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Married Before Midnight

Chapter 66: A Morning of Roses and Thorns

Olivia Carter had never been this nervous in her life. She had spent the entire night tossing and turning, her mind racing with anticipation, doubt, and excitement. The invitation from Mason Lee—their first official date—had sent her heart into a frenzy. By the time the first light of dawn crept through her curtains, she had barely slept two hours. A soft knock on her door made her jump. "Liv? You awake?" Charlotte’s voice was muffled but unmistakably amused. Olivia groaned, rubbing her eyes. "Unfortunately." The door swung open, revealing not just Charlotte but Hannah, Lillian, Emily, and even Ava, all crowding the doorway with varying degrees of mischief and excitement. "Oh my God, you look like you wrestled a bear," Hannah said, wrinkling her nose.

Olivia threw a pillow at her. "Thanks. That’s exactly what I needed to hear before my first date." Charlotte plopped onto the bed, grinning. "Relax. We’re here to make sure you don’t scare him off." Emily held up a curling iron. "And to make sure you don’t leave the house looking like that." Olivia groaned again but let her sisters swarm her. They were relentless—debating outfits, testing lipstick shades, arguing over whether her hair should be up or down. By the time they were done, Olivia barely recognized herself in the mirror. "You look beautiful," Lillian said softly, squeezing her hand. Olivia exhaled, her stomach fluttering. "I just hope he thinks so." At exactly 8:00 a.m., a sleek black car pulled up in front of Sweet Beginnings. Olivia’s pulse skyrocketed. Mason Lee stepped out, impeccably dressed in a crisp navy-blue shirt and dark slacks. His smile was warm as he approached the door, another bouquet of roses in hand—this time, deep red with hints of gold at the edges. "Good morning," he said, his voice smooth. "You look stunning." Olivia’s cheeks burned. "Thank you. You didn’t have to bring more flowers." "I wanted to." His gaze lingered on her face. "Ready?" She nodded, accepting the bouquet before turning to her sisters, who were shamelessly peeking from the kitchen doorway. Charlotte waggled her eyebrows.

Hannah mouthed, Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Olivia rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress her smile as she followed Mason to the car.

The Valley of Love lived up to its name. Nestled on the outskirts of Maplewood, it was a sprawling expanse of wildflowers, winding trails, and a crystal-clear brook that sparkled under the morning sun. The air smelled of earth and blossoms, and the distant chirping of birds lent a dreamlike quality to the scenery. They walked side by side, their conversation flowing effortlessly. Mason was witty, teasing her about her sisters’ obvious spying, and Olivia found herself laughing more than she had in months. "You know," he said after a while, "I wasn’t sure you’d say yes to today." She glanced at him. "Why not?" He shrugged. "You’re… guarded. I wasn’t sure if you trusted me yet." Olivia hesitated. "I don’t trust easily." "Neither do I." His expression softened. "But I’d like to earn yours." Something in his tone made her chest tighten. For a moment, she let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—this could be real. Then the illusion shattered. Three men stepped onto the path ahead, blocking their way. They were rough-looking, their expressions dark. The tallest one sneered. "Well, well. Look who it is." Mason stiffened. "Olivia, stay behind me." Her breath hitched. "Mason—?" One of the men cracked his knuckles. "You owe us, Lee. And we don’t like waiting." Mason’s jaw clenched. "This isn’t the time or place." "The hell it isn’t."

The man lunged. Olivia barely had time to scream before Mason shoved her back, taking the first blow himself. A sickening thud echoed as a club struck his shoulder, sending him stumbling. "Mason!" She lunged forward, but another man grabbed her arm, yanking her back. "Stay out of this, sweetheart," he growled. Mason staggered to his feet, blood trickling from his lip. "Let her go." The leader laughed. "Or what?" Olivia didn’t think. She twisted free and threw herself in front of Mason just as the club swung again. Time slowed. She braced for pain—but it never came. A sharp whistle pierced the air. "Police!" The thugs froze.

Two officers appeared at the bend in the path, their badges glinting in the sunlight. The leader spat a curse before shoving past Olivia. "This isn’t over, Lee." And just like that, they were gone. Olivia’s legs gave out. Mason caught her, his breathing ragged. "Why the hell did you do that?" She stared up at him, her heart hammering. "I wasn’t going to let them hurt you." Something flickered in his eyes—something raw and unreadable. For the briefest second, his grip on her tightened. Then he let go, stepping back. "We should go." Olivia nodded, shaken.