CHAPTER ONE
1273 Words
The rain fell softly against the window, tracing slow lines down the glass like tears that refused to stop. Olivia Hart stood beside the bed, her small fingers clutching the edge of the blanket as if letting go would make everything disappear.
Her mother’s breathing was shallow.
Weak.
Painful.
The smell of medicine filled the room, heavy and suffocating, but Olivia didn’t complain. She had grown used to it over the past few months. Hospitals, injections, bitter pills… they had become part of her life.
“M-Mom…” her small voice trembled.
The woman lying on the bed slowly opened her eyes. They were gentle, warm, but tired — painfully tired.
“Liv…” she whispered.
Olivia climbed onto the bed carefully, afraid she might hurt her. She pressed her tiny face into her mother’s chest, listening to the weak heartbeat that scared her more than anything.
“Mom, when will you get better?” she asked, her voice breaking.
Her mother smiled faintly and stroked her hair.
“Soon… my brave girl.”
But Olivia was only eight, not foolish. She had seen her father cry outside the room. She had heard the doctors speak in low voices. She had watched the nurses look at her with pity.
Something bad was happening.
And she was terrified.
Her mother’s hand moved slowly to her cheek.
“Olivia… promise me something.”
Olivia nodded quickly. “I promise! I promise anything!”
Her mother’s eyes softened.
“No matter what happens… you must stay strong. Don’t let anyone bully you. Don’t let anyone make you feel small… Do you understand?”
Olivia bit her lip and nodded.
“But I only want you,” she whispered.
Tears slipped from her mother’s eyes.
“I know… I know, my baby…”
Her breathing became uneven.
Her hand tightened weakly around Olivia’s.
“You must protect yourself… Don’t trust easily… The world is not always kind…"
“Mom…” Olivia’s voice shook violently.
Her mother struggled to speak again.
“If one day… you feel alone… remember… you are not weak… You are my daughter…”
Her hand slowly slid from Olivia’s cheek.
The room became quiet.
Too quiet.
“Mom…?”
No response.
“Mom?”
The machines began to make a long, sharp sound.
Olivia’s small body froze.
The door burst open. Nurses rushed in. Her father followed, his face pale, terrified.
Someone pulled Olivia away.
She struggled.
“Mom! MOM!”
Her screams filled the room.
But her mother never opened her eyes again.
That day, Olivia learned what loneliness felt like.
And it never left her.
Three months later, the house changed.
It no longer felt warm.
It no longer felt like home.
Olivia sat quietly at the dining table, her small hands folded together. The chair beside her — her mother’s chair — was empty. She still looked at it sometimes, hoping her mother would walk in with that gentle smile.
But today…
Someone else sat there.
A woman.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Smiling.
“This is Auntie Clara,” her father said gently. “She’ll be staying with us.”
Olivia looked up silently.
The woman smiled sweetly.
“Hello, Olivia. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Olivia didn’t reply.
She just stared.
Something about the woman made her uncomfortable. She couldn’t explain it, but her heart didn’t feel safe.
Her father sighed softly.
“And this is Lena. She’ll be your sister from now on.”
A girl stepped forward.
She looked about Olivia’s age, maybe a year younger. She had long silky hair, bright eyes, and a sweet smile that made her look harmless.
“Hi, Olivia. I hope we can be friends.”
Olivia nodded faintly.
But she didn’t smile.
That night, she cried quietly into her pillow.
Because she understood.
Her mother’s place…
Had already been replaced.
Years passed.
The house that once belonged to Olivia slowly became someone else’s territory.
Her father began to change.
He laughed more — but not with her.
He spent more time — but not with her.
Clara became the perfect wife.
Gentle.
Caring.
Understanding.
And Lena…
Lena became the perfect daughter.
Sweet.
Soft.
Kind.
Everyone loved her.
Teachers praised her.
Relatives adored her.
Neighbors complimented her.
And Olivia?
Olivia became the difficult one.
Cold.
Quiet.
Detached.
Misunderstood.
But no one saw what happened behind closed doors.
No one saw how Clara’s smile disappeared when her father wasn’t around.
No one saw how Lena whispered cruel words into her ear.
“You don’t belong here.”
“You’re just a burden.”
“Your father only keeps you because he has to.”
Olivia learned to endure.
She stopped crying.
She stopped explaining.
She stopped caring.
Her mother had told her to stay strong.
So she did.
Even if it meant standing alone.
University — three years later.
The campus buzzed with noise, laughter, and excitement. Students walked in groups, talking loudly, taking pictures, enjoying their youth.
Olivia walked alone.
Her long black hair fell gently over her shoulders. Her expression was calm, unreadable. She wore simple clothes, but her beauty still attracted attention.
She ignored the whispers.
“That's Olivia Hart.”
“The cold beauty…”
“She never smiles.”
“She’s arrogant.”
She had heard it all before.
It no longer mattered.
But then—
“Olivia!”
Her steps paused.
She turned.
Daniel Carter ran toward her, slightly breathless. His warm smile made his handsome face even brighter.
Her eyes softened slightly.
Daniel.
The only person she ever allowed close.
“What is it?” she asked quietly.
Daniel scratched his head.
“I… I was looking for you.”
“Why?”
He hesitated.
“I wanted to ask… if you’d like to go for coffee later.”
Her heart skipped.
Just slightly.
She liked him.
For two years.
Quietly.
Carefully.
She never confessed.
She never pushed.
But she stayed by his side.
She thought… maybe… one day…
Before she could answer, another voice interrupted.
“Daniel!”
Olivia’s fingers tightened.
She didn’t need to turn.
She knew that voice.
Lena.
She walked over gracefully, her smile soft and sweet. Her eyes sparkled as she held Daniel’s arm naturally.
“Sorry, I was looking everywhere for you.”
Daniel smiled warmly.
“Oh, Lena. I was just talking to Olivia.”
Lena looked at Olivia gently.
“Hi, sister.”
Olivia remained silent.
Lena continued sweetly, “Daniel, weren’t we supposed to go pick the decoration samples?”
Daniel’s eyes lit up.
“Oh right! I almost forgot.”
Olivia’s heart sank.
Decoration?
Lena laughed softly.
“You’re so forgetful. Come on.”
Daniel turned to Olivia.
“Sorry… maybe another time?”
Olivia nodded calmly.
“Sure.”
But her chest felt hollow.
She watched them walk away together.
Lena holding his arm.
Daniel smiling.
Perfect.
Beautiful.
Like a couple.
Her nails dug into her palm.
So… even him?
Even the one person she liked…
Chose Lena.
Just like always.
Her lips curved slowly.
But it wasn’t a smile.
It was cold.
Fine.
If the world insisted on pushing her down…
Then she would stop being gentle.
Lena liked taking everything from her?
Then this time…
Olivia would take something back.
Something Lena could never steal again.
Her eyes darkened.
Theodore Sinclair.
The coldest man in the city.
The most powerful heir.
The man Lena had been secretly chasing.
Olivia turned slowly.
For the first time in years…
A dangerous decision formed in her heart.
If Lena wanted to play sweet…
Then she would become wicked.
And this time—
She would win.
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