Olivia stormed into her father’s house, dragging her suitcase behind her. She brushed past the housekeeper who had helped her with the door without saying a word and made her way inside.In the living room, her mother, Margaret, was sipping tea and chatting with her long-time friend, Mrs. Quill. They were laughing about something.Mrs. Quill’s son, Anthony, had nursed a deep crush on Olivia for years, but Olivia never gave him any attention. He wasn’t part of the world she had envisioned for herself—didn’t belong to the class she aspired to rise within. She mumbled a stiff greeting without looking at them and climbed the stairs to her room before either woman could respond.The mood in the house immediately shifted the moment Olivia appeared.Margaret watched her silently, her eyes narrowing.Mrs. Quill raised an eyebrow and looked from Olivia’s retreating figure to the suitcase in her hand.She blinked and tilted her head slightly. “I thought you said she was staying at her fiancé’s
Ria blinked awake slowly. Her lashes fluttered, and for a second, her gaze was unfocused as the morning light escaped in through the curtains. Then, as if something clicked in her memory, she suddenly sat upright and turned to look beside her.The space was empty.Her brow furrowed instantly in confusion.She remembered. Clear as day.Adrian had come into her room last night.The moment she had seen him, she had frozen from fear, surprise, confusion—all the feelings hit her all at once. For a moment, she thought…maybe he had returned to finish what he had started.That look in his eyes, the way he stared at her… it had unsettled her.But instead, he had simply told her to go back to sleep.Just like that?She hadn’t trusted him. Her body had remained tense, curled away from him, every part of her was on alert. She couldn’t sleep immediately—not with him lying beside her, not after everything he had done to her. So she stayed still, eyes closed, waiting for it to come.But nothing happ
Adrian woke up to find Ria still asleep.eyes shining with tears that she was no longer trying to hide. breathing was soft and even. Her hair had fallen over part of her face, and her hand rested lightly on his chest.He resisted the twitch in his hand to tuck her hair behind her ear.For a moment, he just lay there, staring at her. She looked peaceful… too peaceful. And her hand felt warm in his chest.His mind slowly drifted back to last night. He had left his room—left Olivia—and came downstairs to get a drink. He had told himself that was all he needed, just a small drink to calm his nerves. But sitting alone in the living room with the glass in his hand, all he could think about was how easily he had fallen asleep the last time he had slept in Ria's room. How peaceful it had been. That was the kind of rest he needed tonight too. But Olivia hadn’t helped, well not in the way he had hoped. If anything, she even made him feel more restless.He remembered glancing upstairs then, thi
Adrian walked back into his room quietly. He had gone out for a while to clear his head. So much was going on, and he just needed some air and this time, be made sure to stay away from alcohol.But when he opened the door, he stopped.Someone was on his bed.He stepped in slowly and walked closer. It was Olivia. He had almost forgotten she had moved into his room.But the way she was lying on the bed made his heart skip.She was wearing a red see-through lingerie which did very little to cover her body. The thin red fabric hugged her body tightly, showing off every curve. The thin straps of her lingerie hung carelessly on her shoulders. Her full breasts were barely covered, her waist looked even smaller, and her round hips were perfectly arched as she lay on her side, like she had positioned herself on purpose. One leg was bent slightly, and her smooth thighs were exposed. Her hair fell softly around her face, and her lips were parted slightly as though she was pretending to be asleep
Betty ran down the hallway as soon as she left Adrian's room, her eyes brimming with tears that spilled down her cheeks. She needed a quiet place— a place she could freely pour out her heart and cry without worry—and where else could that be, if not her father's room?She pushed the door open gently, not wanting to wake him even in her moment of distress.The in-house nurse, Lilian, who had recently moved in to take care of Mr. Charles full time, was sitting beside his bed. As soon as she saw Betty’s tear-streaked face, she quietly stood up. Without saying a word, she gave Betty a respectful nod and left the room, gently closing the door behind her.Betty stood still for a second, staring at her father's still form on the bed.She walked over and slowly lowered herself beside her father. He looked peaceful in his sleep. But that calm expression didn’t comfort her one bit, instead it only made her feel worse.She slowly reached out and held his hand, squeezing it gently and carefully
Betty took a deep breath and looked between Adrian and Olivia, her face was calm but her eyes were filled with disappointment.“I understand,” she said slowly. “Maybe Ria did something wrong… to both of you. I’m not here to argue that.”She took a step forward.But what you two are doing right now—is it any better?”Adrian drew his brows together in irritation.Betty continued, her voice steady but sharp. “You don’t like Ria’s behavior, fine. But tell me—what makes your own actions different? What makes you any better than her? Because to me… this is just as low.”Her words were sharp and judging.Olivia looked away, her lips twitching slightly in annoyance.“You claimed you're not like Ria?” Betty continued, her eyes now focused on Olivia. “Then stop doing the same thing you are hating and accusing her for.” she said, turning to look at her brother.Olivia lifted her brow slightly.Betty turned back to Olivia, eyes narrowing slightly. She shook her head slowly, like she was still try