Chapter 7 Crisis on a Rainy Night

Olivia couldn't concentrate in her afternoon classes at all.

Charles's "I like you" and the flirty moments at the grocery store kept replaying in her mind like a broken record.

She had to admit, she didn't dislike Charles.

Even though she hadn't seen him for days, meeting him again made her easily influenced, easily swayed.

Indeed, in the eyes of most girls, Charles was handsome, a top student, came from a good family, had a gentle personality, and was well-rounded in every aspect. He seemed to have no flaws at all.

And for her, Charles had even stood up for her several times.

Olivia couldn't help but ask herself, what was she resisting?

It was John.

This thought hit her like a bucket of cold water.

Charles was John's best friend.

Just that fact alone was enough to extinguish any inappropriate expectations she might have had.

"Olivia! I've got some juicy gossip!"

Lily leaned over, lowering her voice, her face full of excitement.

"Another hottie at our school has a girlfriend! Someone caught them together!"

Olivia's heart sank, her fingertips turning cold.

Could it be... Charles?

She had just been thinking that Charles didn't have any rumors at school.

"Who is it?"

Olivia felt pathetic, her heart racing, her voice dry.

"John!"

Lily showed her a photo on her phone; it was John with his arm around a long-haired girl.

"Apparently, this girl has been chasing him for a while, and now she's his girlfriend!"

"John sure is popular with the girls, huh?"

So it was John.

Olivia let out a sigh of relief, then felt ridiculous.

She looked at the photo of John with his carefree attitude and shook her head repeatedly.

"I don't think so. I'm a girl too, and I don't like guys like him at all."

Seeing the undisguised disdain on Olivia's face, Lily wisely chose not to continue the topic.

After all, the pain from one's family is truly hard to empathize with.

In the evening, the sky was overcast.

Olivia walked out of the school gate and saw the Williams family's car already waiting.

She opened the car door, and sure enough, John and his new girlfriend were sitting in the back seat.

"Olivia, come join us!"

The girl's voice was sweet, but her smile felt fake.

Seeing Olivia get in, she even scooted over to make room for her.

But Olivia didn't want to engage with her. She forced a smile and sat down.

The car started.

The atmosphere was tense, Olivia stayed silent, and John was engrossed in his phone, legs crossed.

Suddenly, the girl started making small talk, but Olivia could sense the underlying hostility in her words.

"John says you're really good at studying. I'm so jealous. I'm not as smart."

"I heard you're working a job too? That must be tough."

"But it's good to be independent early, especially since you're not in your own home, right?"

"John will inherit the family business, and he'll be really busy. Even though you're his sister, you shouldn't be a burden..."

Every sentence reminded her that she was an outsider, there to "compete for the inheritance."

John soon closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat, seemingly asleep.

He showed no reaction to his girlfriend's passive-aggressive comments, essentially condoning them.

Olivia gripped her backpack strap tightly, her stomach churning.

As the car turned a corner, she suddenly spoke up.

"Stop the car!"

The driver was startled and instinctively hit the brakes.

"I'm feeling carsick, I'll walk home."

Olivia threw out the excuse, opened the car door, and got out, walking away quickly without looking back.

"Olivia..."

She didn't even hear John's girlfriend's feigned surprise.

Olivia didn't walk fast; she didn't want to go home. As soon as she stepped into the Williams Villa, the oppressive atmosphere hit her.

In the living room, Theo sat on the couch with a stern face, while Indigo was cautiously trying to calm him down.

"...John is old enough to date, it's normal. Why are you so angry..."

Olivia's unspoken anger surged again.

'It's always like this! John could do no wrong; he always needs protection!'

Indigo saw Olivia return and quickly went upstairs to check on her.

"Olivia's back? Are you hungry? I..."

Olivia abruptly shook off her hand, her voice cold as ice.

"Mom, sometimes I really wonder, is John your real child?"

Indigo's face turned extremely ugly.

"Olivia! What nonsense are you talking about!"

"Nonsense?"

Olivia looked at her, her eyes filled with disappointment and a hint of sarcasm.

"Dating, you cover for him. He parties, you think it's normal."

"He insults me, kicks me out, and you tell me to endure! Now his dad says a few words to him, and you're busy defending him! Do you even care about me, your daughter?!"

Indigo, furious, raised her hand and slapped Olivia! She was stunned after she did it.

Olivia held her face, looking at Indigo in disbelief, the last glimmer of light in her eyes extinguished.

She said nothing more, turned, and ran out of the house.

Outside, it had started pouring rain.

The cold rain soaked Olivia's thin clothes instantly.

She wandered aimlessly in the rainy night, her face wet with rain or tears; it was hard to tell.

She was enveloped in feelings of grievance, anger, and the coldness of betrayal by her closest family.

"Isn't that Olivia?"

A sleazy voice sounded through the rain.

Olivia was startled and looked up.

It was Rhea, John's friend, whom she had met at the basketball court earlier.

At the alley entrance, the drunken Rhea was leaning against the wall, his eyes blurry as he stared at her.

"Getting soaked, huh? Poor thing!"

Rhea staggered over, blocking her path, a disgusting smile on his face.

"Olivia, I've... I've actually liked you for a long time! I didn't first see you at the basketball court, but at the school field, back then you were..."

"Get lost!"

Olivia shouted, trying to get around him.

But Rhea grabbed her arm with surprising strength, his breath reeking of alcohol.

"Don't go! Give me a chance! I promise I'll treat you better than any man! I'll chase you, cherish you..."

Fear gripped Olivia instantly.

She struggled desperately, screaming.

"Let go of me! Help!"