*CHAPTER 1*

(17 Years Ago)

On a Saturday morning seventeen years ago, Leo Adams married Zoe Nelson. Soon after, they welcomed their daughter, Olima, a beautiful baby girl with sparkling brown eyes. However, Zoe experienced complications following Olima's birth.

Zoe longed to expand their family, but she was unable to have more children. Leo reassured her that his love for her was unwavering.

Two years later, Leo broached a difficult subject with Zoe: his desire to take a second wife to have more children, specifically a son to inherit his properties and carry on the family name. He explained that he preferred this to adoption, given that Olima was a girl.

Zoe was overwhelmed with emotion and fear at the prospect of another woman entering her home and potentially disrupting her marriage. Seeking solace, she confided in her close friend, Gina Edwards, who, to Zoe's surprise, ultimately agreed to marry Leo.

Zoe and Gina had been close friends since high school, having grown up on the island where wealthy families resided. Their friendship had endured even after Zoe's marriage.

Unbeknownst to Zoe, Gina harbored a secret admiration for Leo. Surprisingly, it was Zoe who approached Gina with the proposal to marry him.

Gina eagerly accepted and quickly moved into the Adams' white mansion.

However, almost immediately after settling in, Gina's demeanor changed. She began arguing with Zoe.

Gina demanded that Zoe vacate the master bedroom so that she and Leo could occupy it. Leo was shocked by Gina's sudden shift in attitude. He was appalled when she argued with Zoe and even called her a witch for refusing to leave the room.

Leo, frustrated and angered, threatened to end his marriage to Gina the following day. Gina quickly reverted to her former, supportive persona, pleading with Zoe to intervene and convince Leo to reconsider the divorce.

Leo confronted Gina, expressing his disgust at her behavior. "I regret marrying you, Gina," he said. "Olima will inherit all my properties tomorrow, even if she marries and takes her husband's name. She will always be my daughter. Prepare to leave my house tomorrow; our marriage is over!"

Gina desperately begged Zoe to persuade Leo not to divorce her. Zoe sighed, burdened by the knowledge that she had been the one to encourage Gina to marry her husband.

Zoe advocated for Gina, convincing Leo to allow her to stay in the mansion, albeit in a separate bedroom.

From that day forward, Gina harbored a deep-seated resentment towards Zoe. She avoided any interaction with her, convinced that Zoe and Leo had conspired to bring her into their home simply to flaunt their happiness.

One day, Gina approached Zoe and earnestly requested that she allow Leo to spend a night with her, reminding her that this was one of the reasons Leo had married her.

Zoe, hoping to conceive a son, approached Leo that evening and suggested he spend the night with Gina.

Leo refused, explaining that he was intentionally avoiding Gina and regretted marrying her. However, after Zoe persisted, Leo reluctantly agreed to spend the night in Gina's bedroom, where they shared an intimate moment.

Months later, Gina's envy and resentment towards Zoe persisted. She had hoped that Leo would fall in love with her and abandon Zoe because of her inability to have more children.

However, Leo distanced himself from Gina, refusing to eat her food and actively avoiding her.

Another argument erupted between Gina and Zoe, leaving Leo exasperated. He presented Gina with divorce papers.

Leo instructed Gina to sign the papers, but she refused, announcing, "I'm pregnant."

Leo decided to allow Gina to remain in his mansion with her child, but on the condition that she live in the guest apartment and avoid any contact with Zoe.

Gina reluctantly agreed, seeing no other option.

Months later, Gina gave birth to a baby girl named Mia. Leo never attempted to have more children with Gina, particularly a son.

**Fourteen Years Later**

Fourteen years passed, and Gina's animosity towards Leo and Zoe only intensified. In all her years of marriage, there was only one instance when Leo had touched her intimately. He later expressed regret for that encounter.

Gina knew she couldn't leave Leo's house and seek another marriage; the townspeople had already ridiculed her for marrying her best friend's husband. Her parents had initially disapproved of her decision. Gina had hoped that Leo would eventually develop feelings for her, but he never reciprocated her affection and instead chose to distance himself.

Gina considered expanding her knowledge and gaining new experiences. She contemplated having another child to experience motherhood and bring joy to Leo's life.

However, it would be clear to Leo that the child was not his. He only allowed Mia to live in the main mansion because she was his daughter and Olima wanted a younger sister to play with.

Gina's demeanor turned cold as she contacted a truck driver and arranged for him to collide with Leo and Zoe's car. She knew they were on their way to Olima and Mia's high school for the graduation ceremony. Olima was graduating from college, while Mia was entering her senior year.

Gina later learned from the driver that he had completed his task. To protect her secret, she took the drastic step of eliminating the truck driver as well.

Months after the funeral, Gina returned to the main mansion that her late husband and his first wife had once asked her to leave. She dismissed the maids and assigned Olima as her personal servant, forcing her to discontinue her tutoring classes.

Suddenly, all of their family members, who had been silent for years, flocked to the mansion, eager to discover who would inherit Leo's wealth and oil company. Gina, a ruthless woman, took matters into her own hands and accused all of her in-laws of being responsible for the deaths of Leo and Zoe.

The arrested in-laws had to post bail and sign an agreement promising not to disrupt Gina Adams and her family.

Gina contacted Leo's lawyer to inquire about his will. She remembered Leo mentioning that Olima would be the beneficiary of his properties.

Gina considered harming Olima, but she refrained because she didn't want Mia to be alone in the large house without a sister. Instead, Gina decided to spare Olima's life and employ her as a lifelong maid, knowing that Olima had no one else to turn to.

Upon the lawyer's arrival, he informed Gina that Leo's will could not be altered. The will stipulated that the company would be transferred to Olima Adams when she reached the age of 24.

Gina, frustrated, contemplated altering the will to solely benefit herself and her daughter.