Chapter 1 Misidentification

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?"