Chapter 16: Who's the Crush?

Alison wanted nothing more than to get as far away from Oliver as possible, to a place where he could never find her. Silently, she prayed for that escape. While she was lost in her thoughts, a heavy footstep startled her back to reality. Turning around, she saw Oliver’s towering figure approaching her. She froze in place, completely shocked. How had he found her in such a secluded corner? Alison blinked, trying to convince herself this wasn’t a dream. Oliver came closer, pinching her cheek softly, his voice low as he murmured into her ear, "What are you doing? Burning love notes, perhaps?" Alison felt a wave of regret, but she maintained a calm exterior. "Uncle, what are you doing here? This isn’t a diary—it’s just some old sketches." She tried to explain simply, stepping back to create more distance between them. They were standing too close, and it felt strange. Hearing her response, Oliver smirked coldly. "That’s a pathetic lie." Without giving her time to react, Oliver used