Chapter 4
Olivia waited two hours in the cold wind by the roadside. No driver came.
She took out her phone. The first thing that popped up was Charlotte's social media update.
"So cold, but my husband takes care of my feet."
The photo showed Lucas bent over, touching her calf.
Olivia's hand tightened around her phone.
The drive home took less than an hour, but she walked from dusk till dawn.
When she finally pushed open the door, exhausted and disheveled, Lucas was sitting at the table, feeding Charlotte porridge spoon by spoon.
"Olivia!" Charlotte looked surprised. "Where were you last night? The driver went to pick you up and couldn't find you."
"Really? I'd like to ask him where he went to pick me up."
Olivia shot back, then dropped her high heels and headed upstairs. But the butler hurried over and stopped her.
"The old master wants everyone back at the Hall of Ancestors."
Olivia had been to the Black family's hall only twice.
The first time, Lucas had refused an arranged marriage to be with her. He took a beating from the family and knelt for three full days before old Mr. Black relented and let Olivia in to see him.
The second time was on their wedding night. In front of all the Black elders, Lucas personally wrote her name into the family register. His hand trembled slightly as he took hers.
This was the third time. From a distance, Olivia saw a crowd gathered in the hall. A bad feeling crept over her.
As Lucas passed by her, he narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "You arranged those reporters, didn't you? You'd stoop pretty low to force me back to your side."
Reporters? Olivia frowned, confused, but her unease grew.
Sure enough, as soon as she stepped inside, a stack of photos was thrown in her face.
"Look what you've done!" Old Mr. Black's face twisted with rage. "You've shamed the Blacks completely!"
Olivia looked down and saw the photos. They showed Lucas cornering her outside the bathroom last night.
She tried to explain, but before she could speak, Charlotte slapped her hard.
"Olivia! I treated you like a sister, and you go after my husband? Have you no shame?"
Charlotte's chest heaved with emotion, tears welling in her eyes.
With one sentence, she sealed the accusation that Olivia was a homewrecker.
Olivia instinctively raised her hand to strike back, but stopped when she saw Charlotte's pregnant belly.
In that half second of hesitation, Lucas grabbed her arm.
"You want to hit her? Look at yourself.
"I never thought you could be so cruel."
Disgust twisted his features. He shoved her hard to the ground.
All the grievance and anger surged inside Olivia.
What had she done wrong? Why was everyone blaming her?
"You tell them!" She pointed at Lucas, then at the crowd. "Who are you really? Who is your wife? What is the truth?"
Lucas's brow furrowed deeper. After a long moment, he said,
"I am who I am. Charlotte is my only wife."
He pulled Charlotte close. "No matter how you try to seduce me, I only love her."
Olivia stood frozen, her heart sinking, unable to breathe. Her hands and feet went numb.
The room was noisy, but all she could see was Lucas softly comforting a sobbing Charlotte.
The punishment board struck her again and again before she slowly regained sensation.
"Olivia, the Black family has done more than enough for you!" Old Mr. Black issued his final order.
"Get out of here now—"
"No!"
Lucas, who had been watching coldly, interrupted.
"She hasn't apologized to Charlotte yet."
Olivia turned to look at him and said softly, "Give it up. I will never apologize."
"You won't?" Lucas's gaze darkened. He gritted his teeth. "Then kneel at Charlotte's door until you do."
Olivia struggled to hold herself up. Her throat tightened, and she couldn't speak.
She had been wounded beyond repair. All she wanted was to leave the Black family as soon as possible.
Soon. The deadline was near. The one from her past would come for her.
Then Charlotte wiped the tears from her eyes and said, "Olivia has wronged us, but she already cut ties with the Hawthorne family. If we throw her out now, she won't be able to support herself. Why not send her to a remote warehouse as a caretaker? At least she'll have food and shelter for the rest of her life."
Lucas was silent for two seconds. "You're always so kind. I agree."
Olivia's smile froze.
She felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss.