Chapter 494 Oliver: I Can't Reconcile with Matthew!
In the car, Azalea remained silent.
Tears still glistened in her eyes.
Zoey sat beside her, understanding perfectly what was in Azalea's heart. She had fallen for Nicholas.
But they were worlds apart—one born to privilege, the other barely visible in society.
And Nicholas had a wife and child.
Zoey gently squeezed Azalea's shoulder. "You're still young," she said softly. "You'll meet someone who truly cares for you."
Azalea shook her head slightly.
If you fell for someone extraordinary when you were young, it was almost impossible to truly love anyone else.
But her feelings for Nicholas could never be spoken aloud. Stripped of pretense, she had merely been a woman he kept. To speak of love would be absurd.
Zoey could only sigh. After dropping Azalea at her residence, she returned to the mansion to report to Oliver. They spoke at length in the small conservatory on the ground floor.
Near noon, Zoey departed for her own estate.
Oliver returned to his second-floor study.
Opening the door, he found Sarah inside holding a handwritten letter from Octavius himself—brief but clear.
It read: [Mrs. Windsor, you will be most welcome to stay at the Everhart Residence. My wife and I will take excellent care of you, and Mr. Windsor need not worry.]
Sarah had read it several times.
Hearing the door open, she turned to see Oliver.
The couple locked eyes for a moment before he approached, gently embracing her from behind. His large hands tenderly caressed her slightly rounded belly, his voice hoarse with emotion.
"Matthew and I can never reconcile. It's him or me now."
"Saving Isaac is one thing, but Matthew is another matter entirely."
"Trust me, Sarah. I'll protect myself. Two years—at most—and I'll bring you and the children back to Evergreen City. Our family will never be separated again."
He had expected resistance.
Instead, Sarah agreed. She understood the stakes and feared her presence in Evergreen City would only distract him. She was willing to endure a temporary separation.
She not only understood him; she couldn't bear to leave him.
She gripped his strong forearm and said quietly, "I'll have Claire stay to look after you. She's always cared for you deeply. With her here, I can leave with peace of mind."
Oliver's heart stirred at her gentle demeanor.
He hated the thought of being apart from her, from Jacob, from Nicole.
In the warmth of the study, he lifted her onto his desk.
Her dark brown dress rode up, revealing her slightly swollen belly. Her skin was so delicate. Oliver couldn't stop caressing her stomach, his blue eyes deepening. "The due date should be around July. I promise I'll come to be with you."
Sarah leaned softly against his shoulder.
Her long hair cascaded down, enveloping them both in an endless embrace.
This embrace, devoid of passion or desire, still made their hearts race.
Before her departure, Sarah invited Sofia for coffee—a farewell of sorts.
She would be gone for at least a year.
Being pregnant, Sarah chose an upscale private business lounge. Sofia reserved a small private room where they could speak freely.
Upon meeting, Sofia stirred her coffee while lavishing praise on Sarah.
"Don't be modest!" Sofia said, her eyes dancing with excitement. "Your exploits in Harmony City are the talk of our circle. Everyone says Mrs. Windsor worked wonders, handling Mr. Everhart and Calliope with such finesse."
She lowered her voice. "I never would have guessed Octavius was Mr. Windsor's ally."
Sofia couldn't hide her admiration.
Last night, she and Everett had analyzed the situation and concluded that between Oliver and Matthew, Oliver was the better bet. He was younger, more energetic, and certainly not lacking in strategy.
Sofia made her position clear: "Rest easy in Harmony City while you prepare for the baby. Should Mr. Windsor need anything, my husband will stand with him unconditionally."
Sarah took Sofia's hand with a gracious smile. "Your words give me peace of mind."
Sofia personally poured her some rose tea. "This is wonderful for complexion and nerves. Try it."
The women enjoyed their conversation immensely.
Later, Sofia had to leave unexpectedly.
Sarah, finding the rose tea delightful, stayed to finish her cup. She never expected to encounter a familiar face.
The door slid open gently, revealing Matthew and Aaron.
"Mrs. Windsor," Aaron said with a slight smile.
The address visibly displeased Matthew. He instructed Aaron to wait outside and entered the Japanese-style room himself.
Under the warm yellow light, Matthew and Sarah sat in silence.
Matthew's gaze fell to Sarah's belly, now showing slightly. By his calculation, she was nearly four months along.
He looked at her for a long while.
Matthew retrieved four large red envelopes from his briefcase. "Each contains the deed to a villa in prime locations. One for each of the three children and one for you. Consider it my gift."
"I don't want them," Sarah refused without hesitation.
Matthew frowned. "Because of Oliver?"
Sarah struggled to contain her emotions as she looked at the man before her. She remembered calling him "Dad," how she'd loved spending time in his study. The memories were vivid yet felt like they belonged to another lifetime.
Her voice trembled. "You should ask yourself that question."
Matthew relented with a sigh. "You hate me. You've always put Oliver before me, before the Moore family."
Sarah smiled bitterly, no longer arguing.
Matthew seemed to remember something. "I hear you're going to Harmony City. That's unnecessary. I won't move against you again. You've found yourself a capable husband—capable enough to nearly take Nicholas's life again."
He mentioned Oliver's flower incident.
Sarah remained silent, her expression somber.
Seeing her determination, Matthew realized she had truly severed ties with the Moore family. He made no further attempts to keep her, only promising not to harm her again.
Whether his change of heart came from genuine remorse or necessity, it no longer mattered.
On the way home, Seated in the back of the car, she finally let her tears fall.
In the early evening, a gleaming black car slowly entered the estate, winding around the garden before stopping at the main entrance.
As twilight descended, Pale yellow flowers bloomed, swaying gently in the evening breeze.
Oliver stood in the courtyard, hands in his pockets.
The same breeze ruffled his neatly trimmed dark hair. His handsome features were particularly striking in the fading light. He opened the car door for her.
As she stepped out, he gently took her hand.
His blue eyes were filled with depth.
Sarah's sadness melted away. She too had found her home.
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