Olive's POV~
My sister brutally opened her mouth as if it was all my fault.
Since the beginning of their taunts, I'd detected their sinister intentions.
I could swear that they had another justification other than our company.
"What?" I murmur and fail to suppress my rising anger.
They put so much pressure on my father to accept this marriage replacement he didn't want to.
Elenore heard what I said and wore a self-righteous expression, scanning me from top to toe. She looked haughty as always, and her behavior never sounded like a 26-year-old woman.
This expression was familiar because she cherished looking down on me and made sure it was visible for me to grasp. She loved to lower my confidence and remind me that if not for them, I would have been raised in an orphanage, sharing rooms with other children. Moreover, when I turned eighteen, I had nowhere except the streets to sleep in.
And I wasn't disgraceful for what I had gotten.
Nevertheless, about being a substitute bride, I couldn't go through it because there was no way I could agree to be one.
For whose sake shall I do that? Elenore?
What a bitter joke!
My boyfriend, David, I couldn't break up with him because my sister had lost her virginity in high school after sharing a bed with numerous boyfriends.
I'll turn 24 years old soon. I'm no longer a child to obey them.
My eyes rolled on Melissa. She found me hesitant, pondering, and only god knew what she thought of it.
She paused to see whether I gave them one of those dumb sympathy looks, but I could feel no pang of tenderness in my heart.
I wasn't a lamb to let them sacrifice me because Elenore had long since lost her virginity!
I didn't care what that family would do to a cruel b*tch like Elenore!
I glimpsed at my father's side, and it broke my heart.
I could see how shameful he was of Elenore's reckless acts.
Nothing was enough for his eldest daughter, no matter how hard he tried.
My father seemed to have aged ten years forward overnight. There was no way I could ignore his feelings.
Suddenly, he walked forward, grabbed my arm, and pulled me up the stairs.
He led me to my bedroom.
He grabbed my arms and eyed me, "Listen, my dear! They will realize this and will retaliate against our family harshly. So, it doesn't make sense to replace you and lie to them. Just don't worry, and let me sort this out."
I shook my head, terrified, but he spun around and left. I watched his back with a heavy heart.
Tears blurred my sight as I gazed at my father.
Was it true? Would they kill my father? My heart sank. That was my limit. I couldn't bear to lose him. I couldn't stand and watch them kill my father because of the little whore sister who seemed to be enjoying the problem she forced us to.
Right then, my phone beeped and broke the train of my thoughts. It was David, my boyfriend, whom I planned to leave with after graduation. I wanted a new start, a new life. Without them!
I felt the pain rooting deeper in my heart. I couldn't think of the colorful fantasy future I dreamed of, and all I had in my head was to keep my father safe.
David: "Hey love, did you get home safely?"
I paused to reply to his text message. After some cl*sses, we went on our date. I was happy when I got home, but currently, no words could describe how I felt.
It seemed I should stop daydreaming about my future. The lump grew in my throat and made it hard to breathe. My chest ached with a twisting pain flaring from my heavy heart.
"I got home safely."
I answered coldly.
I spread on my bed and glanced at the ceiling without blinking. Giving it a thought, I decided.
"I must talk to David. I'm wondering if he can help me and fix this mess."
I didn't linger and grabbed my purse. Heading out after half an hour, I found myself in front of the apartment.
He was living here.
I took a deep breath at the sight of the sky. It was about to rain, and I forgot to bring an umbrella.
Dashing inside, I greeted the security and went inside the elevator.
It didn't take me much time to open the door with the key he had once given me.
I looked around to see if he was around the kitchen, but my eyes caught the fallen skirt on the floor.
And it wasn't mine!
My mouth was open to call his name when I felt my heart shattered like a fragile gl*ss.
A savage moaning sound was coming from his bedroom. And my legs lost their control and only followed the voice that reached my ear.
Louder and louder, the voice got.
The door to his bedroom was mid-open, and the light was dim.
I pushed the door open, only to see that David was fully attached to this bully b*tch from our university.
As the door groaned, David pulled out of the gasping girl and faced me. They were glinting in their sweated skin.
I was disgusted at the scene before my sight. It charred my stomach. I was about to throw up but pushed it down because I did not want to look fragile.
"What is this, David?"
I managed my voice not to reveal how broke I was.
"Olive, it is not how it looks!"
Huh? What a dumb answer! What else should it look or mean?
"You cheated on me with that whore!"
I could guess why this girl -who used to be called 'the beauty'- bullied me. It was all because of David.
He pulled up his pants and approached me.
I paced back to avoid any touch or contact.
Their sinful scent already sickened me, and I didn't know how to order my legs to move, just run away.
My knees were trembling.
My hope, the door to a new life, and my dreams collapsed above my head.
That was the handsome man I was praising a while ago.
"Olive, please forgive me!"
He pleaded with me while trying to reach out his arm.
Forgiveness was not even on the list of my giving to him.
"Stop!" I screamed.
And when he froze at the loss of the moment, my arm moved up, and my palm hit across his face as hard as possible.
Right after that, I could come back to my senses. My head was blank, and my fingers were numb. I couldn't stop my tears.
Running out of the apartment, I faced the raging sky. It was pouring outside.
But it felt good to run in the rain and cry. This way, no one would realize that you had run mad.
How could he cheat on me? We planned to have s*x after marriage. Additionally, he noted that he respected my decision. He cherished it, and it turned out that he could not keep his word.
After an hour, I stood in the living room when my father rushed out of the study room only to encounter my disheveled version. Water drops dripped down from my hair and body.
"I'll marry Edward Johnson."
I uttered with a soulless accent and stepped backward when my father tried to get close.
But from the corner of my eyes, I saw Elenore and Melissa. They jumped up from their seats.
"And I have only one condition!"
My father looked desperate and confused.
"Oh my dear, I do everything you wish."
Melissa lied.
"I will have nothing to do with you and your family, father."
I had been talking to my father since the beginning and didn't care about the two women.
My father's face darkened even though he swallowed his lump and moved closer to soothe me or change my mind, yet I could see his desperation.
"I'm exhausted! Please let me have some rest."
I finished it with what I truly needed. Turning my phone off, I darted toward my bedroom.
~
Upon hearing what Olive declared,
Elenore instantly went to her room. She called her boyfriend, the eldest son of the Johnson family, Jonathan.
"Hi, babe! I have a piece of good news for you."
John: "What is it, then?"
Elenore took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and excitedly reported, "I don't have to marry that demon anymore. I told you that no one can separate us."
On the other end of the line, Jonathan was curious to know how she made it. She dodged this death trap.
John: "What do you mean?"
"Olive, that b*tch will replace me in h*ll with her beloved devil! Isn't it fascinating?"
John: "Holy cow, Are you sure Edward will never realize this replacement?"
"Yes, don't worry! When they are married, he can change nothing. Olive is the daughter my father never revealed. Unfortunately, she looks like me. People believe that I'm the only daughter."
John: "I can't believe you have such a rich brain to set this up."
Edward praised her intelligence. He was infuriated when he heard Edward had proposed his desire to marry the only daughter of the Levine family. It even angered him more when the families and his grandfather agreed to that ridiculous demand.
That disabled freak with his disfigured legs only deserved to be pitied.
John: "Get some rest, darling; it will be a fun day tomorrow."
He hung up. Jonathan was in his apartment, looking outside and how the rain washed down the streets.
"I'm the eldest heir of this empire."
Jonathan would want to join forces with Elenore It could *ssure him that Edward would be deceived and fooled. He would soon lose face.
Their grandfather would pay no heed to him anymore.
"I disfigured you ten years ago when you were celebrating your birthday, and I'll send you back to h*ll again. And this time, you're more likely not going to get away with it!"
He smirked mischievously.
Edward's POVI called this Villa 'Pearl Of The Earth,' where I resided near the seaside. It was once my mother's favorite area with a fascinating view. Later, after her death, I earned enough wealth to buy this area and adorn it with opulent decorations. It sat there to showcase my power, only to remind me why I climbed to this apex of my life.A man's power was never only to grow wealth. It was only an implement to make things run smoother, and the true one was to protect the ones he loved.I failed the last one. And I missed this chance because I was weak, young, and soft-hearted.In my courtyard, I was watching the waves riding on each other savagely these days.The sea must be stormy. I take this as a good sign because I would be the storm that grows to ruin those who ruined me.People are afraid of me. They call me a beast.They made fairy tales about my character, my face, and about the disfigured Edward Johnson. A scary man who looked like the devil himself, and no one dared to
Olive's POV20th November.It was my wedding day, and time flew like a sudden chill flurry. I woke up early when the sky was still dark. You couldn't say I was excited.I was terrified as fu*k, and a cluster of chill started to resort through my spine.My eyes burned when I pulled the blanket away, and the cold floor needled my soles."d*mn!""Hey, you! Don't tell me that you have changed your mind!"Elenore jerked inside and immediately rushed to the window. Drawing back the curtains, she let the light I blocked in.I brushed my messy hair back with my fingers. It had been three days since I found my boyfriend cheating on me. And I accepted to replace in an arranged marriage.What the heck!Why should it be me dangling with all these Stone Age plots?!It was like a cliche novel once I read it online. At that time, I believed no one could force me to accept what others wanted. But in despair and desperate situations, when no hope left and darkness had clawed me, could I have another c
Olive's POV"Why didn't he come?"I was trying to calm myself. The sun was setting down. The view was a masterpiece you could only behold once because those thick dark clouds would steal it from sight soon.Another storm would come by night!I could hear no noise here, unlike our house. Elenore used to be noisy, making sure I would not be able to study, and to avoid her, I preferred to study in the school's library.The chamber was dark as the last ray of sunlight faded away.To be sincere, I dreaded standing up and turning the light up. I did want to touch anything unless I was permitted. I couldn't feel myself at home!"What will happen to me when he comes back?"I murmured to myself. It was our wedding night, and I was his wife officially and couldn't disobey his demand if he wanted to accomplish his spousal night.I pressed my lips into a line, my eyes shut.In the meantime, I heard footsteps. Beads of sweat started to pop out on my forehead.The doorknob twisted and clicked, and
"I guess she had successfully seduced him, and he punished him to become a maid."Lily could see Olive in the kitchen. She had the face of an angel, and she could misunderstand anyone about her hidden intentions."Bring the cleaning tools. I'll instruct the girl to clean his toilet!"The other maids gazed at each other with wide eyes. They had no clue what Lily truly meant."Today is not the cleaning day! He doesn't like to have a woman in his room!"One of the women suggested.Lily shot her a glare, "I know what I am doing. Did you forget that I'm the housekeeper?"They shook their heads as neither wanted to be fired by their boss.She set this up deliberately to make the young master disgust the girl.Lily was jealous of this girl's beauty, and her eyes couldn't lie. She could still remember the servant who sneaked into his room and climbed into his bed. He called his men, and they tossed the woman into the sea. They didn't take her out unless she begged for mercy and almost drowned
A shiver slithered down my spine, casting my body into a rigid state. Edward's presence possessed an enchanting allure, and I had never envisioned myself entangled in such a vulnerable predicament with a man.His overwhelming ego and ceaseless dominance loomed over me, leaving me gasping for air.Before this intricate entanglement had woven itself into the fabric of my life, I had been a formidable force, untouchable and unyielding. But for the sake of rescuing my father, I had been reduced to a fragile state.I stumbled out of the bathroom, concealing my breasts, my eyes landing on a nearby towel. Yet, summoning the courage to touch anything that belonged to Edward proved to be an impossible task. In this moment, fear, despair, and hopelessness threatened to eclipse my innate boldness.As I crossed the threshold, I confronted the individuals responsible for thrusting me into this nightmarish ordeal. They stood there, giggling and ridiculing, particularly Lily, who had orchestrated th
A few hours ago~Before Huxley could move to bring his young master’s car, a Bentley drove over and stopped before Edward’s feet.A handsome man with brown hair pulled his sungl*sses down.“Look at you. It seems you did not want to leave your wife’s embrace.”“Shut up, Kit.”Kit Davis, a 28-year-old man and Edward’s Best Friend, was sitting in the driver seat. He was the leader of the top European Mafia group called ‘League’. The strongest men in their enterprise feared his name, and no one had the guts to mess with this one.“Get in!”Edward sighed. He knew why Kit was here. Getting inside, he fastened his seatbelt, and Kit moved away.“You are not here to question me about my affairs, are you?”Kit smirked, “Nope, but I was wondering how this woman could seduce you.”He teased him.Edward ignored this taunt and looked outside.“Where are we going?”“Friends meeting!”“Dane called me, he must have gotten decent info. Are we going to Paradise?”Kit winked at him.After half an hour, t
Edward's Pov~Kit was always my dearest. He kept being by my side on tough days. Whenever I fell on my knees he was the one who persuaded me not to give up. And I trusted his instincts.I was about to say he should not worry about my affairs and sentiments when an uproar began to grow outside.Jumping on our feet, we gazed at Kit. He would never let our foes have the courage to stick around us. Our fame, our name was bigger than their dreams.Kit kicked the door open and thundered outside.I remember days when he used to fight in the streets. He had mastered his martial arts at a young age. And the one who first choked the dangers before they could arise and reach our throats.Among all of us, he was the one who couldn't bear sudden insolence. His history of the criminal world had made him cautious.It needed guts to break into our territory like this. Neither of us could endure trouble which could lead our name to media.We stood at the door frame to let him handle the situation. He
Olive’s POV~I was standing on the verge of life where my mind was blank. It could be an abyss within me, a thin thread that scarcely had kept me in this life. Every single misstep could tear it up to break me down.The wind pulled my hair, and I closed my eyes, opening my arms wide.I thought this marriage could save me from those pompous pricks I used to live with, but it pushed me into the arms of another devil. Edward would kill me soon or later after he disclosed the truth.“This can be the end. Who cares!”Just when I felt rubble slip under my feet, I fell on my back.Not a brave person would attempt to take her life. I should be stupid. It required courage to live this tough life. It was as if a quest to defeat others and earn your reward.I used to look at life like that before, but recently, I was frustrated and repeatedly asked myself what if nothing could change?And these words broke my thoughts when my body hit the hard stone.“No matter how hard it is now, you are smarte