Chapter 415: Anyone but Her
After checking in, Olivia returned to the research lab.
When she walked in, Oscar was already at work.
Seeing Olivia appear, he quickly put down the documents in his hands, looking somewhat excited and happy. "Olivia, you're back? I thought you wouldn't come back to the team."
Olivia asked, puzzled, "Why would you say that?"
Oscar awkwardly touched his nose and said, "Because of Zoey's situation, I thought..."
Olivia understood.
She shook her head and told him, "Don't worry, I'm not the type to mix personal matters with work. Zoey is Zoey. I can't give up my own ideals and pursuits because of what she did. Here at the research institute, I only think about how to make our team's work more efficient and better. Besides, we've worked together for so long, we've developed some understanding in our work. If I switched to another colleague now, we'd have to adapt all over again, and things wouldn't go as smoothly, right?"
Oscar felt relieved hearing this. "Yes, you're absolutely right."
Good thing her attitude toward him hadn't changed.
She also didn't blame him because of Zoey and Charlotte's situation.
But Oscar didn't take it for granted or think he was blameless.
He still needed to apologize.
"I'm sorry. Because of me, you suffered for no reason. If it weren't for me, maybe Zoey wouldn't have made that mistake."
Olivia waved her hand. "That's all in the past, Oscar. You already apologized to me on the phone. Let's not bring it up again. Zoey has already gotten the punishment she deserved, and I don't want to talk about those unpleasant things anymore. Let's just move on, okay? Instead of dwelling on the past, let's talk about our upcoming work. Has the new team member assigned from above arrived yet?"
Oscar felt at ease and quickly adjusted his mindset, telling her, "Haven't seen them yet. They probably haven't arrived."
Just as he finished speaking, there was a knock on the door.
Olivia thought it must be the new team member and immediately looked back.
To her surprise, she saw a familiar face.
"Liam?"
Olivia looked at him in surprise and asked, "Why is it you? You're our team's new member?"
Liam waved at her, smiling warmly. "Olivia, surprised? Unexpected?"
"It really is quite a surprise."
Olivia nodded with a smile.
She knew Liam's capabilities.
She had wondered before why someone as talented as Liam hadn't come to take the research institute's assessment.
She thought maybe the Blake family wouldn't let him come.
Otherwise, with his abilities, he would definitely rank high.
Liam explained, "I didn't like this kind of strictly scheduled work before. I didn't want to clock in on time, so I never considered the research institute. But a few days ago, they approached me to fill Zoey's vacancy. I thought since you're here, I asked if I could be on your team. They said as long as I could pass the assessment, they could arrange it. So I gave it a try, and after waiting a few days, the assessment team told me this morning that I passed. When I went to report to Leon just now, he sent me straight here."
At this point, Liam said with a grin, "Olivia, I followed you all the way here, so in your spare time, you must teach me everything you know!"
"So that's how it is."
Olivia couldn't help but laugh.
She was really impressed by Liam.
To learn more medical skills, he was really willing to go all out.
Even compromising on a work style he didn't like.
Seeing how serious he was about medicine, Olivia nodded and raised her hand toward him. "Welcome to the team."
"No problem!"
Liam happily shook hands with her and Oscar.
Olivia had been a bit worried before that after a new team member joined, they would need time to adjust to each other.
But now that it was Liam, they could skip that process.
Because during the past period, their academic exchanges and collaboration in research experiments had already made them very familiar with each other.
With her leading in the middle, Liam and Oscar could also adapt to each other's work rhythm in a short time and coordinate quickly.
Oscar was actually surprised by Liam's arrival too.
However, he welcomed Liam joining the team.
After all, the stronger the team members' abilities, the higher their efficiency and overall effectiveness.
Although both people in front of him were younger than him, their abilities were undeniable.
Since everyone was now in place, Olivia didn't waste time and immediately pulled the two of them together for a small meeting.
They quickly coordinated the upcoming work arrangements.
They also needed to familiarize themselves with the new tasks assigned by their superiors.
Time flew by as they got busy.
On the other side, Andrew also returned to the company to handle some important matters.
Near evening, he made a special trip home.
Anna went back with him.
Since the night of the ball, Finnegan had asked Andrew to come home several times, but he had made excuses to put it off.
This made Finnegan quite unhappy.
Anna knew about this.
She also guessed what Finnegan wanted to talk to Andrew about.
It must be something related to Olivia again.
Out of concern, she went along.
When Andrew and Anna entered, Patrick and Jessica were also there.
After Andrew greeted them, he looked at Finnegan, who was sitting upright in the living room.
"You wanted to see me?"
Finnegan saw him and said in an unfriendly tone, "So you still know to come back?"
Andrew calmly sat down beside him. "Of course I know. The way home hasn't changed. Besides, you probably don't have anything important. Your health is constantly monitored by specialists, and I know everything clearly."
Finnegan's expression was displeased.
Andrew being too smart wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Nothing around him escaped Andrew's control.
Every time he urgently called Andrew back, Andrew appeared unhurried and composed.
Finnegan angrily darkened his face and simply stopped talking.
Andrew naturally knew what he was upset about.
But he wasn't in a hurry. His expression remained calm as he proactively brought up the topic. "Grandpa still won't change his mind?"
Finnegan said coldly, "She's excellent, I can admit that, but she's not the right person for you!"
Andrew replied, "Whether she's right for me is for me to say. I'm the one living life with her, not with Grandpa."
This wasn't the first time Finnegan had been angered.
But he still wasn't used to it. Hearing him talk back again made him furious. "Why are you so stubborn? No matter how good she is, she still has a child! The girl's biological father is still around. You don't really think that child will accept you as her father, do you? That night at the ball, you don't think I was unaware? The Johnson family was there too. Why do you think they went? Can't you see? Their years of marriage, can it just be broken off like that? Especially blood relations!"
As if knowing he couldn't beat Andrew in an argument, Finnegan didn't waste his breath.
He directly threw something he had prepared in advance in front of him, saying irritably, "See for yourself."
What he threw to Andrew was a stack of photos.
Andrew didn't pick them up, his eyes casually glancing at them.
The content of the photos was from that night when Michael went to find Olivia alone.
From the angle of the photos, you didn't need to think to know they were taken secretly.
However, what surprised Andrew somewhat was that the photos also included Michael's parents.
Hayden and Amelia appeared together outside Bianca's school.
Andrew narrowed his long eyes and asked, "Where did you get these photos?"
Finnegan replied in an unfriendly tone, "Don't worry about where they came from. You just need to know that the Johnson family came this time, perhaps wanting to take both Olivia and Bianca back. Olivia is destined to be endlessly entangled with the Johnson family. I don't agree with you getting involved in this mess!"
Patrick, Jessica, and Anna beside them also looked at the photos.
Seeing the content, Anna couldn't help but frown. "How does the Johnson family have the nerve to show up? They treated Olivia and Bianca so badly back then. Now that they see her doing well, they want to make amends?"
"Grandpa, the Johnson family is so shameless, but that has nothing to do with Olivia. Olivia definitely won't agree!"
Finnegan rarely showed Anna a cold face or spoke harshly, but this time he said sternly, "Anna, this isn't your business. Don't interrupt."
"Grandpa."
Anna wanted to say something but was held back by Patrick and Jessica.
They both understood Finnegan's temperament.
If everyone sided with Andrew now and stood against Finnegan, he would definitely be even angrier.
Although they didn't speak, neither of them was worried about Andrew.
They also believed Andrew could handle this himself.
After looking at the photos, Andrew's expression remained composed. "Olivia can't control the Johnson family's behavior. She can't control others, but she can control herself. She won't go back. Grandpa, your strategy of sowing discord won't work on me."
Seeing his method still didn't work, Finnegan's face looked terrible. He said through gritted teeth, "Must you have her and no one else?"
Andrew nodded seriously. "I should have already told you the answer."
Finnegan was so angry he slapped the table. "What if I insist you marry someone else today? Andrew, your mother is gone. I have an obligation to watch over your life for her. Your choice is wrong! There are so many people in the world. You can marry anyone, but not her! If you still insist on being with her, then even if I have to risk this old life of mine, I'll stop you!"