June was scorching hot. Olivia Parker approached the mansion gate when a suitcase was thrown at her feet. A well-dressed woman stood at the entrance, staring at Olivia with envy. Her gaze swept over Olivia's features and complexion, dripping with undisguised disgust.
"I've had someone pack your belongings. You're leaving this house and going back to your biological parents starting today!" Kayla Watson, Olivia's "mom" for seventeen years, declared with contempt. Olivia stared at her indifferently without even glancing at the suitcase on the ground.
The commotion at the door the attention of those inside the house. Soon, Paul Parker, Olivia's father, and his two children came out as well. Paul looked at the suitcase near Olivia's feet, then at Kayla, his voice tinged with reproach.
"Kayla, what's happening? Olivia is our daughter, raised under our roof for eighteen years," Paul said.
"She's ungrateful!" Kayla glared at Olivia. "I allowed her to turn down the opportunity to be the city's image representative for Nicole's sake, but she refused. If I hadn't found the final list, she would still be deceiving us! "If she had any conscience, she would not have taken her sister's belongings!"
Nicole Parker, Kayla's daughter, heard this and hid her jealousy behind a feigned expression of resentment and sadness, saying, "Mom, please don't behave like this. It's The opportunity to be the city's representative is rare, so it's understandable that Sis would not want to pass up such a rare opportunity. Maybe I didn't do well enough; otherwise, I wouldn't have been chosen.
"Why are you any less than her? Everything she has is given to her by the Parker family," Kayla consoled Nicole in a gentle voice.
Olivia quietly observed their theatrical performances. She had seen countless performances like this in her life. At this moment, her heart was unaffected, and she even felt amused.
Three days prior, she was hit by a car while attempting to save Nicole and thrown sixty feet into the air. Many people thought she wouldn't survive. However, when the Parker family arrived at the scene, their first concern was to comfort Nicole, who had been shaken by the accident.
Olivia lay on the ground, her mind clouded, and a chilling cold spread throughout her body. What chilled her even more was Paul's conversation with Kayla.
"The front of the car has been totaled.She probably won't make it," Paul said grimly.
"That is a relief. If Olivia dies, it means she paid the price for Nicole. It won't be in vain that we raised her all these years..."Olivia had always known she was merely a pawn in the Parker family's game, raised to suffer disasters for Nicole's benefit.
As a child, Olivia couldn't understand why Kayla insisted on caring for Nicole around the clock whenever her sister became ill. However, every time Nicole recovered quickly under Olivia's care, Olivia became seriously ill.
Olivia didn't realize her fate was intertwined with Nicole's until she met her mentor, Diana Hayes, and Olivia bore the brunt of the misfortune.
The Parkers kept Olivia tethered to Nicole, using her good fortune to offset Nicole's bad luck. Nicole's fortunes improved over time, while Olivia's declined.
Olivia could have died in a car accident three days ago if she hadn't been prepared.
This accident caused Olivia's biological father to unexpectedly discover her.
"Are you finished? Can I leave now?" Olivia's voice cut through the tension, devoid of emotion. The callous discussion about her life and death had extinguished any remaining feelings she had for the Parker family.
"Do not blame your mother, Olivia. "You were the one at fault," Paul said, his expression grave as he emerged from the shadows.
"Since your biological parents have come for you, it's time for you to return to them," Paul said, his tone firm.
Nicole, too, spoke up, her tone timid but earnest. "Sister, please do not be angry with Mom. "She did it all for me." She gently handed Olivia an envelope containing 200.
"Here is some money. Dad told me that your biological parents live in a remote and underdeveloped area with poor internet access. It's better to have cash on hand," Nicole said, her eyes filled with guilt and concern.
Kayla, standing to the side, sneered, "Don't act like we haven't thought about our years together." This 200 can last you a year in your hometown. "Our family has been generous to you."
"Once you return there, chances are we won't cross paths again," she said with a dismissive smirk. "I've heard there are many old bachelors in your hometown who can't find wives. You can get married when you return. With your mediocre grades, college is unlikely anyway."
Olivia cast a disinterested look at Kayla's face, which hid malice behind a facade of generosity.
"Those deep forehead creases indicate that you are overthinking. Instead of worrying about me, maybe spend that 200 on some face masks," she said calmly. "Though I doubt it'll make much difference."
Kayla's face darkened instantly after hearing her words. "You insolent brat! Who gave you the right to speak to me like that?" She seethed, her hand ready to strike Olivia.
Olivia handled Kayla's rage with icy composure, shifting subtly to avoid the impending slap.
Kayla was taken aback by Olivia's evasion and exclaimed in surprise, "How dare you dodge..."
Nicole, who was nearby, quickly intervened, urging Olivia not to provoke their mother. Nicole's unspoken goal was to keep Olivia from dodging Kayla's slap.
As Olivia moved to push Nicole away, her attention was drawn to the bracelet on Nicole's wrist.
Olivia snatched Nicole's wrist, her tone cold as she inquired, "How did this bracelet end up with you?"
Nicole had purposefully worn the bracelet that day, hoping to show it off.
Nicole feigned distress as she noticed Olivia's sudden focus on her wrist and felt the abrupt grip, crying out, "Ouch, that hurts..."
Nicole's cry of pain prompted an immediate change in Kayla's expression. She grabbed Olivia's hand and yanked her away, yelling, "Olivia! "What do you think you are doing?"
Olivia remained focused on Nicole, her voice chillingly calm. "That bracelet was handed down to me by my grandmother," she said.
"That is absurd!" The bracelet was designated for the Parker family's girls. Since you are no longer a part of it, it naturally belongs to me!" Nicole responded sharply.
Olivia clenched her teeth and relaxed her grip on the suitcase. Turning to face Paul, she said firmly, "I don't want anything from the Parker Villa; I just want the bracelet my grandmother left me."
Stephanie Parker, her grandmother, was the one member of the Parker family she treasured the most.
Stephanie had been the only person in the family who truly cared about Olivia. Stephanie was concerned about Olivia's well-being after her death, even as she lay dying.
Stephanie left Olivia with only the bracelet as a keepsake.
Paul listened to Olivia's request impassively. "Although you were adopted, I've always considered you my daughter. The Parker family values principles, and we would not go so far as to deny you your belongings when you meet your biological parents. You should take what you need."
But Paul did not say whether he would return the bracelet.
Nicole intervened with apparent sympathy, her tone tinged with pity. "I understand how much you value this bracelet, Sister, but it belonged to our grandmother... How about this? I will transfer some money to you. Will 2,000 suffice? If not, how about 4,000?"
Her implication was clear—Olivia wanted to exchange the bracelet for money.
Olivia gave Nicole a cold glare.
Nicole recoiled from Olivia's expression, visibly trembling.
Kayla stepped in to protect Nicole and delivered a stern rebuke. "What's with the look? Did Nicole say something wrong? The Parker family originally owned the bracelet. What rights do you have to demand? Do not forget that you were raised by the Parkers. We've invested in you for years without asking for anything in return. We even gave you an additional two hundred. You are so ungrateful!"
Just then, Nicole's brother, David Parker, who had been silent until now, spoke up. His youthful features, which resembled Paul's, hinted at dissatisfaction and sorrow.
"Olivia, that bracelet is Nicole's. When did you become so greedy?" he asked.
Olivia clenched her fist at her side, only to hear him say, "If you relent and give the spot to Nicole, I can persuade Mom and Dad to let you stay."