Callum's brow knitted slightly, convinced this proved his theory. Olivia was merely playing games to get his attention.
Recalling her cold attitude from the other day, he looked away as if he hadn't noticed her at all and went back to gently placing peeled shrimp onto Kaylee's plate.
A wave of bitterness washed over Olivia, so sharp and intense that it felt as though it might completely overwhelm her senses.
She had simply intended to enjoy a quiet meal, but after stumbling into this painful scene, she had no desire to remain there as an unwanted observer.
She rose to depart, but was halted by a soft, masculine voice calling her from behind. "Hey, Olivia..."
Olivia turned around to find a tall figure hurrying through the restaurant toward her.
It was Michael.
He reached her side with his handsome face slightly flushed from the haste. "I'm so sorry," he said. "I promised I'd treat you to dinner, but I've managed to run late."
With a warm smile, he moved toward her table.
Caught in an impossible position, Olivia felt she couldn't just walk away now, so she followed his lead and sat back down.
Across the room at the other table, a momentary flicker of genuine surprise crossed Callum's eyes.
So, Olivia had actually come here on an invitation? The realization that she hadn't been following him after all sat uncomfortably with his previous assumptions.
Callum studied the man more closely and recognized him as Michael, the youngest and most renowned hematology expert in the medical field.
Olivia had brought up his name a few times in the past, but Callum had never bothered to pay any attention to it.
Seeing the two of them together now was strangely jarring for Callum.
It appeared that their relationship was far more intimate than he had realized.
Callum's thin lips pressed into a hard line as a sudden, inexplicable wave of irritation began to wash over him.
Sitting beside him, Kaylee immediately sensed Callum's souring mood. As she followed his gaze, a flash of deep, hidden malice momentarily crossed her eyes.
Almost instantly, her expression shifted back into a sweet smile. "Oh, it's Olivia! What a surprise that she's also dining here! I should go over and say hello."
She was already on her feet before Callum could offer a response. Noticing Michael, she feigned shock and covered her mouth. "But why is there a man with her? The two of them seem so remarkably close."
While she spoke, the corners of her eyes began to flush a deep red.
"It's all my fault. Is she upset with me, which is why she's deliberately dining with another man? But no matter the reason, she shouldn't lower herself like this. You're still in the waiting period, after all…"
Her voice, tinged with a carefully placed sob and raised just enough to carry, drifted straight to Olivia and Michael's table—along with half the restaurant—earning them a chorus of curious, judgmental glances.
Michael finally realized who was sitting nearby. A rare flicker of fury crossed his face as he moved to stand, but Olivia stayed him with a firm hand on his wrist.
Indifferent to the rumors about herself, she simply didn't want to pull Michael into the middle of her drama.
Standing up, Olivia met Kaylee's and Callum's gazes without flinching. "If you're so mindful that we haven't actually divorced, why are you here with my husband? How do you explain your own behavior? Talk about hypocritical."
She glanced pointedly at Callum's jacket around Kaylee's shoulders and the neatly peeled shrimp sitting on the woman's plate.
Kaylee turned white. "No, I'm just so weak right now," she stammered. "Callum was only worried and came to keep me company. Please, don't misunderstand..."
Observing the forced act, Olivia felt nothing but pure, unadulterated contempt.
"I understand perfectly, Miss Taylor. Because you're dying, my husband—still legally married to me right now—feels compelled to linger by your side."
Her blunt words caused a visible shift in the crowd's attitude.
Humiliated and pale, Kaylee wobbled as tears flooded her eyes. "Olivia..." she whimpered.
Her helpless display made her look so pitiful that onlookers would naturally assume Olivia was the aggressor.
Callum caught Kaylee to steady her, his voice snapping. "Olivia! Kaylee is sick. How can you be so cruel to her?"
He targeted Olivia with icy blame while openly showing a soft, protective tenderness toward Kaylee.
It was sickening how he obsessed over Kaylee's supposed frailty while remaining totally blind to Olivia's actual condition.
This was the man she married. The irony was absolutely stifling.
Olivia managed a sharp, bitter smile. "Did I miss something? Isn't she terminal? After all, you're the one who told me so."
Weary from the relentless work of the past few days and drained by the emotional strain, Olivia suddenly staggered. Dark spots flickered across her vision, and a sharp, metallic taste of blood rose in her throat.
Michael saw her failing and lunged to catch her, sensing that every ounce of her energy had completely vanished.
Aware that Olivia wanted her illness kept secret, he pulled her close against his side. Though it looked like an embrace, he was purely holding her upright.
Callum's gaze sharpened into a dangerous glare as he watched them standing so close together.
"Olivia," he mocked, "do you honestly believe these pathetic games will change the outcome? The divorce is still happening."
Olivia looked ghostly pale. She opened her mouth to reply but stayed silent, fearing that speaking would cause her to choke on the blood in her throat.
Given the dire circumstances, she simply couldn't handle any further drama or mess.
Feeling her limp in his arms, Michael pulled her tighter and directed a freezing look at Callum.
"Is that right?" he countered on her behalf. "Don't worry, man. Olivia is far too busy for your games. You want out? Fine. Just try not to regret this later, Mr. Jackson."
He then led the staggering Olivia out of the building, leaving Callum to watch them go with a look that grew more murderous by the moment.
Noticing his dark mood, Kaylee's eyes welled up with even more tears.
"Callum, I'm the one to blame for this," she said between sobs. "Maybe it's better if you just leave me alone."
She made a move to flee, but collapsed after a single step, clutching at her chest as she sank to the floor.
"The pain... It hurts so much," she wheezed.
"Kaylee!" Callum cried, bolting to her side. "Stop talking like that. I'm getting you to the emergency room immediately."
He gathered her into his arms and rushed out of the restaurant.
