she’s your doctor. I honestly don’t know how you can spin it. Have you talked to her?”

I close my eyes, imagining her delicate face—her soft eyes, full lips. Her smile. Her voice.

I miss her so damn much, it hurts to breathe without her.

“No,” I rasp. “I haven’t seen her.”

Regret lanced through me the moment she walked out of that hospital room. I wanted to chase after her, to throw myself at her feet and beg for forgiveness. But I’d hurt her too much already.

Two days after the accident, I discharged myself and flew straight back to the city. Lana and Olivia also came back early. Elias told me Bree and Ava, along with her sister, Cora, were safely moved to an undisclosed location. The mobster is currently on a warpath to figure out how The Association infiltrated his team.

But Olivia and I haven’t talked since the hospital. Lana mentioned Olivia was doing okay, but how could she be fine? I messed up her life.