Chapter 3

"Olivia."

I patted her hand gently. "The other woman never gets a good ending. Get some sleep, we have an early morning tomorrow."

I turned off the main light, leaving only a small night lamp.

Then I lay down with my back to her.

A long time passed.

I heard her voice, soft in the dark.

"Sophie, you're too naive. In this world, the winner takes everything."

I said nothing.

I pretended to be asleep.

But I knew.

The war had begun.

And my first card was already in my hand.

The child.

This unexpected child.

It would become my sharpest weapon.

The night deepened.

From the living room, I heard a faint rustle.

David was turning over, unable to sleep.

No surprise. His other woman had moved in and was sleeping beside his wife.

How thrilling.

How absurd.

I rested a hand on my stomach.

Silently counting.

Six weeks.

Forty-two days.

More than enough time to set my plan in motion.

Olivia, David.

You like sneaking around, don't you?

Then I will let you have your fill.

Until your reputations are ruined.

Until you have nothing left.

Outside, the moon slipped behind the clouds.

The night grew darker.

The real show had only just begun.

I woke up early the next morning.

David was still asleep on the couch.

Olivia was curled up beside me, breathing evenly.

I slipped out of bed as quietly as I could and went to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Fried eggs, warm milk, and toast.

All things David likes.

Seven years of habit don't just disappear.

Or maybe I don't want it to.

At least until everything is finished, I have to keep playing the part of a good wife.

"Sophie, you're up so early?"

Olivia came out rubbing her eyes. She was wearing my silk nightgown, the neckline cut low.

"I'm used to it."

I plated the eggs. "Go wash up. Breakfast's ready."

"Thanks, Sophie."

She leaned in to take a look. "Wow, this looks amazing. David's really lucky."

As she said it, her eyes drifted toward the living room.

David had just sat up, still half asleep.

Their eyes met.

Olivia quickly looked away, a faint blush creeping onto her face.

She's good at this.

If I hadn't seen them together in the kitchen before, I might have believed the act.

"Morning, Sophie."

David walked over, trying to kiss me.

I turned slightly and avoided him.

"Go wash your face first. You're all scruffy."

He froze for a second, then gave an awkward smile and headed to the bathroom.

Olivia followed him in. "David, can I use your razor? My electric toothbrush is dead."

"Sure."

The door closed.

I stood in the kitchen, listening to their muffled voices.

I couldn't make out what they were saying, but I could hear Olivia's laughter, light and sweet.

I picked up the milk and drank it in one go.

It was warm, but it didn't warm anything inside me.

At breakfast, Olivia kept the conversation going.

"David, is your company hiring? I'm thinking of getting an office job."

"I can ask," David said, lowering his head to drink his milk. "But your qualifications might not be enough."

"I have a junior college degree. That should count, right?" Olivia blinked at him. "I learn fast. You could teach me, David."

"I'm not good at teaching," he said with a dry laugh. "Ask Sophie to help you. She knows more people."

So now it was my turn.

"Sure," I said with a smile. "A friend of mine runs a wedding planning company. They're looking for an assistant. Olivia's pretty, she'd fit right in."

"A wedding company?" Olivia frowned. "I heard the hours are terrible. Sounds exhausting."

"What kind of job do you want then?" I asked.

"Something easy. Office work."

She said it like it was only natural. "Preferably close to David's company, so we can have lunch together."

David choked on his milk and started coughing.

I patted his back.

"Slow down," I said. Then I looked at Olivia. "Most of the offices near David's company have high requirements. You could try the wedding company first, get some experience."

"No."

Olivia put down her fork. "Sophie, are you trying not to help me?"

"Of course not," I said, still smiling. "I'm thinking about what's best for you."

"If you care about me, then find me a good job."

She pouted. "When Dad was sick, I took care of him for three months. I lost weight from it.

"Now I just want something easier. Is that too much to ask?"

Here we go again.

Every time she wants something, she brings up those three months.

Yes, she stayed at the hospital.

But I sent twenty thousand back every month and hired a caregiver.

Her version of "taking care" meant bringing meals once a day and sitting there for half an hour.

"It's not too much," David suddenly said. "Olivia did work hard.

"Sophie, use your connections and find her something better."

I looked at David.

He wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Fine," I said. "I'll try."

"Thanks, David!"

Olivia's face lit up instantly. "You're the one who's always good to me."

I kept my head down and ate.

I kept my head down and ate.

I couldn't taste anything.

After breakfast, David left for work.

Olivia said she'd walk him downstairs.

I didn't stop her.

I stood on the balcony and looked down.

David's car was parked by the entrance.

Olivia adjusted his tie, her hand lingering on his chest for a few seconds.

Then she glanced around quickly, rose onto her toes, and kissed his cheek.

David didn't pull away.

He just patted her on the head, then got in the car and drove off.

Olivia stayed there, waving, until the car disappeared.

Only then did she turn and head back upstairs.

I went back into the living room.

My heart was completely still.

I almost felt like laughing.

Seven years of marriage, and it couldn't compete with a single kiss from a young girl.

My phone rang.

It was Sarah.

"Sophie, have you eaten?"

"Yes."

"Olivia made it to your place, right?"

"She got here last night."

"Good."

Sarah let out a breath. "That child has had a hard life. Take good care of her. She's your sister, after all."

"Mom, she's adopted," I said.

"Adopted or not, she's still my daughter." Sarah's voice rose. "Your father brought her home back then to raise her as his own."

"I know."

I didn't want to argue.

Growing up, whenever Olivia was involved, I was the one who had to give in. Clothes, toys, everything.

Now even my husband.

"Oh, right. Michael wants to buy a car."

Sarah got to the point. "He found one he likes. It's over seventy thousand, but he's a bit short. Do you have some money to lend him?"

"I don't."

"How can that be? You and David both earn well."

"We still have the mortgage and a lot of expenses."

"Then ask David to figure something out. Michael's your brother. If you don't help him, who will?"