Chapter 1 - Stepmother Hatred

**17 Years Ago**

Mr. Leo Adams married Mrs. Zoe Nelson, and she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with sparkling brown eyes named Olima Adams. After Olima's birth, Mrs. Zoe experienced complications.

Mrs. Zoe cried because she wanted to give her husband more children, but he assured her that his love for her would not change.

Two years later, Mr. Leo told his wife about his intention to marry a second wife who would bear him more children, and especially a son to inherit all his properties and bear his name, instead of adopting a son, since Olima was a girl.

Mrs. Zoe became emotional and afraid of another woman entering her home and turning her husband's heart against her. She spoke to her best friend, Gina Edwards, about Gina marrying her husband.

Mrs. Zoe and Gina had been best friends since high school and had lived on the island where the billionaire families lived. They remained friends even after Mrs. Zoe married.

Mrs. Zoe, unaware that Gina secretly admired her husband, proposed that Gina marry Mr. Leo.

Gina readily accepted the marriage proposal and moved into the white mansion to live with them.

However, as soon as Gina arrived, she changed and began quarreling with Mrs. Zoe.

Gina told Mrs. Zoe to leave the master bedroom so that she and Mr. Leo could use it, since Mrs. Zoe couldn't bear another child.

Mr. Leo was shocked at Gina's change in attitude. She dared to quarrel with Mrs. Zoe and even called her a witch for refusing to leave the master bedroom.

Angered, Mr. Leo threatened to divorce Gina the following day. Gina calmed down and reverted to her previously friendly demeanor toward Mrs. Zoe, begging her to plead with their husband not to divorce her.

Mr. Leo told Mrs. Gina, "How dare you come into my house today and quarrel with your best friend? I regret marrying you, Gina. Olima will inherit all my properties tomorrow. Even if she marries and changes her surname to her husband's, she will still be my daughter. So get ready to leave my house tomorrow; our marriage is over!"

Mrs. Gina begged Mrs. Zoe to plead with their husband not to divorce her. Mrs. Zoe sighed, remembering that she was the one who had suggested the marriage.

Mrs. Zoe pleaded on Gina's behalf, and Mrs. Gina remained in the mansion, but in a separate bedroom.

From that day forward, Mrs. Gina hated Mrs. Zoe. She avoided speaking to her, suspecting that Mrs. Zoe and Mr. Leo had conspired to marry her and bring her into the mansion to flaunt their loving relationship.

One day, Mrs. Gina went to Mrs. Zoe's room and pleaded with her to allow their husband to spend a night with her, since that was, after all, why Mr. Leo had married her.

That night, Mrs. Zoe spoke to Mr. Leo, asking him to spend the night with Gina to see if she would bear him a son, as that was his reason for marrying her.

Mr. Leo refused; he was avoiding Gina and wanted nothing to do with her. He regretted marrying her. However, after Mrs. Zoe's insistence, Mr. Leo reluctantly spent the night in Gina's bedroom and made love to her.

Months later, Mrs. Gina remained jealous and resentful of Mrs. Zoe, seeing that Mr. Leo loved Mrs. Zoe much more than her. She had thought Mr. Leo would love only her and abandon Mrs. Zoe because of her inability to bear more children.

Instead, Mr. Leo distanced himself from Mrs. Gina. He refused to eat her food and avoided her.

Mrs. Gina quarreled with Mrs. Zoe again, angering Mr. Leo, who finally brought home divorce papers.

Mr. Leo ordered Mrs. Gina to sign the papers, but she refused, declaring, "I'm pregnant."

Unable to send Mrs. Gina away with his child growing in her womb, Mr. Leo allowed her to stay in the mansion, but on the condition that she live in the boys' quarters, away from the main house, and that she not quarrel with Mrs. Zoe again.

Having no other option and not wanting to leave, Mrs. Gina accepted.

Eight months later, Mrs. Gina gave birth to a baby girl named Mia Adams. Mr. Leo never visited her again to see if they could have more children, especially a son.

Fourteen years later, Mrs. Gina's hatred for Mr. Leo and Mrs. Zoe intensified. In their fourteen years of marriage, Mr. Leo had only been intimate with her once, claiming he regretted marrying her.

Mrs. Gina knew she couldn't leave Mr. Leo's house and remarry. The townspeople mocked her for marrying her best friend's husband, and her parents had disapproved of the marriage. She had believed Mr. Leo would love her, but he didn't.

Mrs. Gina knew that if she became pregnant by another man, Mr. Leo would know the child wasn't his. He only allowed Mia to live in the main mansion when she wanted because she was his biological daughter, and Olima wanted a younger sister.

Mrs. Gina's heart turned cold. She contacted a truck driver who rammed into Mr. Leo and Mrs. Zoe's car, knowing they were going to Olima and Mia's high school graduation ceremony.

Olima was graduating from high school, while Mia was entering her senior year.

After confirming the "successful job" with the driver, Mrs. Gina killed him to keep her secret.

Months after the burial, Mrs. Gina moved back into the main mansion. She fired all the maids and made Olima her servant, forcing her to withdraw from her tutoring classes.

Family members, previously silent, began visiting the mansion to see who would inherit Mr. Leo's wealth and oil company.

Mrs. Gina, a brutal woman, had her in-laws arrested, accusing them of killing her husband and his wife.

The arrested relatives bailed themselves out and signed agreements not to disturb Mrs. Gina and her family again.

Mrs. Gina contacted Mr. Leo's lawyer about his will, remembering Mr. Leo had said Olima would inherit everything.

Mrs. Gina considered killing Olima, but she didn't want Mia to be alone and without a sister. Instead, she made Olima her lifetime maid, believing no one would help her.

When the lawyer arrived, he told Mrs. Gina, "Mr. Leo's will cannot be changed. The will states that the oil company should be given to Olima Adams when she turns twenty-four."

Frustrated, Mrs. Gina plotted how to change the will to benefit herself and her daughter.