Chapter 44 Never Come Back Again
Olivia's eyes turned red with grievance, and she still wanted to defend Isabella, pointing at the photo to scold Nathan.
Nathan was also getting angry and started arguing with Olivia.
"Mom and Dad are already planning to divorce anyway! Dad's going to marry Laura eventually, and we'll be the real family from now on. Why should we keep photos of you guys in the house?"
Besides the shattered frame on the floor, there was also a photo of Nathan and Laura displayed on the small bookshelf in the children's room.
Isabella had never known Nathan could smile so brightly. He was hugging Laura's neck, his face glowing with happiness.
This was something Isabella rarely got to see.
"You're lying!" Olivia shouted.
Nathan snorted. "If that's not true, then why did you and Mom move out of the house? Didn't you see it yourself that day at the amusement park?"
Laura and William had been walking so close together—even though Olivia was just a child, she should have been able to tell.
"I don't want that woman to be my mother! In my heart, Mom can never be replaced by anyone!" Olivia declared loudly.
Nathan let out another cold laugh. "That's just what you think! In my heart, Laura is the best person in the world, and I want her to be my new mom!"
The two children went back and forth, arguing fiercely to defend the mother they each held dearest in their hearts.
Olivia was so furious that she ran straight to the bookshelf, grabbed the photo of Nathan and Laura, and threw it hard onto the floor.
The glass shattered on impact.
Her action enraged Nathan, who rushed over and grabbed Olivia's soft hair, yanking it hard. Then he pushed her backward. Olivia couldn't steady herself and stumbled, forced to fall sideways. She almost put her hand down right on the broken glass.
Isabella's heart panicked as she quickly walked over and helped the fallen Olivia to her feet.
Isabella turned her head and looked coldly at Nathan. She rarely showed such an expression, and the sight of it startled Nathan.
He knew he was in the wrong and felt uneasy, softening his voice somewhat as he said to Isabella, "Olivia threw my photo first..."
"Apologize to Olivia."
Isabella's voice sounded as if it had been frozen in ice. She reached out and gently patted Olivia's shoulder, soothing her emotions.
She had long since seen through William and Nathan, had expectations for any of their behavior, so her mood was completely numb—she didn't feel sad about it.
But Olivia was different. She still held certain expectations for William and Nathan in her heart, and expectations meant the potential for hurt.
"You threw away our family photo first!" Olivia was also aggrieved.
Even knowing that her parents' divorce was inevitable, she still wanted to preserve some of the beautiful memories from before, but Nathan had destroyed everything.
"I'm not apologizing!" Perhaps Isabella's attitude was too cold, triggering Nathan's rebellious psychology. He lifted his chin and stared at Isabella and Olivia with hostility.
"I didn't do anything wrong, so why should I apologize?"
"If anyone should apologize, it should be Olivia apologizing to me first!"
Olivia was also defiant. Even with Isabella holding her back, she still wanted to have a proper argument with Nathan. It looked like the two were about to start fighting again.
William heard the chaotic sounds from upstairs and entered to see another floor covered with glass shards.
He frowned.
"What's going on?"
William spoke in his usual cold, detached tone. Having just argued with Isabella, his gaze swept coolly over her.
Isabella felt calm, speaking to William without any emotion.
"Nathan threw away our old photo and replaced it with a picture of the three of you. Olivia wanted that photo, and then they started fighting."
Looking at the glass shards on the floor, Isabella's heart felt as if it had been viciously cut by those fragments. After the instant of pain, only a doubled clarity of mind remained.
"Olivia threw the photo, and Nathan pushed her just now."
After comforting Olivia, Isabella gently patted her shoulder. "Nathan was wrong to push you, but you also shouldn't have thrown his photo."
Since Isabella was going to be reasonable, she couldn't take sides.
Olivia was still somewhat aggrieved, but after hearing Isabella's words, she pressed her lips together and immediately said to Nathan without hesitation, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have thrown your photo."
William also looked at Nathan, who was still angry, pouting, and showing no intention of speaking.
"Nathan, apologize," William urged.
Nathan looked up at William with disbelief, his eyes full of grievance. "I don't want to! Laura said this is my house, and I can do whatever I want here. Anyone who comes to my house has to respect me!"
"Olivia chose to leave with Mom herself. She's not part of our family anymore, so why should I apologize to her?"
Nathan had learned a bunch of wrong ideas from Laura and was saying completely rude things.
William's expression darkened. "Nathan, apologize to Olivia!"
William's expression was terrifyingly cold, his entire presence radiating an intimidating aura.
Nathan was also afraid of him like this, his neck shrinking involuntarily.
But he quickly recovered and continued to be stubborn with William. "Laura was right—you all like Olivia more and don't like me at all! I never want to come back to this house again!"
Nathan angrily ran out, disappearing to who knows where.
Isabella watched Nathan run away with mixed emotions, feeling utterly disappointed.
Isabella had always treated both children equally, and because Nathan's health was somewhat weaker, Isabella had been extra attentive to him in many matters.
She never expected Laura to turn Nathan against her so easily.
Isabella took Olivia's hand and walked past William with an expressionless face.
They left William's mansion, and Isabella called for a rideshare.
After getting in the car, Olivia kept looking up at Isabella, her eyes overflowing with worry, her entire face written with concern for Isabella.
She was really afraid that Isabella had taken Nathan's words to heart.
"Mommy, I think you're the best mother in the world, and no one can replace you! That woman isn't good at all—I don't like her one bit!"
Olivia leaned against Isabella, speaking with a pouty mouth.
These words warmed the heart as soon as they were spoken. Every sentence from Olivia could heal the wounds in Isabella's heart.