Chapter 3 · Go Love Her And Leave Me Alone

Michael and my dad were both stunned, their faces drained of color.

"Olivia, what are you doing?" Mom shrieked. "Michael, that's enough. Stop provoking your sister."

Mom, her face pale, gestured for Dad to take Michael away.

Dad quickly grabbed Michael and left.

Mom said, "Olivia, your dad went too far just now, but you weren't innocent either. Those things you said were really harsh."

She sighed. "Family doesn't hold grudges overnight. If you don't want to go to the regular class, then don't. No need to get so worked up."

I couldn't be bothered to respond. I'd already made up my mind.

The next day, I told my parents I wanted to live at school.

After my meltdown last night, they were too scared to mess with me.

Mom hesitated and then said, "The dorm isn't as comfortable as home, and the food's not as good either."

I didn't care about the food. All I wanted was a place where I didn't have to put up with the four of you.

"All the other honors students live in the dorm. I'm not some genius, so wasting time commuting every day is pointless," I said.

Mom opened her mouth, her eyes sad, but she didn't say a word.

"Olivia, are you moving out because you hate me?" Charlotte asked.

She looked at me nervously, her eyes full of hurt.

I acted like she wasn't even there, just focused on my food.

Michael was about to say something, but Dad shot him a look to shut him up.

A strange, tense silence filled the dinner table.

After dinner, I was the first to walk out of the villa, the sound of the three of them comforting Charlotte trailing behind me.

Settling into the dorm was a breeze, and my grades didn't just stay steady. They actually climbed a few ranks.

Staying far away from that family of four was pure bliss, and my mood stayed sky-high right up to the holidays.

Just thinking about having to go back home and deal with those people over the holidays made my heart sink.

But until I could actually break free from this family, I just had to suck it up and face it.

But when I got home, I was surprised to see my grandpa, whom I hadn't seen in forever.

Seeing his face, I felt a bit out of it for a second.

Back when my uncle and aunt-in-law, who were Charlotte's parents, were still alive, Grandpa used to dote on both me and Charlotte equally.

But after Charlotte was adopted by my family, even Grandpa, who used to be so warm to me, started to feel more and more distant.

"Thank you for the birthday present, Grandpa," Charlotte said.

She gave Grandpa a sweet smile. She was holding the personalized jewelry and outfits Grandpa had picked out just for her.

Grandpa's smile faltered just a bit when he saw it.

I couldn't help but sigh to myself. It was around this time in my previous life that Grandpa started to pull away from me, always saying I wasn't as obedient or thoughtful as Charlotte.

Noticing my lack of response, Grandpa gave a couple of displeased coughs.

"So, you're just going to ignore your grandpa now?" he said.

"Grandpa." I tossed out the greeting. I planned to go upstairs and do some homework.

Honestly, I was going to take a break, but seeing them all together, I'd rather just keep working on my exercises.

"Olivia, your grandpa's right here. Why are you heading upstairs?" Michael said.

Michael grabbed my hand, refusing to let go. Was he really trying to make me stay and pretend we were one big happy family?

Grandpa shook his head.

"This kid is just so stubborn. But Olivia, acting like this really doesn't make you likable. Even family has their limits," he said.

I chuckled softly to myself. He said the same thing in my previous life, but honestly, hadn't I already given enough in this one?

"Yeah, whatever you say, Grandpa," I replied, not really meaning it.

I just gave a perfunctory nod.

Grandpa saw right through my act and let out a heavy sigh.

"Olivia, Grandpa came here just for my birthday. Don't give him the cold shoulder," Charlotte said.

She grabbed my hand tightly and forcibly pulled me right into their circle.

"Come on, apologize to Grandpa. When your birthday rolls around, he'll totally spoil you with something even better," she insisted.

Grandpa said pointedly, "Humph. I only give presents to good kids."

I actually burst out laughing this time.

Dad frowned. "What's so funny?"

I said wryly, "My next birthday isn't until next year. Isn't it a little too early to think about what Grandpa might get me next year?"

Everyone except Charlotte went stiff.

They must've just realized my birthday had already passed, and with them all too busy fussing over Charlotte these past few months, not a single one of them had bothered to remember it.

Michael grumbled, "That's only because you decided to stay in the dorm. Don't put that on us."

"Michael, that's enough," Mom snapped.

Honestly, she should know better. Even though I was living at school, it wouldn't have been hard for them to pick me up that day, or at the very least, shoot me a 'happy birthday' text.

Chapter 3

Michael and my dad were both stunned, their faces drained of color.

"Olivia, what are you doing?" Mom shrieked. "Michael, that's enough. Stop provoking your sister."

Mom, her face pale, gestured for Dad to take Michael away.

Dad quickly grabbed Michael and left.

Mom said, "Olivia, your dad went too far just now, but you weren't innocent either. Those things you said were really harsh."

She sighed. "Family doesn't hold grudges overnight. If you don't want to go to the regular class, then don't. No need to get so worked up."

I couldn't be bothered to respond. I'd already made up my mind.

The next day, I told my parents I wanted to live at school.

After my meltdown last night, they were too scared to mess with me.

Mom hesitated and then said, "The dorm isn't as comfortable as home, and the food's not as good either."

I didn't care about the food. All I wanted was a place where I didn't have to put up with the four of you.

"All the other honors students live in the dorm. I'm not some genius, so wasting time commuting every day is pointless," I said.

Mom opened her mouth, her eyes sad, but she didn't say a word.

"Olivia, are you moving out because you hate me?" Charlotte asked.

She looked at me nervously, her eyes full of hurt.

I acted like she wasn't even there, just focused on my food.

Michael was about to say something, but Dad shot him a look to shut him up.

A strange, tense silence filled the dinner table.

After dinner, I was the first to walk out of the villa, the sound of the three of them comforting Charlotte trailing behind me.

Settling into the dorm was a breeze, and my grades didn't just stay steady. They actually climbed a few ranks.

Staying far away from that family of four was pure bliss, and my mood stayed sky-high right up to the holidays.

Just thinking about having to go back home and deal with those people over the holidays made my heart sink.

But until I could actually break free from this family, I just had to suck it up and face it.

But when I got home, I was surprised to see my grandpa, whom I hadn't seen in forever.

Seeing his face, I felt a bit out of it for a second.

Back when my uncle and aunt-in-law, who were Charlotte's parents, were still alive, Grandpa used to dote on both me and Charlotte equally.

But after Charlotte was adopted by my family, even Grandpa, who used to be so warm to me, started to feel more and more distant.

"Thank you for the birthday present, Grandpa," Charlotte said.

She gave Grandpa a sweet smile. She was holding the personalized jewelry and outfits Grandpa had picked out just for her.

Grandpa's smile faltered just a bit when he saw it.

I couldn't help but sigh to myself. It was around this time in my previous life that Grandpa started to pull away from me, always saying I wasn't as obedient or thoughtful as Charlotte.

Noticing my lack of response, Grandpa gave a couple of displeased coughs.

"So, you're just going to ignore your grandpa now?" he said.

"Grandpa." I tossed out the greeting. I planned to go upstairs and do some homework.

Honestly, I was going to take a break, but seeing them all together, I'd rather just keep working on my exercises.

"Olivia, your grandpa's right here. Why are you heading upstairs?" Michael said.

Michael grabbed my hand, refusing to let go. Was he really trying to make me stay and pretend we were one big happy family?

Grandpa shook his head.

"This kid is just so stubborn. But Olivia, acting like this really doesn't make you likable. Even family has their limits," he said.

I chuckled softly to myself. He said the same thing in my previous life, but honestly, hadn't I already given enough in this one?

"Yeah, whatever you say, Grandpa," I replied, not really meaning it.

I just gave a perfunctory nod.

Grandpa saw right through my act and let out a heavy sigh.

"Olivia, Grandpa came here just for my birthday. Don't give him the cold shoulder," Charlotte said.

She grabbed my hand tightly and forcibly pulled me right into their circle.

"Come on, apologize to Grandpa. When your birthday rolls around, he'll totally spoil you with something even better," she insisted.

Grandpa said pointedly, "Humph. I only give presents to good kids."

I actually burst out laughing this time.

Dad frowned. "What's so funny?"

I said wryly, "My next birthday isn't until next year. Isn't it a little too early to think about what Grandpa might get me next year?"

Everyone except Charlotte went stiff.

They must've just realized my birthday had already passed, and with them all too busy fussing over Charlotte these past few months, not a single one of them had bothered to remember it.

Michael grumbled, "That's only because you decided to stay in the dorm. Don't put that on us."

"Michael, that's enough," Mom snapped.

Honestly, she should know better. Even though I was living at school, it wouldn't have been hard for them to pick me up that day, or at the very least, shoot me a 'happy birthday' text.