Chapter 2
5
Neil paused on the other end of the line. Then he snapped, “What’s gotten into you now, Olivia? Either get your ass over here right now, or stay the hell out of my life for good!”
But this time, Olivia didn’t back down. Her voice turned cold. “Seven years is more than enough. You get tired of even a pet–imagine dealing with a person. Let’s end it here, Neil.”
Neil just let out a short, dismissive laugh. “Fine. Just don’t come crawling back.” And with that, he hung up.
28
The dial tone buzzed in Olivia’s ear, and her bitter smile deepened. Neil probably thought she’d be back on her knees in front of him in no time, begging for forgiveness. But not this time. She wouldn’t let him stomp on her heart again.
Olivia took a moment to compose herself, then hailed a cab back to the house she shared with Neil. Two years together. She’d poured her heart into every corner of this place, and spent countless nights dreaming of their future here.
But now, it made no sense. She walked straight to the bedroom and pulled out everything Neil had ever given her. Designer dresses, still with the tags, velvet jewelry boxes, limited–edition heels–she dumped it all on the bed. He’d always been generous with gifts; that much was true.
“Olivia, just name it and it’s yours. I’ll give you the world,” b
“This is our home now. Just you and me,” he’d promised.
“You used to be alone, but now you’ve got me,” he’d whispered.
I said.
Those words used to make her heart soar. Now, they just felt like a slap in the face.
Olivia grabbed a pair of scissors and started cutting. Gowns turned to rags. Jewelry boxes were slashed open, and gems scattered across the floor. Then she tossed them all into the trash bin.
Despite her swift and decisive actions, she still cried. Seven years of her life wasted on someone who never saw her for who she was.
She stripped off the wedding dress she’d saved up for months to buy. She’d dreamed of the look on his face when he saw her in it.
But now she changed her mind. She picked up the scissors and cut the dress into pieces. She thought, ‘If I’m done with this, I’ll destroy it all. The dress. Neil. All of it.‘
Olivia grabbed a few essentials and walked out the door, not sparing a glance back.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw her mother Maribel’s name flashing on the screen. “Hello?” she answered.
“Get home now! Liam’s back.” Maribel’s voice was urgent, almost frantic.
Liam–the name hit her like a punch to the gut, stirring up memories she’d tried to bury. Five years had passed since she’d last seen him.
She remembered that summer when she was sixteen, Maribel dragging her to the Kline Manor. That was the first time she’d met Liam.
He was sitting on the couch, dressed in a crisp white shirt, his face unreadable. Sunlight poured through the window, casting a golden halo around him. He was strikingly handsome, with sharp features and an air of indifference.
But it was his eyes that really caught her attention–icy and distant, as if he were looking right through her.
She’d mustered all her courage to approach him. “Liam,” she’d said softly, “I’m Olivia, I’m your sister now- But he’d cut her off before she could finish. “I don’t need a sister,” he’d said, his voice cold and dismissive.
From then on, she’d kept her distance. She knew how much he resented her and her mother’s intrusion into his life.
10:39 Sun, 22 Jun OGO
Chapter 2
For years, they’d lived under the same roof but in completely different worlds. Until five years ago, everything changed.
