Chapter 6 - The Morning After the Storm
The morning sun filtered softly through the gaps in Olivia’s window blinds, casting thin stripes of golden light across her modest living room.
She woke to the familiar hum of traffic on the avenue below and a dull, throbbing ache radiating from her left forearm.
Sitting up slowly, she looked at the sturdy fiberglass cast encasing her arm.
Memories of the previous night flashed vividly through her mind: the terrified scream of Mrs. Eleanor, the freezing wind seventy stories above Miami, and the crushing impact of Chloe’s stiletto heel.
She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, feeling stiff but determined.
Her phone lay on the small wooden nightstand beside her bed.
She picked it up with her right hand and checked the screen.
There were a few missed calls from her landlord and a couple of notifications from her housekeeping agency checking in on her health.
Then her eyes drifted to the small business card Daniel had pressed into her hand at the hospital.
She picked it up from the surface of the dresser, reading the crisp black lettering printed across the heavy cardstock.
*Captain Daniel Vance.*
*United States Army.*
*Personal Cell:* followed by a ten-digit number.
Olivia traced her thumb lightly over the embossed military crest at the top of the card.
She had spent years working various domestic jobs, always keeping her head down and trying to remain invisible to the wealthy families who employed her.
Most employers viewed domestic staff as little more than animated furniture, people to clean up messes and disappear into the background.
But Daniel had looked at her with genuine respect.
He had stayed with her at the hospital, ensured her medical care was fully covered, and made sure she got safely back to her apartment.
She placed the card back on the dresser and walked into her tiny kitchen to make a cup of coffee.
As she waited for the water to boil, she wondered how Mrs. Eleanor was holding up after such a harrowing near-death experience.
The seventy-eight-year-old woman had always been polite and kind to the staff, treating Olivia with a warmth that was rare in the high-society circles of Miami.
A sharp knock at her apartment door interrupted her thoughts.
Olivia frowned, glancing toward the entryway.
It was barely nine o'clock in the morning, and she wasn't expecting any visitors.
She walked slowly toward the front door, her cast resting comfortably against her stomach.
She reached out with her right hand and unlocked the deadbolt, pulling the heavy wooden door open a few inches.
Standing in the hallway was a man wearing a crisp civilian suit.
His broad shoulders and upright posture immediately gave away his military background.
It was Daniel.
He wasn't wearing his dress uniform today; instead, he wore a tailored charcoal blazer over a simple white dress shirt, his dark hair neatly combed.
He looked tired, with faint shadows beneath his eyes, but his gaze was warm.
"Good morning, Olivia," Daniel said quietly.
Olivia stared at him in surprise, her hand frozen on the doorknob.
"Captain Vance? What are you doing here?"
"Please, call me Daniel," he replied, offering a gentle, reassuring smile. "May I come in?"
"Oh—of course. I'm sorry," Olivia stammered, stepping back and pulling the door open wide. "My apartment is a bit small, but you're welcome."
Daniel stepped inside, his presence immediately making the modest living room feel a little smaller.
He glanced around the clean, simply furnished space before turning his attention back to her cast.
"How is the arm holding up?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.
"It aches a bit, but the doctor said the cast will do its job," Olivia answered, gesturing toward the small sofa. "Please, have a seat. Can I get you some coffee? I just put a pot on."
"Coffee sounds wonderful, thank you," Daniel said as he sat down on the sofa.
Olivia hurried into the kitchen to pour a cup, carefully managing the task with her right hand.
She brought the mug out on a small saucer and placed it on the coffee table before taking a seat in the armchair opposite him.
Daniel took a sip of the coffee and nodded appreciatively.
"This is very good," he said.
"It's just instant coffee, nothing fancy," Olivia said softly, folding her hands in her lap.
"Fancy isn't what I'm looking for today," Daniel replied, setting the mug down. He looked directly at her, his expression turning serious. "I came here today for two reasons, Olivia."
Olivia felt a sudden flutter in her chest.
"Is everything alright with Mrs. Eleanor?" she asked immediately.
"Mom is resting," Daniel said. "Her doctor checked her over this morning. Physically, she's surprisingly resilient for her age. Emotionally... well, she's still coming to terms with what happened. She realizes now just how far Chloe's resentment went."
Olivia lowered her gaze.
"I'm just glad I was there to catch her."
"If you hadn't been there, my mother wouldn't have survived," Daniel said firmly, his voice dropping an octave with intense emotion. "You risked your own life, Olivia. You held her weight while my wife broke your arm with her heel. I watched the security footage again this morning. The courage it took for you to do that is extraordinary."
Olivia felt a warm blush spread across her cheeks.
"I didn't think about the danger," she murmured. "I just saw her falling. Nobody deserves that."
"My wife is currently sitting in a holding facility awaiting formal arraignment," Daniel continued, his tone turning cold and resolute. "Her lawyer tried to file for bail this morning, but the judge took one look at the security footage and denied it outright. Attempted murder with aggravating circumstances."
Olivia gave a small nod.
"What will happen to her now?"
"She'll face trial," Daniel said simply. "And I will ensure the prosecution has every piece of evidence they need. Our marriage is over, Olivia. There is no coming back from what she tried to do to my mother."
There was a heavy, solemn silence in the room.
May you like
Daniel leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees.
"That brings me to the second reason I'm here," he said, looking intently into her eyes. "My mother wants to see you."
