Chapter 47
Chapter 47
n of his slap.
Despite having slapped herself earlier to please David, Olivia found that nothing compared to the pain
She was in shock; she had always believed that, as her father, David should be on her side. The pain was not physical but emotional, striking straight at her heart. “Dad, she’s lying to you. Olivia said, looking at David in disbelief.
In response, Olivia received another slap. David pointed at her face and commanded, “Apologize to Laura. Right now
In a sober moment, Olivia would have complied immediately. But at this moment, Laura’s provocations and David’s slap pushed her to the brink of breaking down. The usually composed Olivia finally lost control
“I didn’t do anything wrong! Why should I apologize? Dad, don’t believe Laura! She won’t give you the shares, she came back to the Sharpe residence for revenge! She said that she wants to see the Sharpe family’s downfall and to see me..” Olivia cried
David couldn’t hear another word. With a voice like thunder, he shouted, “Shut up, Olivia! I thought you were obedient and sensible, but it seems that all those years you spent in the gutter have corrupted you. You lie effortlessly and are skillful at framing Laura Do you want me to spell it out for you!”
“On the very first day you returned to the Sharpe residence, you claimed that Lau pushed you into the pool and nearly drowned you. It didn’t dawn on me until later that the shallow end of the pool was only up to your chest. How could that drown your
“Then you used your desire to see Swan Lake to take Laura’s room, and you went shopping with your mom every day, demanding this and that while having a questionable relationship with Robert.”
“Even when your affair was exposed, you played dead to escape the consequences. I didn’t want to dwell on these issues, but one after another, how could they all be mere coincidences?”
“Unlike you, Lau grew up in the Sharpe family. She is talented and kind–hearted. Even if she feels wronged by you, she hasn’t done anything out of line in all of this
“In the past, I chose not to hold any grudges against you because I knew you had suffered over the years. But I never expected you to repeatedly hurt Lau. What on earth are you thinking?”
Most of what David had said was the truth. When a person tells too many lies, even when they speak the truth, no one will believe them Olivia found herself in such an awkward situation. She had told countless lies, but this time, it was the only instance where she wasn’t lying.
“Dad, I am your real daughter! 1 wouldn’t lie to you. Laura has ill intentions towards the Sharpe family; she isn’t the same Laura she used to be…” Olivia said.
Emma couldn’t take it anymore. “Liv, stop! Your dad is upset, and this is indeed your fault. Just apologize to Laura”
David finally remembered Laura’s injured hand. “Laura, are you okay?”
“I’m fine; it’s just a small cut. Olivia, I’ve been nothing but accommodating to you. I know you don’t like me, and I’ve tried to give you space. How far do you intend to push me? Laura asked.
David and Emma both stood by Laura’s side, showering her with concern, when Olivia suddenly realized the meaning behind Laura’s earlier words.
Laura was using
ing the ve
very tactic that Olivia was most skilled at–the art of emotional manipulation. Now, all Olivia’s family members no longer trusted her, instead, they viewed her as a venomous snake. This feeling pierced her heart like a thousand arrows.
“Laura, that’s harsh. So you want to play games? I play along with you to the end!” Olivia shouted in anger and humiliation, storming out of the apartment
As Laura watched her flee in despair, some of the tension inside her eased, but it wasn’t enough. The pain Olivia had caused her in the past life was far more intense than what Olivia was currently enduring
David and Emma took turns to comfort Laura, and David voiced his intention to discipline Olivia when they returned home.
Emma, reluctant to let go of Laura, held her hand. “Honey, you need to focus on your
ar SATS. remodeled, you can move back in anytime”
Exactly. It’s inappropriate for air
It’s better to stay with us. Your room has been
married girl to be living with a man. You should come back and live with us,” David added, hinting at Easton’s background, but Laura brushed his inquiries aside.
Laura smiled. “Don’t worry. It’s not that I don’t want to go home, I just can’t get along with Olivia. Ever since she came back. I’ve been trying to accommodate her, yet we end up like this. Please don’t try to persuade me anymore. I need peace and quiet to prepare for the SAT.”
Emma opened her mouth. “That man…”
“Mom, Dad, let’s talk about this after the SAT, Laurs insisted. “Right now, I just want to focus on studying for the exam.”
12:39 PM
Chapter 47
“Alright, we won’t disturb your studies. If you need anything, just call us. Remember, we always love you, David added.
“Okay,” Laura replied, smiling as she walked the two to the door. But the moment she shut the door, her face abruptly dropped.
It wasn’t until they stepped outside that David and Emma realized they had completely forgotten to discuss the shares. From the moment they entered the house, it seemed that Laura had taken the lead in the conversation.
Emma called Olivia, initially worried that she might be running off somewhere. Fortunately, Olivia answered and said she was home, which eased
Emma’s concerns.
She turned to David and said, “David, Liv is our daughter, and we went through so much to find her. Even if you care about the shares, you shouldn’t have said those things; it’ll hurt her feelings”
“Hurt her feelings?” David scoffed. “Do you really think I’m just putting on an act? Lau is trying to get you to think critically: she’s not trying to harm you. Our daughter is a real manipulator, and most of what I said was the truth.”
“David
you…” Emma was astonished.
“You can’t possibly have never doubted her, can you? Think about the things I said earlier. Most of those things were orchestrated by our daughter, including her affair with Robert
“We were blinded by her because we are her parents. I just reconsidered that video Lau posted; Olivia didn’t look forced at all. Even if the first time she was drugged, what about the time they did in our house?”
“She clearly knew Robert was Laura’s boyfriend, yet she chose to do that in the storage room family. Today, we took her here to apologize. It’s not like we’re bullying her, but she messed it all up.”
It’s obvious that she was trying to kick Lau out of our
Emma opened her mouth but fell silent. Deep down, she believed David’s words. But Olivia was her daughter, and she was reluctant to admit that her own daughter was a manipulator.
When they got home, they found Olivia kneeling on the floor. “Please punish me, Dad. I’m sorry for what I’ve done.”
David sighed. Even knowing how manipulative his daughter was, he could do nothing. Few parents could truly admit their children’s bad natures. Those two slaps he gave her in the apartment were out of frustration and a desire to appease Laura. In truth, he didn’t want to hurt Olivia
Once Olivia calmed down, she quickly assessed the situation. She couldn’t act like a clown in front of Laura.
“Get up. The SAT is coming up. You need to focus on your studies. We can discuss the shares after the exams. David said.
There was no longer love for her parents in Olivia’s tear–filled eyes. She had seen clearly today that both she and David were cut from the same cloth, caring only about their own interests, not their family.
She had thought that returning to the Sharpe family would provide her with security, but now it seemed the only way to live a stable life was to treat the Sharpe family as a stepping stone.
Olivia thought to herself, ‘Laura, let’s see who will win the
the game!