Chapter 4

Olivia

Even though I didn't want to join them for dinner, I was forced to do so because Uncle Richard requested it. He said it could be my gift for his upcoming birthday in a week. I had no choice but to agree.

They were used to eating dinner together all at once, even though they seemed like strangers due to the silence around. Well! In our place when I was still there, I wouldn't eat dinner until daddy arrived. I always waited for him because I knew that if I didn't do that, he would feel even more lonely. He would think he was alone even though I was with him.

I suddenly wondered what he was doing now. Did he already eat? I didn't want to call him because I wanted him to understand the reason for my big grudge against him.

I bowed my head slightly while we were eating together. I felt embarrassed, coupled with my lack of appetite, so I didn't feel like chatting with them.

As I finished eating, taking the last spoonful of rice, Uncle Richard spoke, so I looked at him.

"Have more, Olivia! Don't be shy. I prepared everything for you!" he said with a smile on his lips.

I smiled back at him before mustering the courage to speak in front of everyone. I sighed before speaking.

"Thank you, Uncle, but I'm already full!" I replied curtly, which made him smile even more.

He momentarily set down the knife he was using to cut his steak on the table, along with the fork. He held both his palms together before speaking.

"May I request, Olivia?" he said. His face was serious, so I raised an eyebrow while still looking at him.

"What is it, Uncle?"

"Since you're married to my son already, can you please stop calling me Uncle Richard anymore? It's a bit formal. Maybe you should start getting used to calling me daddy because from now on, you're also my child!"

After he said that, he smiled broadly at me and gestured again with the knife and fork in both his hands before continuing to eat.

I just smiled back at him, which he returned. I heard Lloyd whispering beside me. When I looked at him, he raised an eyebrow at me and then rolled his eyes. If I could, I might have slapped him earlier to shake some sense into him.

But I couldn't! I needed to be patient. I had to endure and accompany him until the end of the two-year contract I signed with his father.

After a few minutes, we finished eating. When I stood up, I volunteered to help their maid with the cleanup, but she politely declined. Even Matthew told me I didn't need to do that because, in a way, I was still the wife of one of their masters.

I could only sigh. Matthew excused himself for a moment, saying he would go up to his room to fix some things because he left some of his belongings scattered there, and I just agreed.

Earlier, as I scanned the entire house with my eyes, the balcony on the second floor caught my attention. I looked around before deciding to go up and head straight there.

I rested my elbows on the balcony handle and held both my hands, took a deep breath, and looked up at the sky. I only saw the moon there. Perhaps it might rain, so I couldn't find any stars, but it didn't matter!

I probably stayed in that position for a few minutes before feeling someone behind me. When I turned around, I saw Matthew leaning on the edge of the balcony, looking straight at me.

One of his hands was on the balcony handle, and the other was in his pocket.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his face serious. I just nodded in response and then returned my gaze to the sky.

"This is your first night with my brother! I know you're not used to sleeping with someone beside you. Do you want me to accompany you? 'Coz I'm not sure if you are safe with my older brother!" he added.

I turned to look at him again. I shifted my body to lean on the other side of the balcony and face Matthew. I sighed before asking him.

"Why didn't you tell me you had a brother? I thought you were the only child," I said.

"Why would I consider someone who never treated me as a sibling?" he replied.

Matthew was annoying. Instead of answering my question, he also asked me. He always did that! I rolled my eyes at him before speaking again.

"I don't know about you! What's your story? Why does he seem to have such a bad image of you? You're siblings! You two should get along because you're both men."

"We were like that at first. He accepted me as a sibling, even though I was just an illegitimate child. Not until his mother died, and he blamed me. It's not my fault! I didn't do anything wrong, but he doesn't want to believe it. No matter what I do, no matter how many times I explain, he still blames me for his mother's death."

Matthew's mood changed after he mentioned that. I had never seen Matthew this serious before. He often smiled, so I never thought he carried such a heavy burden.

"You know what, Olivia?! I never dreamed of this life. I never dreamed of being rich. But you know what I've always been thankful for since I came to this house?" he asked while looking directly at me.

I looked at him, feeling choked up and thinking about what he would say.

"It is -"

He was interrupted when we heard a voice from the balcony door. We both turned to look, and there was Lloyd standing by the door, his hands crossed under his armpits.

"Olivia, right? Did you know what time it is? Do you want me to tell you what time it is?" he said.

He paused for a moment before continuing what he was saying.

"It's already nine in the evening. If I lie down in bed to rest, do you think if you come into the room and lie down, you won't disturb me, huh? Just because daddy treats you like a princess doesn't mean I have to treat you the same way. That will never happen, Olivia! Maybe in your dreams."

After he said that, he turned away from us. I noticed that Matthew wanted to approach him, but I held his arm to stop him.

"Let him be, so there won't be any trouble!" I softly said.

I didn't realize that Lloyd had stopped and spoke again.

"One more thing, Olivia! Don't stick too closely to that man! He's not trustworthy."

I just sighed deeply out of frustration. I looked at Matthew, who was just looking at me. I excused myself to him, saying I would go to my room because I didn't want to hear any more hurtful words from Lloyd. They pierced through me, so maybe that's why his brother looked at him with such disdain.