Chapter 80 Family Party
As soon as Luca finished speaking, his grip on the steering wheel tightened.
He knew his words came out of nowhere, but since they were already said, there was no taking them back.
"I don't see you as just anyone," he said, turning his head with a much more serious look in his eyes than usual. "I just think that with you staying at home, Grandpa is happy, and my parents like you too. There's no need for you to leave."
Olivia let out a scoff and turned her head to look at the streets flashing by outside the window.
"Luca, don't waste your breath on this nonsense," she said coldly. "We agreed long ago that we'd divorce after the family party. Are you trying to back out now?"
"I'm not backing out," Luca frowned. "I just feel like things between us aren't that bad."
He had actually gotten used to looking after Olivia these past few days.
Seeing her boss him around without a second thought, catching glimpses of her little tantrums, even watching her cold demeanor when facing off with Windy—it all felt much better than the distant, stranger-like relationship they had before.
Sometimes, he even wondered if things would have been like this much earlier if the whole mess with Windy hadn't happened.
"Not that bad?" Olivia turned her head, her eyes filled with mockery. "We're in a business marriage. You've got someone else in your heart, and all I feel for you is disappointment. Isn't that bad enough?"
At the mention of Windy, Luca's face darkened. He knew he'd messed up in the past, but he was trying to change now.
"I'm not going to make excuses for what happened before," he said, taking a deep breath. "But I'm serious now. Think it over, don't just keep focusing on divorce."
Olivia didn't say anything more, just turned her head back to stare out the window.
In the blink of an eye, the day of the family party arrived.
Early in the morning, Luca had someone deliver a custom-made gown and jewelry to Olivia.
It was a champagne-colored mermaid dress, with pearls delicately adorning the neckline, paired with a simple set of diamond jewelry. The whole look made her appear elegant and classy.
"Looks really nice," Luca said, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Olivia in the dress.
How had he never noticed before how well this color suited her?
Olivia ignored him, carefully adjusting the hem of her dress in front of the mirror, her mind only on getting through this party and finally being free.
Luca's driver was already waiting downstairs. The two of them got into the car and headed toward the family estate.
The estate was already buzzing with activity. Decorations were everywhere, servants were rushing around, and quite a few relatives had already arrived.
As soon as they walked in, Linus came over with a big smile, taking Olivia's hand and looking her up and down. "Olivia, you look stunning. This dress is perfect on you."
"Thank you, Grandpa," Olivia replied politely with a smile.
Clara also came over, handing her a glass of juice. "Have something to drink to tide you over. The party will go on for a while, so don't let yourself get hungry."
Arthur, standing nearby, nodded as well, his tone gentle. "There are a lot of people here today. Don't feel shy. If you want anything to eat, just let the staff know."
Olivia responded to each of them, though she felt a bit uneasy inside.
This feeling of being genuinely cared for by a family left her a little dazed, stirring a faint, unwanted longing.
She quickly shook her head, pushing the thought away.
Luca stood beside her, naturally wrapping his arm around her waist as he greeted relatives who came over. His actions were so close and casual, as if they were truly a loving couple.
Olivia's body stiffened for a moment, wanting to pull away, but Luca quietly pressed his hand against her side and whispered, "Play along, don't disappoint Grandpa."
Olivia had no choice but to endure it, letting him hold her while keeping a polite smile on her face.
The party soon officially started, with everyone gathering in small groups to chat and drink. The atmosphere was lively.
Linda showed up too. She had always thought Luca was too young to be in charge of the entire company and had been holding a grudge for a while. Seeing Luca and Olivia together, she walked over with a glass of wine, her eyes carrying a hint of sarcasm.
"Luca, you're really starting to look like a CEO," she said with a smile, her gaze sweeping over Olivia. "And Olivia, you're getting prettier by the day. Looks like you've been taken good care of lately."
Olivia smiled politely but didn't respond.
Linda, however, wasn't planning to stop there. She took a sip of her wine and continued with a pointed tone. "Speaking of which, I heard a while back that you and Luca were getting a divorce. But looking at you now, it must've just been a rumor."
Her voice wasn't exactly quiet, and a few nearby relatives turned to look.
Luca's face darkened. "Linda, don't spread baseless gossip."
"I just heard it somewhere," Linda raised an eyebrow. "But then again, it's a business marriage. There's no real love in that. Even if there's talk of divorce, it wouldn't be surprising."
Her words were clearly a jab at Olivia and a challenge to Luca's marriage.
The murmurs around them quieted down as everyone waited to see Olivia's reaction.
Olivia's grip on her glass tightened, but her smile didn't waver. Her tone, however, turned cold. "Linda, that's not a fair thing to say. Whether Luca and I are doing well is our business, not something for outsiders to judge. Besides, what's wrong with a business marriage? Plenty of couples in such marriages end up happy. That's better than some who seem loving on the outside but are scheming behind each other's backs."
Her words carried a clear implication, and Linda's face instantly turned pale.
Everyone knew that Linda and her husband were only together for appearances, bound by mutual benefit.
Luca hadn't expected Olivia to hit back so directly. He was stunned for a moment before a faint smile tugged at his lips.
He knew his wife was never someone to be pushed around.
"Olivia's right," Clara said, walking over and naturally linking her arm with Olivia's, giving Linda a cold look. "Our family's matters are none of your concern. You should focus on your own life."
Arthur also spoke up with a frown. "Linda, today is a family party. Can't we just enjoy ourselves? Why bring up unpleasant things?"
Linda was left speechless, her face alternating between red and pale.
Linus came over as well, his expression stern. "Linda, if you're here to cause trouble, you can leave right now."
The old man's presence was commanding, and Linda shrank back, not daring to say another word.
"Grandpa, it's fine," Olivia quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "She was just talking casually. I didn't take it to heart."
Linus let out a huff but didn't press the issue with Linda. Instead, he turned to the surrounding relatives, his tone firm. "Today is our family party. It's not easy for everyone to gather like this. I don't want to hear any more nonsense. If I do, don't blame me for being harsh."
The relatives quickly nodded, and no one dared to speak out of turn again.
The atmosphere soon became lively again, and Linda wisely walked away, not daring to stir up more trouble.
Luca looked down at Olivia, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Didn't expect you to be so fierce."
"When dealing with people like her, there's no need to hold back," Olivia shot him a glance, pulling away from the hand he had around her waist. "Don't get too touchy. There are a lot of eyes on us."