Chapter 3

I slept at my design studio that night.

It was the anniversary gift Lucas had given me.

Before I left, I needed to take back the work that belonged to me.

When Lucas gave me the studio, he'd said:

"Olivia, I'll protect your dream."

"I promise. This studio will always belong to you and only you."

But when I woke up the next morning and stepped out of the break room, Susan was sitting at my worktable.

She was holding my designs. The collection I'd spent three months preparing for Milan Design Week.

She flipped through the pages, tearing them as she went. Her face was pure disdain.

Those were my blood and sweat. Endless revisions. I would never let her have them.

She looked up and saw me. "Olivia, you're here. Lucas already divorced you, didn't he?"

I walked over and snatched the designs back. "Don't touch my things. Get out."

She leaned back in the chair, smiling like she'd won.

"Your things? You're a nobody from the slums. Everything you have, Lucas gave you. Now that you're divorced, what do you even own?"

"Me? I'll be his wife tomorrow. If you're smart, you'll get lost now."

I opened my mouth to speak. But in the next second, she lunged at me, grabbing my hand. Her eyes went red, her face twisted into a wounded look.

"Olivia, I'm begging you. Don't blame Lucas. He really only loves you. I know you don't want him to marry me, but I'm dying. He's just granting my last wish."

Then she tightened her grip. In the scuffle, she shoved her hand hard against my shoulder and pushed. Then she threw herself backward.

She hit the floor and started clutching her chest, crying out.

The push sent my stomach slamming into the hard corner of the worktable. Pain exploded through me.

I pressed my hands to my belly. Cold sweat poured down my face.

"Olivia! What are you doing!"

"Mommy!"

Lucas and Amy's voices rang out at the same time. They were behind me. All they saw was me pushing Susan.

Lucas rushed over and carefully gathered her into his arms.

Amy looked at her with worry. "Mommy, are you okay?"

Susan leaned against Lucas's chest. Tears streamed down her face. Her voice came out broken.

"I'm sorry, Lucas. It's all my fault. I came to apologize to Olivia about the wedding, but she's just jealous because you're marrying me. It's me. Don't blame her."

Before I could explain, Amy charged at me and shoved me with everything she had.

"You evil woman! You hurt my mommy! I hate you! Why don't you just die! I never wanna see you again!"

I wasn't ready. I stumbled and hit the ground. It felt like my bones were shattering.

But that pain was nothing compared to my daughter's words.

Lucas didn't ask if I was hurt. His voice was ice. "Olivia, when did you become so vicious?"

My heart went cold. But I still clung to one last hope. I wanted to explain.

Then Susan started gasping for air, clutching her chest. Her face went pale as death.

Lucas saw her and panicked. He scooped her up and headed for the door. "Don't worry. I'm taking you to the hospital."

"I'm hurt too!" I screamed at his back.

He paused. He turned and looked at me. His words came out slow and deliberate.

"Olivia. Where did the kind woman I used to know go?"

His eyes were full of disappointment. He shook his head, held Susan, took Amy's hand, and walked out without looking back.

The door slammed shut.

I stood up, clutching my aching stomach. I stared at the door he'd walked through. My voice came out soft.

"Then Lucas, where did the man who used to trust me and love me go?"

No one answered.

I laughed. And as I laughed, the tears fell.

I wiped them away hard. I pushed through the pain and went back to the Mitchell estate.

I looked around. Everywhere I turned, there was a trace of Lucas.

Susan was right. Everything I had now, Lucas had given me.

But all of it, he had once begged me to accept.

Now, I didn't want any of it anymore.

Not him. Not my daughter.

I turned and walked away. I took only my work and the soul that should have been free all along.

The next day.

The Mitchell family chapel was packed.

Unlike my wedding to Lucas, which had been met with mockery, this one was all blessings.

Susan stood in a white gown, her eyes red, trembling as she looked at Lucas. "Lucas, thank you. Thank you for granting my last wish."

Lucas just nodded. His expression stayed flat. Like he was completing a task.

The priest finished the blessing and told the groom and bride to exchange rings.

Lucas held the ring that symbolized the Mitchell family's Donna. He lifted his hand to slide it onto Susan's ring finger.

Then the chapel doors slammed open. Lucas's most trusted man came running in, his voice raw.

"Don! The plane Ms. Jones was on—it crashed!"