A Few Hours Earlier…“I can't believe he wasn't going to wait for me to get dressed and give me a ride to the meeting,” Olivia said with a frown before coming out of the bathroom. She picked up her phone and texted one of her favorite makeup artists. She put on a simple casual gown before heading downstairs. “You are awake? I heard you aren't feeling well; are you fine now?”She smiled at Grandma Katherine's words, reminded of how her father used to ask her a ton of questions each time she was sick. “I am fine now. I was just stressed out,” she replied sweetly. “I am glad you are. I personally prepared lobster and rice porridge for you,” Grandma Katherine said before she led her to the dining room. She drew out a chair for Olivia, which she sat on shyly. “Make sure to finish everything. You have to eat healthy foods and make sure you rest frequently.”Olivia smiled at her words before she began eating. No doubt, she had never tasted a lobster as delicious as this one. She ate eve
“Mr. Jaden, I am sorry, I can't offer you the amount of money you want. Maybe if I talk to my husband, he might help out.”Seeing so many gazes on them including reporters, she decided to put up a little act. “Ol—”“I am sorry, my husband hates seeing me with another man. He is a jealous man,” Olivia interrupted him with a childish smile. Alden, who had been watching them, seized the opportunity to act like a doting husband. He walked away from where he parked his car and walked up to Olivia. With a cute smile, he asked, “Honey, who is this man and why is he kneeling down here?”“I don't really know. I don't know if he wants my help or the crowd's attention,” she replied with a pretty smile. “I will take it as he wants nothing,” Alden said and hold Olivia's hand before they headed to the spot he parked his car. “Don't worry, I will drive by myself. I will drive back home with grandma's car,” she said after she pulled her hand away from his. “Sure.” Alden replied and got into his
“What if I say yes?” Alden leaned closer before he asked with a faint smile. “You killed Brandon… So you really did that?” Olivia's voice trailed off as she questioned sadly, tears streaming down her face. Alden chuckled at her words, his eyes piercing into hers. “Do you have any proof that I killed him?”She clenched her fist, trying to stay calm. “I will look for the evidence!”"Why are you stressing yourself over him? Have you forgotten that he almost killed you? Have you forgotten how he took everything from you? Isn't it a good thing that he is gone?” He asked with a faint smile on his face, yet a serious tone. Unable to believe his reaction, she asked, “Alden, are you human?” “I can't believe you are comfortable saying such words,” she added as she cleaned her face, trying her best not to allow her emotions to control her. “You don't want to believe you hate him, do you?”“What are you? What gives you the damn right to think you can kill anyone?” She asked with tears welled
“Clarify what? All we have to do is stick to our initial agreement, isn't it?” She asked, sounding persuasive. He frowned at her words. He couldn't believe she was trying to change the topic of conversation. “I want to clarify the fact that you were the one who first approached me! You proposed a fake union first, and now you are trying to use my secret against me!”“I am sorry.”Staring into her brown eyes, his heart skipped a beat as he heard her apologize. Apologies always provoked him, but it was different when it came from her. “That aside, how did you know I was a sadist?” He asked, curious about how she found out what others didn't know. “I can't tell you my source just as I can't tell anyone about this,” she said and began walking away, but halted at his words. “If that is the case, I hope you don't think about your dead ex-husband. You can feel sad because of the past moments you shared together, but just know it was part of his scamming scheme. It was all lies.”“You w
“I guess you must be happy after ruining everything,” Chloe's voice echoed sadly after she found Layla. She spent about five hours looking for Layla, but she was not around— not at home or where they used to hang around. Layla's eyes widened as she raised her gaze to look Chloe in the eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but was lost for words. “Is this what you have under control? I trusted you, but you disappointed me when I least expected it!” She half-yelled at Layla. “And so? I can't believe you are yelling at me when I actually tried my best to make this work!” Layla yelled back at her, hiding the fear lingering in her. Chloe ruffled her hair before she spoke up, “You try to make this work? Anyway, I did not blame you; I blamed myself for trusting an incompetent idiot like you! At first, you ruined my party, ruined your father's reputation, now you ruined my plan.”“I hope not to ever see your face again. Go live the life of a loser with your dead boyfriend,” she paused brief
‘I can't believe Uncle Ryan would stoop so low as to use his only child. What a greedy man he is,’ Alden muttered to himself before he walked inside. Olivia, who overheard their conversation, approached him the moment he entered the living room. “Alden, what was that about?” She inquired.“I prefer you to be straightforward, Olivia,” Alden replied with a faint smile. She exhaled deeply before she began. “I heard everything. But why would you chase her away like that? She isn't her father, you know?”“Olivia, every child follows in the footsteps of their parents,” he replied coldly. “You have never been wrong about anything, except this,” she said calmly. “Okay, let's take for instance, are any of your parents a sadist? No, but—”“Olivia, I will take it as a death wish if you ever bring up my parents in any of our conversations,” Alden cut her off before heading to his room. She felt every hair on her skin raise as she heard his words. His gaze was serious, leaving her no room for
Seeing how adamant Olivia was and the truth about her words, he decided to give in. “I am not sure if I will be able to meet your expectations, but I will do my best,” Dante said calmly, a guilty look on his face. “Uncle, is that a yes?” She asked sweetly. “Of course, Olivia,” he replied with a faint smile. He couldn't believe Olivia hadn't changed. She still acts this way to get whatever she wants. Just when she was about to leave, she remembered she hadn't seen Layla. “Uncle, where is Layla? Has she not come back home?” She inquired worriedly. Before Dante could reply, Layla walked up to them, holding a container. “I am at home. I just decided to give you and your uncle some moments,” she said with a pale look on her face. “Layla, you have to change. Choose a path that you will be proud of, and not try to steal from others. I am not saying this because we are related, but because your father is a good man,” Olivia replied calmly, trying not to show her resentment towards Lay
“I like him. I proposed this marriage because I don't want to regret it for the second time,” she replied with sincerity laced in her voice, tears clustered in her eyes. “Olivia, that isn't enough reason to make a fool of everyone!” Dante yelled as he found her words unbelievable. He knew how far Olivia could go to have what she wanted, but allowing a man to use her because of her feelings? Olivia is too intelligent to be fooled. Olivia turned to look at Alden before she began, “I missed him. I love him, but I can't deny the fact that we were both using each other.”Alden, who didn't know what to do—either act along or play dumb to her words, was staring intensely at her. Given the look on his face, Olivia could tell that Alden is curious about what she was up to. “Even if you love him, this marriage is still fake! I give you both a week to end whatever relationship between you and him,” he declared, about to go, but halted upon hearing Alden's words. “What gives you the right t