Breakup Caused By a Car Accident

Chapter 10

A few days later, Kayne reached out again. He told me that Freya was fine, that she'd just sprained her ankle and needed a few days to rest. Then he shifted to asking about me.

"Olivia, does your arm still hurt?"

"No, I'm fine now," I replied, trying to keep the conversation short.

"I'm downstairs in your lab," he said.

I opened the window and glanced down to see his car parked below.

"You can go back," I said. "I'm still busy. Please don't contact me anymore."

Kayne sounded a little desperate now. "No. Olivia, can you give me another chance? It's your birthday. Come down and have dinner with me. If you don't agree, I'll wait here for you."

I hesitated. I knew I needed to make myself clear so he wouldn't keep bothering me. As I was heading downstairs, I bumped into Thomas. He asked where I was going. I told him I was having dinner with friends to celebrate my birthday. He didn't say anything else.

Kayne took me to a French restaurant he liked, though I wasn't a fan of the atmosphere.

"Olivia, I ordered your favorite steak. Let's open a bottle of wine later to celebrate your birthday, okay?" he said, trying to be considerate.

That was his favorite steak, not mine. I'd told him I liked it just to make him happy before. As the steak arrived, I didn't touch it. Kayne noticed and cut the steak himself, placing it in front of me.

"Olivia, happy birthday," he said softly.

When the waiter came over to open the wine, I stopped him.

"No, thank you. I don't drink," I said firmly.

"Olivia..." Kayne trailed off as the waiter left, then tried again, "It's okay. Just a little, and we'll go home together later."

I shook my head. "That's your home, not mine."

"Olivia, don't say things like that," he urged. "My home is also your home."

"Kayne," I said, my voice steady but final. "Don't you get it? I said... let's break up."