Stranger in my Ass-Chapter 267

Kira’s POV

"Who’s Rebel?"

Maxwell asked, his voice filled with panic. I slowly lowered the hand that had gone up to cover my mouth, and looked up at him.

He was standing in front of me, looking a mess. His hair was disheveled, his tie loosened, and there was something in his eyes that might have been concern if I didn’t know better.

I glared at him, my mind racing, trying to process everything at once.

Olivia was missing. Or hurt. Or something.

And this man - this absolute bastard standing in front of me - was her stranger. Her sweet, romantic, perfect stranger who wrote her beautiful messages and made her smile like a girl in love.

How? HOW was that even possible?

This was the same man who’d made her life a living hell at Wellington and sons. The same man who’d criticized every single thing she did, who’d frustrated her so much she’d come home fuming almost every day. The same man who’d been even worse when she was disguised as Oliver, treating her like absolute garbage.

And he’d known. The whole damn time, he’d known she was Oliver.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I fought the urge to launch myself at him and claw his eyes out.

"Kira?" Maxwell took a step toward me. "Who’s Rebel? What’s going on?"

I took a deep, shaky breath, forcing myself to calm down. Losing it right now wouldn’t help Olivia.

But I couldn’t stop myself from looking him dead in the eyes and asking, "You knew she was disguised as Oliver this whole time?"

The question hung in the air between us.

Maxwell’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t answer. Just stood there, looking at me with those green eyes that gave away absolutely nothing.

Which was answer enough.

"We need to find Olivia," he said instead, his voice tight with urgency. "Right now. Do you have any idea where she might have gone?"

"Did she find out it’s been you?" I pressed, ignoring his question. "Did she figure out you’re her stranger?"

Silence.

Complete, damning silence.

That confirmed everything.

"You’re a monster," I whispered, and even I was surprised by how much venom dripped from those three words. "A total, complete monster."

Maxwell’s eyes widened slightly. "What..."

"Even Damien didn’t treat me the way you treated her," I cut him off, my voice rising. "And Damien was a piece of work, trust me. But you? You’re something else entirely."

"Kira, listen..."

"No, you listen." I took a step toward him, my finger jabbing the air between us. "You knew who she was. You knew she was Oliver. You were her mysterious stranger man. And you still treated her like absolute shit. You still made her life miserable. You still..."

"I need to find her," Maxwell interrupted, his own voice rising to match mine. "We can discuss this later, but right now, Olivia could be hurt or..."

"Leave."

The word came out flat and cold, and Maxwell actually took a step back like I’d physically pushed him.

"What?"

"I said leave." I repeated, fighting every instinct that was screaming at me to jump at him and gouge his eyes out. My nails were literally itching to make contact with his face. "Get out."

Maxwell stared at me like I’d grown a second head. "Are you serious right now? Olivia is missing and..."

"GET OUT!" I shouted, my voice echoing off the walls. "I’ll find my best friend myself. I don’t need your help. I don’t want your help."

"You need my help whether you want it or not," Maxwell shot back, his composure finally cracking. "Olivia is my staff. She’s..." He paused, something flickering across his face. "She’s someone special to me. And she’s carrying my child."

A smile spread across my face - the kind of smile that had nothing to do with happiness and everything to do with the satisfaction of knowing exactly where to twist the knife.

"Not if I convince her to abort it."

The words landed like a bomb.

Maxwell’s entire body went rigid. His eyes darkened to almost black, and I could actually see him trembling with the effort of controlling his rage. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, his jaw working like he was physically restraining himself from saying - or doing - something he’d regret.

Good. Let him hurt. Let him feel even a fraction of what Olivia must be feeling right now.

"You need to leave," I said again, my voice deadly calm now. "And never step foot in this house again."

Then I paused, remembering suddenly that this wasn’t actually Olivia’s house. That Maxwell was the one who’d bought it, probably as some twisted part of whatever game he’d been playing with her.

"Actually," I amended, "you know what? You can stay. You bought the house, after all. I’ll leave instead."

I turned toward the direction of door, about to storm out of this beautiful house I was surely going to miss, when...

"Wait." Maxwell’s hand shot out, catching my arm to stop me. "I’ll go."

I looked down at his hand on my arm, then back up at his face.

He released me immediately, taking a step back.

"I’ll go," he repeated, his voice quieter now. "Just... just please don’t do anything to the baby. And when you find her, tell her..."

"I’m not telling her anything from you," I cut him off. "Now get out before I call the police and tell them you’re trespassing."

For a moment, I thought he might argue. Might refuse to leave.

But then something in his expression crumbled - just for a second, just enough for me to see actual pain flash across his features - and he turned and walked toward the door.

I watched him leave, listened to his footsteps fade, heard the front door close.

Only then did I let out the breath I’d been holding.

My hands were still shaking as I pulled out my phone and tried calling Olivia’s phone.

Straight to voicemail.

"Damn it, Liv," I muttered, trying again.

Voicemail.

Again.

Voicemail.