Bye, Mr.Francis

Chapter 8 Ruthless Nolan

Just as the car was about to hit Olivia, a figure darted out, pulling her back with a surprising force. The car screeched past them, narrowly missing them.

"Ms. Austen, ending your life for a man like that isn't worth it." It was the driver, Julian, who had saved her. "If you're gone, who will take care of your grandmother?"

His words pulled Olivia back from the brink. He was right, what about her grandmother?

A car pulled up beside them. Julian opened the rear door. "My boss wishes to see you. He can give you what you need."

"What can I possibly offer him in return?" Olivia laughed bitterly. She wasn't naive. She doubted this man who had, unknowingly, slept with her would help her unconditionally. She was disgraced, and penniless.

Hugging herself, she whispered, "Thank you for saving me and thank your employer for his kindness. But I don't want to lose the last shred of dignity I have left."

Seeing her resolve, Julian didn't press the issue. He handed her a card. "Ms. Austen, this is my number. Call me if you need anything."

"Thank you." Olivia took the card, her mind elsewhere.

Julian returned to Clivery Villa and reported to Adrian, adding, "Sir, that car was deliberately aiming for Ms. Austen."

Adrian's eyes narrowed. "Investigate. And have someone keep an eye on her, discreetly."

That woman's pride needed to be broken before he could mold her into what he needed.

Olivia went to the hospital. Since her cardiac arrest, her grandmother had been bedridden for days. But she had finally regained consciousness and no longer needed the oxygen mask. Though she couldn't leave the bed, her spirits had improved significantly.

"Grandma." Forcing a smile, Olivia entered the ward. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better." Seeing Olivia's state, her swollen cheek a clear indication that she had been crying, her grandmother frowned. "Did you go see Nolan? Did he bully you again?"

Olivia shook her head, taking her grandmother's hand. "No, I was just worried about you, Grandma. You have to get better."

Whether it was due to Olivia's convincing act or not, her grandmother didn't pry further. "Olivia, divorce Nolan. That man is a snake. He took your company, he won't hesitate to take everything else."

"Okay..." If only her grandmother knew, Nolan had already taken everything and she had learned the truth about her parents' death...

Over the next few days, Olivia stayed by her grandmother's side, discreetly finding ways to "accidentally" damage the television in the ward and prevent any newspapers from reaching her grandmother. Seeing her grandmother gradually recover brought a flicker of warmth back into Olivia's life.

One day, the housekeeper called. "Miss, there are people at the house, they're taking everything..."

The call cut off abruptly.

Olivia rushed back to the Clison Villa. The house was in disarray. Several men were packing up expensive antiques and paintings. On the second floor, men tossed unwanted items over the railing, caring little for their value.

Two wooden ancestral tablets tumbled down the stairs. Olivia lunged for them, but it was too late. The impact cracked both tablets. Tears welled up in her eyes as she cradled them in her arms.

"How dare you damage someone else's ancestral tablets! Aren't you afraid of retribution?" She glared at the worker, her eyes blazing with fury.

"The employer said we could dispose of anything we deem worthless." The worker, taken aback by her outburst, scurried away.

"Mom, Dad, I'm so sorry..." Olivia wiped the dust off the tablets, tears falling onto the cracked wood. Her voice trembled. Nolan, you're truly heartless. You killed my parents and now you're desecrating their memory!