Contents
Olivia — Chapter 18
Overview
Olivia confides to Hannah in the Whispering Cave about creating a false dating profile, meeting an older man, Steven, and becoming sexually involved before being humiliated at a V&A party and ghosted. She withholds a final, bloody detail. Back at the Folly, Johnno drunkenly corners and grabs her, escalating the sense of threat.
Summary
The day before the wedding, Olivia and Hannah sit in the Whispering Cave with vodka and a candle as the tide rises, the echo amplifying their confessions. Prompted by Hannah, Olivia describes loneliness in London while staying at Jules’s flat and seeing social media posts of ex-boyfriend Callum with Ellie.
Seeking validation, Olivia creates a fake dating profile as “Bella,” inflates her age, and meets Steven, an older, confident man. Their chemistry leads to rough, adventurous sex that makes Olivia feel desired, though emotionally detached compared to Callum.
Hoping to prove maturity, Olivia brings Steven to a V&A party run by Jules’s magazine, drinks too much, is sick, and is sent home alone by Steven. Afterward, Steven ghosts her, ignoring messages and calls, leaving Olivia devastated.
As Olivia edges toward revealing more, she stops, haunted by an image of blood on white that she cannot voice. The confession stalls, and she and Hannah return to the Folly feeling they have overshared.
Outside the Folly, Olivia encounters a drunk Johnno. He offers her a joint, grabs her arm, and suggests they dance, leering about “an older man.” Olivia yanks free and flees inside, shaken, underscoring her vulnerability and the rising menace among the wedding party.
Who Appears
- OliviaBridesmaid; confides her fake-profile affair with older Steven, his ghosting, hints of blood; later menaced by Johnno.
- HannahListens sympathetically in the cave, prompts Olivia’s disclosure; later withdraws to bed, leaving Olivia unsettled.
- StevenOlder London lover from Olivia’s past; sexually adventurous, escorts her to V&A party, then ghosts her.
- JohnnoDrunk best man; corners and grabs Olivia outside the Folly, making suggestive, threatening remarks.
- CallumOlivia’s ex; seen online with Ellie, triggering her loneliness and decision to meet Steven.