Forbidden Love

The evening was stiflingly hot.

Olivia Smith stood at the entrance of the pool hall, clutching a lunchbox. Inside, the sounds of pool balls clacking and men laughing echoed out.

She really didn't want to go in, but her mother, Indigo Smith's pleading voice still rang in her ears from the phone call.

"Olivia, just this once, please. Your brother John has a bad stomach... Don't let him go hungry. Just drop it off and leave, okay?"

"Please, I'm begging you. Our life at the Williams Villa isn't easy. We have to keep him happy..."

'Keep him happy?'

'Treating a tall, strong man who can take care of himself like a child?'

Olivia took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy glass door.

A foul smell hit her immediately, and she frowned.

The lighting was dim, and although there weren't many people, the place was chaotic.

She quickly scanned the room but didn't see the figure she feared—her half-brother, John Williams.

"Hey, look! John's girlfriend is here!"

A blond guy with a cigarette hanging from his mouth spotted her first and shouted in a mocking tone.

People at the nearby pool tables turned to look, their eyes lingering on Olivia because of her good looks.

She had a small face with smooth skin, wearing a teal dress that accentuated her slender figure.

Hearing the term "girlfriend," Olivia's face turned red.

She wanted to explain, but remembered John's warning and swallowed her words.

"Keep your mouth shut, Olivia!"

"If anyone finds out about your mom and my dad, you both will be kicked out of the Williams Villa!"

Feeling embarrassed, Olivia heard a crisp sound of a pool ball hitting, followed by some exclamations from the back of the hall.

Instinctively, she looked over.

A tall man straightened up next to a pool table in the corner.

He was wearing a black T-shirt, having just made a shot, holding the cue casually, with a relaxed smile on his face.

"Hey, Olivia, don't be shy. I've seen you before!"

The blond guy moved closer, the smell of smoke wafting over.

"Come on, tell us, how did you meet John? He sure moves fast!"

Others joined in, making Olivia's cheeks burn. She just wanted to drop off the lunchbox and leave as soon as possible.

Then she noticed the man in the corner glancing over at her.

"What are you all crowding around for?"

A lazy yet chilling voice suddenly came from the direction of the door.

Olivia's body stiffened, her heart nearly stopping.

John had returned.

Chewing gum, hands in his pockets, he walked over slowly, wearing that familiar, cynical smile with a hint of menace that Olivia knew all too well.

He didn't see Olivia at first, but when he did, his gaze turned into icy daggers.

Olivia hurriedly stepped forward, handing over the lunchbox, her voice barely audible.

"I thought you'd be alone..."

A loud thud exploded next to her ear.

Without even glancing at the lunchbox, John swung his hand violently!

The lunchbox flew out of Olivia's hand, crashing onto the floor near her feet. The lid popped off, spilling food and soup everywhere, dirtying her worn canvas shoes.

"Who told you to come here?" John's voice rose, filled with undisguised annoyance and malice. "How many times have I told you not to show up in front of me? Can't you understand plain English?"

The familiar fear washed over Olivia, and everyone was stunned by John's sudden outburst. In the dead silence, the sound of a pool table being cleared chimed.

Then, the tall figure from the corner stepped out of the shadows. Olivia lifted her tear-filled eyes and saw the man from earlier, then quickly lowered her head when she noticed John's malicious gaze.

"John, that's enough."

Charles Green's calm yet firm voice broke the tension as he walked over. John froze, then seemed to find something extremely amusing. The violence on his face faded, replaced by a disturbing smile, his gaze flicking between Charles and Olivia.

"Charles, did I hear you right? You're sticking your nose in now?" He sneered, nodding towards Olivia with a flippant tone as if discussing an object. "Interested? Sure, she's yours."

Olivia stood frozen, her face pale. She hadn't expected Indigo's afternoon efforts to turn into trash on the floor. A strong sense of humiliation and anger overpowered her fear. She suddenly lifted her head, glaring at John's annoyed face, her voice sharp.

"John, who do you think you are?"

"Mom spent all afternoon worrying about your stomach, making this food! She cut her hand and didn't even complain!"

"I rushed over after school without doing my homework, afraid you'd go hungry! Do you even have a conscience?"

The pool hall fell silent. Everyone stared in shock at the usually quiet and timid Olivia, now daring to confront the notoriously difficult John. Even John himself was stunned. He hadn't expected the usually submissive Olivia to fight back.

After shouting, Olivia felt drained. She turned abruptly and ran out, disappearing into the night. John watched her vanish, scratching his head in frustration, his shock replaced by deeper anger. He was about to lash out at his stunned friends when Charles's calm voice interrupted.

"John."

John turned sharply, meeting Charles's deep, unreadable eyes. Charles's gaze lingered on the door where Olivia had disappeared.

"What?" John's tone remained angry and impatient, still upset from being interrupted. "You saw it yourself, the house is a mess, I'm really not in the mood to apologize!"

He assumed Charles was there to reprimand him. Charles slowly looked back at John, his face expressionless.

"No need to apologize."

He paused, then asked clearly in John's confused and irritated gaze.

"Just tell me, which school does Olivia go to?"

Charles's question hit like a stone thrown into still water.

John whipped his head around, his face still showing signs of irritation, now mixed with a layer of disbelief.

"You're asking about her?"

"Charles, are you serious?"

Charles's gaze was heavy and fixed on John's face. He didn't respond, but his expression showed he wasn't joking.

The group around John immediately started to jeer, with whistles and strange noises filling the air.

"Charles has a crush?"

"I knew it! The way Charles was looking at Olivia earlier was off!"

"No way, I've never seen Charles interested in a girl before. I always thought he might be a..."

"Shut up!"

John's head pounded from the noise. He shot the group a fierce glare, his shout silencing them.

Running a hand through his hair in frustration, he met Charles's deep, unreadable eyes, feeling a surge of inexplicable frustration.

He knew Charles too well. The calmer Charles was, the scarier he became.

Charles finally spoke again. "I was just asking."

"Fine."

John practically growled his response, his tone sharp enough to cut.

"Olivia goes to our school! Celestial University! Happy now?"

He stepped closer, his voice heavy with warning.

"Charles, let me be clear! You'd better just be curious!"

"Olivia is the daughter of the woman my dad married. She annoys me just by existing! If you consider me a friend, stay away from her and don't bother me!"

Charles didn't respond to John's outburst, only giving a slight nod.

His eyes flicked to the door where Olivia had disappeared, something fleeting and unreadable flashing in his gaze.

"Got it."

His voice remained steady as he turned and walked out, as if his earlier question had been a mere afterthought.

But John couldn't calm down; the anger inside him was boiling over.

Fuck, everyone was out to piss him off!

It was past eleven when John, reeking of smoke and alcohol, pushed open the front door.

The living room was dimly lit by a single lamp. Olivia was just coming out of the kitchen with a glass of milk, quietly heading to her room, her phone in hand, the screen's light reflecting off her expressionless face.

"Stop right there!"

John's voice cut through the silence, low but clear.

Olivia didn't even pause, acting as if she hadn't heard him.

Her disregard ignited John's fury.

He stormed over, his imposing figure blocking her doorway, his tone aggressive.

"Olivia! What the hell was that this afternoon? Yelling at me in front of everyone? Who do you think you are?"

Olivia finally looked up at him.

Her usually timid eyes were now cold and sharp, like ice.

They reflected the dim light and John's angry, contorted face.

There was no fear, only a strange, piercing calm that John didn't recognize.

"Me? Going crazy?"

Her voice was low but clear, carrying a cold determination.

"John, just because I live in your house, do I have to act like a dog, begging for scraps, turning the other cheek when hit?"

"My mom and your dad are legally married!"

John was momentarily stunned by her words and gaze, then his anger flared even hotter.

"Don't give me that crap! If you're living under someone else's roof, you should act like it!"

Olivia let out a soft, mocking laugh, the sound like needles.

"Don't worry, you won't have to kick me out. Next Monday, I'm starting a job at the new flower shop near school."

"I'll earn my own money, and as soon as I have enough, I'll move out."

"I'm not like you, relying on your dad's money and house to act tough, no different from those useless rich kids outside!"

"Say that again!"

John jabbed a finger at Olivia, veins bulging on his forehead, his voice hoarse with rage.

"Enough!"

A sharp voice suddenly cut through the tension.

Olivia's mother, Indigo, hurried down the stairs, her face full of worry and fear.

She didn't even look at Olivia, rushing straight to John's side, reaching out to him, her voice trembling.

"John! John! Don't be mad! Olivia doesn't know any better; she's just talking nonsense!"

She patted John's back frantically, like soothing a frightened child.

"I apologize on her behalf! Please, calm down!"

Almost simultaneously, John's father, Theo Williams, emerged from his study, his face dark.

His stern gaze swept over the tense scene, finally landing on John with undeniable authority.

"John! Put your hand down! What do you think you're doing? Apologize to Olivia!"

"Apologize?"

John shook off Indigo's hand, like a lit fuse ready to explode. He pointed at Olivia, shouting at Theo.

"Dad! Look at her! She's the one who started it!"

"As long as she's here, I'll never have peace!"

His bloodshot eyes glared at Olivia, each word dripping with hatred and finality.

"Fine! You think you're tough? You want to be independent? Then get out!"

"Drop out of school! Leave this house! Get out of my sight! I never want to see your face again!"

The words hit Olivia like a sledgehammer.

She swayed, looking at John's hate-filled face in disbelief.

Indigo turned pale, wanting to say something but unable to, instinctively reaching for John's arm again.

"Drop out?"

Olivia's voice was icy, sharp with a hint of desperation.

"John, who do you think you are? You think you can just kick someone out?"

She turned to Indigo, her eyes filled with disappointment and sorrow.

"Mom, did you hear that? This is the person you told me to 'get along' with!"

"This is the 'good life' you wanted me to endure for!"

"Everyone, shut up!"

Theo slammed his hand on the table, the loud bang making the chandelier tremble.

His chest heaved with anger, his eyes sharp as he surveyed the chaotic scene.

"John! Say 'drop out' one more time! This house is not yours to command!"

He took a deep breath, forcing down his rage, his voice low but commanding.

"Now, everyone, go to your rooms! We'll talk when we've calmed down!"

Silence fell.

John's chest heaved, his eyes burning with hatred as he glared at Olivia.

He turned abruptly, like an enraged lion, storming up the stairs.

A thunderous crash echoed as John slammed his bedroom door with all his might.

The sound reverberated through the empty living room, lingering long after.