Chapter 37
Olivia’s face fell when she saw Dylan in the living room. “What are you doing here?”
Dylan sheered, “Thanks to your nonsense in front of Grandpa, he told me to spend more time with you ideally, stick to your like glue, twenty four poten
Before Olivia could say anything, Debbie had already bounced over to Dylan, her eyes shining with excitement as she stared at him, “Dylan, don’t take. what Ollie said to heart–she’s never been good with words. You’re welcome here anytime.”
Then she turned to Olivia, looking annoyed. “Seriously, Ollie? You went straight to Morgan to complain? You and Dylan are married why couldn’t you just talk things out with your husband like a normal couple?”
Debbie figured Olivia must’ve gone to Morgan to complain, which was why Dylan had said those words. Trying to come off as sensible and mature, she deliberately scolded Olivia.
Carol chimed in, “Debbie’s right. What happens between a married couple should stay between them. Running off to complain to others all the time just damages the relationship.
“Besides, Dylan’s grandpa isn’t in great health, yet you bothered him with your petty marital squabbles–aren’t you just making him worry and making
his health worse?
“I know you probably didn’t mean any harm, but even if you mess up by accident and it leads to serious consequences, you still have to take responsibility.”
Olivia shot Carol and Debbie a calm look. “You haven’t even figured out what happened, but you’re already assuming I went to complain and blaming me. Don’t you think that’s a bit unfair?”
Carol smiled. “Oh, you silly girl. When elders try to give you a bit of advice, don’t talk back. I’m only saying this for your own good. If you don’t want to hear it, I’ll stop.”
She sighed, looked at Dylan, and then continued, “Olivia never really had proper parental guidance growing up. Her grandparents spoiled her because they felt sorry for her and couldn’t bring themselves to discipline her.
“That’s why she’s not as sensible as Debs. It must be tough for you to put up with her temper.”
Olivia said coolly, “Let’s not get into whether or not I was properly raised. Just answer me this–why are you all so quick to assume I’m at fault without even knowing the whole story?”
Carol’s smile froze.
Back when the Kaur family still relied on Olivia’s connection to the Wilson family, even if Carol had her own schemes, she always kept up a nice front and would never have lectured Olivia so openly for someone else’s sake.
But after deciding to let her daughter take Olivia’s place–and getting her husband’s approval–she stopped worrying about offending Olivia.
She wanted to use Olivia as a foil to show how sensible her daughter was, so she deliberately stepped in to lecture Olivia and boost her daughter’s image..
She knew she was being a bit too hasty, but she couldn’t help it. They rarely got to interact with Dylan. Now that they finally had the chance, they had to show off as much as possible–like a peacock fanning its tail.
Carol blamed Olivia for being useless because, after three years of marriage, Dylan was only now visiting their home for the first time.
If Olivia had brought Dylan home more often, Carol and Debbie would have had plenty of chances to impress him and wouldn’t need to be so desperate. Carol could’ve handled things more gracefully–pleasing Dylan without stepping on Olivia’s toes.
She didn’t expect Olivia to help their family/anymore, but they were still relatives. She didn’t want things to get ugly on the surface; that would just be too embarrassing.
1/3
Chapter 31
Carol dropped the awkward smile, sighed, and said helplessly, “Alright, alright, let’s just say it’s my fault I apologize, bon’t (et something coinslarse our relationship.
Olivia hadn’t been angry at first. She just didn’t want to be blamed for something she didn’t do. But after hearing Carol’s words, she let out a short Incredulous laugh.
Carol’s helpless tone made it sound like Olivia was the one being unreasonable and making a fuss over nothing.
“Sure, it is a small matter,” Olivia said calmly. “But if we keep letting the little things slide, they add and turn info bigger problems. That’s why it’s better to address them right away. Don’t you agree, Aunt Carol?”
Carol could only manage an awkward laugh.
Debbie looked annoyed. “Do you really have to keep
hing just because you’re right? My mom has already apologized. What more do you want?”
Olivia shot her a glance. “That so–called apology? I can’t accept it. The way she said it made it sound like I’m just being unreasonable.”
Debbie sneered, “Weren’t you?”
Olivia looked her in the eye and said seriously, “I’m in the right.”
“Oh, so just because you’re right, you get to cause a scene? We’re family. Can’t you just let it go?”
“Funny–when you jumped to blame me and even accused me of trying to hurt Morgan, how come no one remembered we were family then?”
Debbie’s face turned red, then pale, then red again, but she couldn’t get a single word out to defend herself and her mother.
She looked at Dylan with a pitiful expression and said, “Dylan, can you be fair here? Isn’t Ollie just being petty and making a fuss over nothing?
“It was just a trivial matter, and my mom already apologized. If she’d just let it go, we could all laugh it off and move on, but she insists on dragging it out and making everyone upset. She’s just making things worse.
“Now I get why you don’t like her, Dylan. Honestly, anyone would find her hard to deal with. You’ve put up with her for three years. That must be exhausting, right? I actually feel bad for you…”
Dylan looked up at Olivia. “You really are making too much of this. They’re not diplomats, and they just said a couple of wrong things. Why be so aggressive? Just apologize to your aunt, and let’s drop it. There’s no need to keep stirring things up.”
Debbie’s face lit up with joy as she thought, ‘Dylan’s taking my side–does that mean he likes me more than Olivia?‘
Olivia looked at Dylan. “I know you feel insecure because of your impotence, and you’re trying to compensate by asserting control wherever you can. I understand that. But I’m not accepting it.”
Dylan’s face darkened instantly. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Olivia gave him a half–smile. “Hey, I’m not a diplomat either–it’s normal for me to say something wrong. Why are you so worked up? Isn’t this all a bit much for something small?”
That comeback left Dylan speechless–his own words had been turned against him.
Olivia turned back to Carol and Debbie and said firmly, “I’ve never said a single bad word about Dylan to Morgan. You can ask him yourself.
“Of course, if he’s shameless enough to lie, there’s nothing I can do–except call Morgan and have him clear things up for me.
“The truth isn’t even the point. What matters is, from now on, don’t go making up stories or judging people just because of a few misleading words, and then act like you’re doing them a favor by lecturing them.
“It might seem like nothing to you, but the person you slander and misunderstand will be hurt for a long time.”
