Chapter 9
Olivia didn’t struggle. She let the river swallow her whole.
Her past flickered through her mind like a film reel, and she thought, if she could do it all over again, she’d never choose them.
She smiled faintly, closed her eyes, and never woke up again.
Meanwhile, at her birthday party, Ethan and Sebastian stood in the banquet hall, staring at the abruptly ended call, a strange unease settling in.
They exchanged a look. Ethan was the first to speak.
“Do you think something happened to Olivia?“.
Sebastian gripped his phone, unsure if he was trying to reassure Ethan or himself.
“What could possibly happen? She cares about us so much and has always been so desperate for our attention. She’s probably just trying to get us to come find her.”
Vivian approached, her expression innocent.
“Is Olivia not coming? Is it because she hates me?”
Olivia’s father, Victor, and her mother, Catherine were visibly angry.
“We’ve already decided to forgive her,” Catherine snapped. “And she still has the nerve to act out? After all these years, she hasn’t changed one bit, still so stubborn.”
Catherine pulled Vivian, who showed a pitiful expression, gently into her arms, her tone soft and doting.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Your father and I will always be on your side. If she can’t accept you, then she doesn’t deserve our love.”
Vivian, hearing this assurance, let a smug smile slip from the corners of her lips, just subtle enough not to be noticed.
Olivia, you’ll never win against me. Ever.
Victor raised his glass.
“Since Olivia doesn’t want to be here, let’s turn this birthday party into something more
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Chapter 9
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meaningful. Tonight will be Lillian’s official introduction into the family. From this moment on, she’s no longer Vivian Locke. She’s Lillian Sinclair, our true daughter and the beloved young lady of
the Sinclair family.”
“But-”
Ethan started to say something, but Lillian gently interrupted him.
“Olivia’s just trying to use this to get the attention of you and Sebastian. Whatever it is you planned to tell her today, just do it tomorrow. She won’t be mad at you two, I promise.”
With that, she reached for Sebastian’s hand and beamed.
“Come on, help me cut the cake. Mom picked out my favorite flavor and design.”
With no choice, both Ethan and Sebastian set their phones aside and followed Lillian to resume the
celebration.
The party ended past midnight. Ethan, slightly tipsy from the wine, leaned back when suddenly his phone rang, which was sharp and urgent, slicing through his buzz.
“Hello, is this a relative of Miss Sinclair?”
Hearing her name, Ethan immediately straightened and responded.
“Yes, this is she–what happened?”
His heart suddenly began to race before the voice on the other end even answered. It felt like it might leap from his chest.
Sebastian beside him also held his breath, waiting anxiously.
“We’re very sorry to inform you–Miss Sinclair committed suicide by jumping into the river from the Highmoor Bridge at 8 p.m. tonight. She was rescued and rushed to the hospital, but despite all efforts, she didn’t survive. She left some belongings at the scene. Please let us know when you can
come retrieve them.”
The voice kept speaking, but Ethan barely heard anything past those first few sentences.
His mind buzzed and went numb. Everything stopped.
Suicide?
There was no way Olivia would do something like that.
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Something was wrong.
She was just angry, probably working with others to deceive them.
That was what Ethan told himself, though his hands trembled uncontrollably as he held the phone.
“Hello? Mr. Carrington, are you still there?”
“You’re lying, aren’t you?” he suddenly yelled. “She made you say this! Olivia’s behind all this, right?”
Ethan shouted hoarsely, desperate for a different answer to ease his mind.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Carrington. We understand this is difficult to accept. But Miss Sinclair made the decision herself. Again, our deepest condolences.”
The words hit him like a physical blow. Every nerve froze over.
A high–pitched ringing took over his ears, drowning out everything around him.
Sebastian stood frozen beside him, unable to believe what he was hearing.
“Did Olivia contact you to come and trick me?” he asked desperately.
For his doubt, the voice on the other end sighed.
“I understand how hard this is for her family. But I assure you, this isn’t a mistake. Please come collect Miss Sinclair’s remains at your earliest convenience.”
Lillian approached, confused by their dazed expressions.
“Ethan? Sebastian? What’s going on?”
Ethan shoved her hand away and stormed off without a word.
Sebastian didn’t offer an explanation either. He simply followed.
Lillian stared at the red mark on her wrist, a flicker of irritation flashing through her expression, mixed with the tiniest sliver of unease.
But it faded quickly.
What could possibly have happened?
Right now, her biggest obstacle was Olivia.
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And now, whether in the Sinclair family or in Ethan’s heart, Olivia would never matter again, not
even a fraction as much as she did.
Chapter 9
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