Chapter 444 Electra, Surprisingly Oliver's Sister
Friday evening, Sarah had a social engagement at Sofia's invitation.
Arriving at 7 PM as planned, she froze upon entering the private dining room. There sat Oliver and Electra.
After a week's absence, Electra had visibly lost weight. She sat demurely beside Oliver, looking pitifully fragile. Oliver's arm rested casually on the back of her chair as he chatted with Everett.
Everett smiled warmly at Electra, assuming she was Oliver's girlfriend.
Just then, Sarah entered.
The table of about ten people fell silent. Sofia nudged her husband's elbow and announced, "This is the real Oliver's girlfriend!"
The atmosphere turned painfully awkward.
Sarah didn't retreat. Taking a seat beside Sofia, she spoke with poise, "Mr. Windsor and I divorced four years ago. We've both moved on with our separate lives."
Tonight's dinner was hosted by Oliver.
Electra had become entangled with the Caldwell family, finding herself in nearly the same position Juniper once occupied. Oliver had brought her to this dinner specifically to introduce her to someone influential.
What he hadn't anticipated was Sofia's sympathy for Sarah, resulting in her unexpected invitation.
With so many people present, Oliver couldn't easily explain the situation.
Besides, he rather enjoyed watching Sarah's jealousy.
While discussing business, he held an unlit cigarette between his elegant fingers, his gaze fixed unabashedly on Sarah.
In such a formal setting, Electra didn't dare misbehave, addressing him respectfully as "Mr. Windsor."
The others remained unaware they were actually cousins.
Throughout the evening, Sarah avoided looking at Oliver, chatting instead with Sofia. Yet Oliver's intense stare was impossible to ignore.
As the dinner neared its end, she excused herself to the restroom.
Under the brilliant lights, Sarah stared at her reflection above the golden faucets, momentarily lost in thought.
Just days ago, Oliver had embraced her in her kitchen, called to say he'd missed her for years—and now he was cozying up to a younger woman.
She splashed cold water on her face, thinking, 'What am I upset about? Haven't I experienced enough pain and disappointment with Oliver? How can I possibly be falling for him again? '
Oliver had drunk considerably.
Electra supported him, her eyes tearful as she cooed, "It breaks my heart seeing you like this."
Oliver was drunk but not incapacitated.
He laughed coldly. "Worry about yourself. The Caldwells might skin you alive... Electra, have you lost your mind? Do you know who Quincy is? The Caldwells have already arranged his marriage. How dare you sleep with him?"
Electra's face crumpled.
He pushed her away. "Go home alone. I might not restrain myself from hurting you if we travel together."
As Electra tried to respond, Oliver spotted Sarah standing silently in the corridor. He couldn't tell how much she'd overheard.
She'd been with him since she was twenty-two; he could read her thoughts.
The atmosphere shifted subtly.
Oliver turned to Electra, his tone suddenly gentle. "Go home first. I need to speak with Sarah."
Electra thought his transformation laughable—threatening her one moment, all smiles the next at Sarah's appearance.
She quickly departed.
After she left, Oliver approached Sarah. Standing before her, his gaze penetrating, he asked, "Heard that?"
Sarah had indeed heard everything.
Electra was his cousin, involved with Quincy Caldwell, and Oliver was cleaning up her mess.
Sarah remained silent.
As she walked toward the elevator, Oliver caught her arm. "Let me see you home."
When she was seated in her car, she lowered the window. "You've been drinking. How can you drive me?"
"Then you drive me," Oliver replied shamelessly, opening the passenger door and sliding in. Softening his voice, he added, "Let's go to your place. I want to see the children."
Silence filled the car.
Finally, Sarah spoke, "Was lying about Electra amusing to you?"
Oliver turned toward her, surprisingly calm. "Didn't you invent a boyfriend to make me jealous? Can you honestly say... he's really your boyfriend?"
Sarah accelerated sharply.
Unusually forthcoming, she replied, "That was Felix. You know him. He helped me tremendously in Switzerland, and we've stayed in touch since I returned."
Oliver, ever perceptive, noticed something.
Sarah rarely explained herself, yet she'd said so much about Felix.
He couldn't help demanding, "He pursued you. Did you have feelings for him?"
Sarah didn't deny it. Keeping her eyes on the dark road, she said quietly, "Being cared for in a foreign country, both of us divorced... it's easy to develop a sense of shared experience. Yes, I considered a life with him."
But since returning to Evergreen City, Oliver had consumed her time.
That night in the kitchen, with caresses and kisses.
She had rejected Felix.
Sarah didn't mention this, because refusing Felix wasn't necessarily about choosing Oliver. The impulsiveness she once felt had faded with time, becoming dreamlike.
The night deepened.
Under the dim streetlights, a provocatively dressed woman stood at a corner soliciting clients. With bright red lipstick and a low-cut top, her seductive expression barely masked her desperation.
Sarah slammed on the brakes.
Sitting in her car, she stared helplessly at the woman—it was Ellie.
Ellie had fallen so far, reduced to selling herself.
Through the windshield, Ellie suddenly noticed them. She stared at the luxury car containing Sarah and Oliver.
They were still together!
Ellie trembled violently.
She frantically tugged at her cheap clothing before covering her face and hurrying toward a nearby alley, limping noticeably.
Sarah watched in silence.
Behind them, cars began honking impatiently.
"Sarah, we should go," Oliver said softly.
Coming to her senses, Sarah gently pressed the accelerator.
Her heart felt cold.
Beside her, Oliver said with a hint of bitterness, "Sarah, I haven't been in contact with her for years... that's all in the past."
He wanted to explain, wanted her response.
Sarah remained silent.
The pain of not being chosen remained her eternal wound.
The silence continued until they reached Sarah's apartment building. Leaning back in her seat, she finally spoke, her voice tired, "Go home tonight. We can talk tomorrow."
Oliver refused.
He didn't press her about their relationship, only insisting he wanted to see the children.
Eventually, Sarah agreed.
She led him upstairs, but Ellie's situation had left her unwilling to speak.
However, as they entered the apartment, the nanny rushed over in distress, "Ms. Miller, Jacob's been taken! They just left... I couldn't stop them!"
"Who took him?" Sarah asked, her heart tightening.
The nanny recalled, "Someone named Moore. A distinguished gentleman called Mr. Moore. Ms. Miller... how could this happen in broad daylight? I was about to call the police!"
Sarah swayed slightly.
Oliver steadied her with one hand while dialing Nicholas with the other. When the call connected, he demanded coldly, "Nicholas, where is Jacob?"
"Jacob is in the hospital," Nicholas replied, his voice weary.
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