Author's note: hey... I am back and writing again if you didn't know. I'm mainly writing new chapters for Fighting Hearts and wanted to update this story as well. This was only supposed to be a few chapters long so here's a new update. I have one more chapter in the works and an epilogue. Dassit for this story! LOL.

** sorry I had to delete the chapter and reupload it with an update.**

We pick up from the flash-forward scene.

Olivia had a long day and just wanted to curl up in bed with her husband but he had yet to come home. She was just about to slip in between the bed sheets when she heard a loud noise coming from outside of their bedroom. Startled by the noise she almost screamed when a familiar pair of broad shoulders filed through the door with a look on his face that nearly gave her a heart attack. Never had she seen him so pale and sick-looking.

"Get Laurel, we gotta go, they're onto me."

She stared at him for several seconds, unable to speak much less move. One sentence and her entire world came crashing down.

"Liv, now!"

She knew that she couldn't freak out now and began to move quickly, questions would come later. On adrenaline, she moved across to the nursery where their 2-year-old daughter was fast asleep and grabbed her. They spent the next half an hour in a flurry trying to pack as many clothes as they could into suitcases. From her peripheral, she saw Fitz move aside some of his clothes in their walk-in closet to reveal a safe. He typed in a password before unlocking it and grabbing the stacks of cash piled high and wide.

Laurel was beginning to fret about being rudely awakened; Olivia tried comforting her with one hand while working with the next. Thirty minutes later, they were being driven to a private airport where they took on a new alias. Olivia looked at Fitz who had regained some color in his cheeks and realized that all these years, everything was not what it seemed.

Olivia stood at the airport hangar, clutching Laurel tightly against her chest, her heart pounding as they awaited the final instructions to board the private jet. Fitz was on the phone with someone she couldn't make out, his voice low and urgent, eyes darting around like a hawk scanning for prey. Her mind raced back over the past few years, over the choices she'd made to trust him again, to build a life and a family with him. And now, here she was, running again.

It felt like a cruel joke—a loop she couldn't break. First, she ran from her father's life of crime, desperate for freedom and a normal life. Then, Fitz came along, offering love, security, and a future. She thought she had found her forever. But now, reality had come crashing down. Could she ever truly escape this world? And more importantly, could she ever trust Fitz again?

"Olivia." Fitz's voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back into the present. He was standing right before her now, his face tense but controlled. "It's time to go."

"What happened?" she whispered, struggling to maintain her composure as she tried to soothe Laurel, who was starting to squirm in her arms.

Fitz shook his head, glancing around again. "It's not safe to talk here. I promise I'll explain everything once we're in the air. But right now, we need to move."

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She followed him silently, boarding the jet with a heaviness in her chest that she hadn't felt since the day she left her father's world behind. Once they were seated, Laurel nestled into her lap, eyes drooping with sleep, Olivia stared out the window as the plane began to ascend. The world below became smaller and smaller, but the weight of her reality only grew.

The small plane's engine droned, filling the cabin with a low hum as it cut through the darkened skies, but Olivia could only hear the rapid beat of her own heart. She clutched Laurel tightly, the warmth of her daughter's little body the only comfort she could find in the chaos of her thoughts. Fitz sat across from her, his gaze distant, face shadowed in the dim light of the cabin. The tension between them was palpable, a thick silence that neither of them dared to break.

Laurel, seemingly oblivious to the turmoil around her, shifted in Olivia's arms, murmuring softly in her sleep. Olivia looked down at her daughter, brushing a curl away from her forehead, and felt a pang of guilt settle deep in her chest. She had promised herself she would never bring a child into the kind of world she had grown up in—yet here they were, running again, tangled in a life of lies, secrets, and danger.

Fitz leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at her. "Olivia," he began, his voice low and controlled, though the strain was evident. "We'll be safe where we're going. I've made arrangements. We'll disappear for good."

She didn't respond at first, her eyes locked on Laurel. The words were too familiar. Too hollow. How many times had her father made the same promises to her mother? How many times had her mother been told that they would be safe, that everything would be okay, only to find herself caught in the crossfire of Eli Pope's empire?

"I trusted you," Olivia finally said, her voice barely above a whisper, but the words cut through the quiet cabin like a blade. "I believed you when you said you were done with this life, that you sold the company. I thought we were building something different, something better for her."

Fitz's jaw tightened, his eyes flickering with a mix of guilt and frustration. "I never wanted this for you. I swear, I tried to keep it from touching you or Laurel. But things... they spiraled out of control. This wasn't supposed to happen."

Olivia looked up, meeting his gaze for the first time since they'd boarded the plane. "But it did happen, Fitz. And now we're running, again. This is exactly what I was trying to escape."

Fitz ran a hand through his hair, the weight of her words hanging heavily between them. "You have every right to be angry, but I'm doing everything I can to fix this. I sold off the company. We're cutting all ties, Olivia. After this, it's over. We'll be free."

She shook her head, her grip on Laurel tightening. "You can't promise me that. You can't promise that we'll be free. You said the same thing years ago. You looked me in the eyes and told me you sold off your company. How do I know we're not going to be doing this for the rest of our lives?"

Fitz's gaze softened, and he leaned closer, his hand reaching out to touch her knee. "Livvie, I would die before I let anything happen to you or Laurel. This time is different. I'm not going back to that life. I'm done."

Olivia stared at him, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that this time, it really was different, that they could finally live the life they'd dreamed of. But how many times had she heard those same words before?

"Fitz..." she started, her voice trembling. "I love you. I've always loved you. But I can't keep living like this. I can't keep raising our daughter in fear. What kind of life is this for her?"

His face hardened, the vulnerability in his eyes quickly replaced by determination. "I know, Liv. I know I've let you down, but I swear to you, this is the last time. I'll do whatever it takes to make this right. I'll fix it."

"How?" she demanded, her voice rising as anger bubbled to the surface. "How can you possibly fix this? You're in too deep. You've been part of this world for too long, and no matter how much you want to believe we can escape it, it's always going to find us."

Fitz's jaw clenched as he fought to control his frustration. "I'm already making moves, Liv. I'm cutting all ties. I sold the shipping company for real this time. We're going somewhere no one can find us. We'll start over—completely off the grid."

"And what happens when they do find us?" Olivia countered, her eyes flashing with anger. "What happens when we're forced to run again? What happens to Laurel?"

Fitz looked at Laurel, the conflict evident in his eyes. He reached out and gently stroked her small hand, which was clutching her mother's shirt in sleep. "I won't let anything happen to her," he said softly, his voice filled with emotion. "I won't let anything happen to either of you."

Olivia shook her head, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "I don't know if I can do this anymore, Fitz. I don't know if I can keep trusting you."

He pulled back, the weight of her words hitting him hard. For a moment, the only sound in the cabin was the hum of the engine and the soft breathing of their sleeping daughter.

"I don't deserve your trust," Fitz finally said, his voice rough. "But I'm asking for one more chance. Just one more, Olivia. I can't lose you. I can't lose our family."

Her heart clenched at the vulnerability in his words, at the raw emotion she could see in his eyes. Despite everything, despite all the hurt and betrayal, she loved him. She always had. But love wasn't always enough.

"I need time," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Fitz nodded, his expression somber. "I'll give you all the time you need, Livvie. Just… don't give up on us. Not yet."

Three weeks had passed since they arrived on the secluded island, and Olivia still couldn't shake the suffocating feeling that they were trapped. The ocean breeze carried the scent of salt and freedom, but to her, it felt like the walls of their island home were closing in. Fitz had made promises—too many, she realized now—but the weight of their past loomed over her every day. No matter how beautiful the sunsets, no matter how sweet Laurel's laughter, Olivia couldn't stop feeling that this was only temporary. Something would come for them again.

And the worst part? She could no longer trust Fitz to protect them.

She stood by the window of their sunlit living room, staring out at the horizon where Fitz played with Laurel. Her daughter's laughter rang out, mixing with the sound of the waves crashing softly onto the shore. Fitz lifted Laurel onto his shoulders, spinning her around in the sand. It was a picture of perfect happiness, but Olivia's heart was far from settled.

She couldn't keep living like this. The secrets. The lies. The constant threat lurking behind Fitz's soothing words. Every time she looked into his eyes, she saw a man weighed down by guilt—guilt he refused to confess. And she couldn't ignore the growing sense that Fitz was hiding something even deeper than the danger from his past life. Something that, if she found out, would destroy her.

She had made up her mind. She was leaving. Tonight.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the island, Olivia moved swiftly through the house, gathering what little she could without raising suspicion. She packed a small bag with essentials for herself and Laurel—enough to get them off the island and to a safer place. Her heart raced as she moved from room to room, grabbing clothes, toys, and important documents. The plan was simple: leave while Fitz was distracted, take the small boat he used for fishing, and disappear.

She knew it wouldn't be easy. Fitz was a man who always kept a close eye on everything. He had arranged every detail of their life on this island—down to the very boat she planned to use. But Olivia couldn't stay. Not anymore. She had to protect Laurel, even if it meant leaving the man she loved.

The sound of Fitz's voice outside made her pause, her heart thudding loudly in her chest. She peered out the window and saw him helping Laurel collect seashells on the beach. Her daughter's curly hair bounced as she ran to show him her latest find, her little face beaming with excitement. Olivia swallowed hard. She didn't want to tear Laurel away from Fitz, but she couldn't let their daughter grow up in a world of secrets and danger.

The moment Fitz turned his back, Olivia seized her opportunity. She hurried down the hallway, grabbed the bag she'd hidden, and slipped out the side door. The sun was fading fast, and she prayed the dimming light would be enough cover for her to make it to the dock unnoticed.

Her heart raced as she reached the path leading to the boat. Laurel was still playing on the beach with Fitz, unaware of her mother's intentions. Olivia bit her lip, forcing herself to keep moving. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to turn back, but she knew she had to be strong. For Laurel. For herself.

Just as she reached the dock, her fingers grazing the boat's edge, a voice behind her froze her in place.

"Going somewhere?"

Fitz's voice was calm—too calm—but laced with an undercurrent of anger. Olivia's breath caught in her throat as she slowly turned to face him. He stood at the edge of the path, his eyes locked on the bag in her hand. Laurel stood next to him, holding a handful of seashells, her innocent smile fading as she looked between her parents.

"Mama?" Laurel asked, her small voice full of confusion. "Where we going?"

Olivia's heart shattered. This wasn't how she wanted Laurel to find out. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. The weight of Fitz's gaze pinned her in place.

"Olivia," Fitz said, his voice low and dangerous as he took a step forward. "What do you think you're doing?"

Her pulse raced, her mind scrambling for a way out. She had to get away, but there was no escape now. Fitz had seen everything. She took a step back, gripping the handle of the bag tightly. "I'm leaving, Fitz. Laurel and I… we can't stay here."

Fitz's jaw tightened, and he closed the distance between them in three long strides. "You're leaving? With my daughter?" His voice was calm, but the fury in his eyes told her he wasn't going to let her go without a fight.

"Yes," Olivia whispered, her voice shaking. "We can't live like this anymore. I can't live like this anymore. You promised me we'd be safe, but I can't trust you. There are still secrets, Fitz. You're hiding something from me, and I'm not going to wait until it destroys us."

Fitz reached out and grabbed her arm, not forcefully, but firmly enough to stop her from moving. "You're not taking Laurel away from me, Olivia. You're not leaving. Not like this."

Olivia's heart pounded as she tried to pull her arm free. "Fitz, let me go! This isn't safe for us! I'm trying to protect her!"

"I am protecting her," Fitz growled, his grip tightening slightly. "You don't understand, Livvie. You think leaving me will keep you safe? You think running will solve everything? I've made sure we're secure here. No one's coming after us."

"But you're lying to me!" she shot back, her voice trembling with frustration. "You've been lying to me for years! I know there's more to this than you're telling me, and I'm not going to wait around to find out the hard way!"

Fitz's eyes darkened, and for a moment, the anger on his face gave way to something else—guilt. He loosened his grip on her arm but didn't let go. "Olivia," he said, his voice quieter now, almost pleading. "I'm doing everything I can to protect you and Laurel. I swear, I've cut all ties. I'm not going back to that life. But you can't just take her from me."

Olivia shook her head, tears filling her eyes. "I'm not trying to take her from you, Fitz. But I can't stay. I can't raise Laurel in a life full of secrets and danger. I can't let her live the way I did—always looking over her shoulder, always waiting for something terrible to happen."

Fitz's face softened, and for the first time in weeks, she saw the man she had fallen in love with—the man who had promised her the world. He released her arm and took a step back, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm not your father, Olivia," Fitz said quietly, his voice pained. "I'm not going to make you live that life again. I'm not going to let anything happen to you or Laurel. But if you leave now—if you take her and run—there's no coming back from that. You're breaking us, Livvie."

Olivia's heart clenched, and she looked down at the ground, tears spilling onto her cheeks. She didn't want to break them. She didn't want to tear their family apart. But how could she stay, knowing that Fitz was still hiding something from her?

"Please," Fitz whispered, his voice breaking. "Don't go. Don't take her from me."

Olivia wiped her tears, her chest tight with the weight of the decision she was facing. She glanced at Laurel, who was standing nearby, clutching her seashells with wide, confused eyes. Their daughter didn't understand the storm brewing between her parents, but she felt it—Olivia could see it in her face.

Laurel took a tentative step forward, her voice small. "Mama? Daddy? Are we going somewhere?"

Olivia looked at her daughter and then back at Fitz. She could see the desperation in his eyes, the fear of losing them. Despite everything, she knew Fitz loved them more than anything. He would never hurt Laurel. And no matter how much Olivia doubted him, she couldn't deny the love they shared. It had gotten them through the darkest times.

With a shaky breath, Olivia dropped the bag at her feet. "We're not going anywhere, baby," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "We're staying."

Laurel's face lit up with relief, and she ran over to her mother, wrapping her small arms around Olivia's legs. "Yay! I don't want to leave Daddy!"

Fitz exhaled, his body visibly relaxing as he stepped closer, his eyes never leaving Olivia's face. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice filled with gratitude and relief. "I swear, Livvie. I'll fix this. I'll make it right."

Olivia nodded, though the ache in her chest didn't ease. She had made her choice—for now. But she knew that if Fitz didn't come clean if he didn't finally tell her the truth, there would be no more second chances. They couldn't keep living like this.

Fitz reached for her hand, lacing his fingers with hers as they stood together, watching the sunset over the ocean. In that moment, Olivia hoped—prayed—that he was telling the truth this time. That they really could leave the past behind.

But deep down, she couldn't shake the fear that the past wasn't done with them yet.

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