Chapter 18

“Livia, if you can’t endure it, don’t hold on,” Rossa said while looking at her daughter who was sitting at the edge of the bed, staring at her reflection in a small mirror.

Those words felt like a knife slowly twisting inside Livia’s chest.

Painful.

Yet she showed nothing.

Her face remained calm.

Too calm.

As if all of it… did not matter to her at all.

The bedroom door opened slowly.

And Charlie walked in.

Her steps were light.

A perfect smile was drawn on her face—sweet, elegant… yet cold.

Charlotte looked at Livia from head to toe. Seeing Livia’s appearance and the dress she was wearing, honestly, she wanted to laugh.

Even during the wedding vow ceremony later, people would surely think that Claire was the bride.

“How do you feel?” Charlie said with a smile.

The smile of a winner.

The moment Rossa saw her, her body stiffened.

Panic immediately filled her face.

“Miss Charlie…” her voice sounded careful, almost trembling. “Livia will marry Mr. Adrian…”

As if that was enough.

As if it could stop whatever the woman intended to do.

Charlie only smiled.

A smile that held no mercy at all.

She walked closer.

Slowly.

Full of confidence.

Until she finally stood very close in front of Livia.

But her gaze shifted to Rossa instead.

“Can you leave us alone?” she said lightly. “There’s something important I want to say.”

Rossa fell silent for a moment.

Then shook her head.

“Just say it, Miss. I will not interfere.”

The sentence was polite.

But it was enough to make Charlie’s smile disappear.

Her gaze turned cold.

“Who are you… to dare order me?”

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Rossa swallowed hard.

Her face was tense.

But she did not move.

Not even a little.

This was her last moment.

And she would not leave her daughter.

“Your status here is nothing more than a servant,” Charlie continued, her voice sharp. “So know your place. I order you to leave.”

She smiled faintly.

Mocking.

But Rossa remained silent.

Her feet seemed frozen in place.

Charlie scoffed softly.

Then, casually—

too casually—

she threw out even crueler words.

“Even though you spread your legs wide in front of my father… you’re still nothing but a seductress. Your status in this family is only a slave.”

Silence.

“Look at you now,” she continued with a small laugh. “Your daughter is already grown… yet you were never married.”

Each word felt like a slap.

Livia clenched her fists.

Her anger boiled.

But she held it back.

Firmly.

She knew…

even the slightest mistake—

Rossa would suffer the consequences.

“Mom…” she finally said softly. “Please step outside for a moment. I want to talk to her.”

Rossa immediately turned.

“But—”

“There are things that need to be settled,” Livia cut her off.

Her voice was soft.

But firm.

Rossa looked at her daughter for a long time.

As if trying to read something within her.

Then slowly… she nodded.

And left.

The door closed.

Now it was just the two of them.

And at that moment—

Charlie’s smile appeared again.

But this time… clearer.

Sharper.

Crueler.

“Livia…” she called softly, almost like a whisper. “Do you know why you ended up in Adrian’s room that night?”

Livia remained silent.

She knew.

But she chose not to answer.

Charlie let out a small laugh.

“I arranged it.”

She stepped slowly, circling Livia like a predator enjoying its prey.

“I was the one who asked Father to bring you to that party.”

Her smile widened.

“I was also the one who gave you that dress… so you would look worthy of being there.”

She stopped right in front of Livia.

“And that drink…” her voice lowered, almost like a secret she enjoyed alone. “You drank it without suspicion, didn’t you?”

Livia did not move.

But her breath hitched slightly.

Charlie smiled in satisfaction.

“I only added a little something to it,” she continued lightly. “Something that made you… lose control.”

She laughed softly.

As if it were nothing but a joke.

“And when you started to look confused…” her eyes gleamed, “I made sure someone ‘kind enough’ escorted you to the right place.”

To Adrian’s room.

“Funny, isn’t it,” she continued, holding back laughter. “You didn’t even know where his room was… yet that night, you arrived there perfectly.”

Livia lowered her head.

Her face remained calm.

But inside—

everything trembled.

“I arranged everything,” Charlie said proudly. “From beginning to end.”

She stepped even closer.

“Do you know why?”

Livia finally lifted her face.

Looking straight at Charlie.

And for the first time—

there was something in her eyes.

Not fear.

Not weakness.

But… coldness.

Charlie narrowed her eyes, then smiled.

“Because I don’t want to marry Adrian.”

She shrugged lightly.

“And I need someone to replace me.”

Her gaze dropped, assessing Livia from head to toe.

“And you… are the perfect choice.”

Silence.

Only the sound of breathing could be heard.

Charlie smiled in satisfaction.

While Livia stood still, enduring her pain.

“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you one more thing,” she added. “Adrian loves me very much. I’m sure you can imagine what he will do to you.”