Chapter 1

When I wore the same outfit as my fiancé'schildhood sweetheart, he had Olivia Brown stripped on the spot.

He forced Olivia to sign a pledge--

promising never to use anything identical to Victoria Beaumont again.

Countless malicious gazes raked over her naked body.

Olivia's heart clenched violently, and an unprecedented sense of humiliation almost drowned her.

She shielded her private areas desperately, ground her teeth as she signed, then looked up at Alexander Sinclair with red-rimmed eyes.

"May I put my clothes on now?"

"Sure."

Alexander lazily blew a smoke ring, his mocking gaze crushing her soul. "But you have to pay for this."

He signaled his bodyguard to bring in a dog costume.

"Since you love stealing Victoria's spotlight so much?

I'll give you the stage."

"Put this on, and we'll call this matter closed."

Spotlight suddenly flooded Olivia, so harsh it made her gasp for air,

as if it wanted to nail her firmly to the pillar of shame.

She'd lost count how many times Alexander had wronged her for Victoria's sake.

At eighteen, Victoria failed her college entrance exams.

Alexander swapped Olivia's scores to Victoria, freezing her own diploma at high school level;

At twenty, Victoria drunkenly hit someone with her car.

Alexander threw Olivia into prison without hesitation to take the blame for Victoria;

At twenty-three, Victoria plagiarized her designs.

Alexander paid media to smear Olivia as the plagiarist.

.......

Now, just because Victoria cried all night over matching outfits, Alexander stripped Olivia to her underclothes in front of everyone, letting these dandies leer at her without a care!

"What?

Unwilling?"

Alexander stubbed out his cigarette. His cold, indifferent gaze made her heart tremble.. "Then wear nothing at all."

Raucous laughter erupted in the VIP room.

"Alexander, your doormat's being disobedient today!"

"Don't you get it?

I bet a hundred thousand dollars. Olivia will be barking like a dog within a minute!"

"Why wait. Let's help the lady out!"

......

Before Olivia could react, Alexander's friends forced the dog costume onto her.

They pinned her to the floor, and vulgar remarks filled the air.

As Olivia struggled instinctively, Alexander's frosty voice cut through: "Don't forget our agreement."

Her face turned deathly pale, freezing her in place.

When her mother remarried William Sinclair, Alexander had forced her to sign an unfair agreement—

binding Olivia's absolute obedience, or he'd use "homewrecker" rumors to drive her mother to suicide.

Back then, Sophia Brown suffered severe depression with acute suicidal tendencies. How could Olivia risk Alexander provoking her?

She signed, becoming the socialite circle's infamous "ultimate doormat."

Whenever Alexander commanded, Olivia surrendered everything.

Olivia didn't remember how she returned to the Sinclair mansion.

All she knew was that she was still wearing that cumbersome dog costume.

Her body covered in horrific bruises, tears mingling with blood on her face, enduring scornful stares from every passerby.

Her heart ached so sharply it felt like she was suffocating,but the moment she pictured her mother at home, arranging flowers and waiting eagerly for her return, a faint glimmer of light returned to Olivia's dull, lifeless eyes.

She'd just changed her clothes, composed herself, and forced a smile onto her face before stepping into the courtyard—

A deafening Thud shattered the air—

A figure plummeted from above, crashing right at her feet.

Screams of terror erupted around her. Olivia slowly looked down, and her pupils contracted sharply.

Amid the lush, spring-green foliage, she saw her mother's face—

covered in blood, her eyes wide open in death!

The image stabbed straight into her eyes!

"Mom?"

she whispered. It took a moment for the truth to sink in. Her heart felt like it was being wrenched by a hook, a searing pain. Thump! She fell to her knees.

Trembling uncontrollably, she grasped Sophia's hand. The icy coldness that met her touch stopped her breath. A sudden, despairing scream tore from her throat:

"Mom!!

!"

Sophia's phone screen was frozen on the news headline about William's infidelity.

[Olivia and Her Mom Drive the Legal Wife to Suicide, Seduce William and His Son to Replace Her!]

At the bottom of the article were anonymously provided records of Olivia and Alexander's hotel stays over the years, along with videos of Olivia being humiliated.

The venomous comments pierced Olivia's heart like ice daggers.

[No wonder Mr Sinclair divorced back then! It was Olivia and Sophia seducing him!]

[Two shameless bitches! Seduced Mr Sinclair, and now they're after his son too!]

[These two whores drove the legal wife to her death! They're murderers!]

...

In her final moments, Sophia had left Olivia a voice recording.

The message was simple, yet it made Olivia sob uncontrollably.

"Olivia, is it only when I die... that you'll have a future?"

Filled with rage, she called Alexander, demanding to know why!

Only he and his rich friends had those hotel records and videos!

Alexander merely scoffed: "Isn't it the truth? If your mother hadn't seduced my father, why would my mother choose suicide? This is an eye for an eye!"

Despair washed over Olivia.

But back then, it was William who had used threats and coercion to force Sophia to marry him.

Alexander blamed his father for nothing, instead pouring all his hatred onto her and her mother?

How utterly ridiculous!

Olivia stubbornly performed CPR on her mother countless times, deluding herself as she poured out her secrets, begging her mother's closed eyes to open.

Only when her voice was raw from screaming, her eyes swollen and bloodshot, did she finally accept the unbearable truth: her mother was gone forever.

Olivia numbly cleaned the blood from Sophia's body, sitting in a daze beside her mother for a full day and night.

The deepest grief leaves the heart dead. After arranging her mother's funeral, Olivia called the national figure skating team.

"Mr. Lee, I'm willing to compete in this international figure skating championship."

Her mother had given her life to set her free.

Now, she would make sure her future would be filled with pride!

Thomas Lee got excited instantly: "Olivia, once you've agreed, there's no going back! I'll make arrangements right away!"

Olivia lowered her gaze: "I won't go back on my word."

This figure skating competition was in Vancouver, a slow-paced city.

Olivia planned to settle there after the competition.

So she went to the emigration office to apply for residency.

The process would take a month, so she bought a plane ticket for a month later.

Meanwhile, social media pushed a notification about Alexander's latest update.

Iit was the humiliating photo taken when she'd been insulted that night,

set in stark contrast to Victoria's glamorous, flawless shots.

Olivia stared at the screen for a long time, suddenly recalling how Alexander had favored her like that at first.

Only his favor came twisted.

He'd drive away her bullies while hurling abuse at her;

claim her as his possession while turning her into a despised doormat;

share his innermost thoughts while guarding against her and her mother.

......

Back when Olivia was eighteen, she naively thought Alexander was just an immature boy needing love's redemption.

Until Victoria returned home, and Alexander drunkenly confessed: "Victoria, I've missed you so much."

Only then did she realize his hot-and-cold behavior stemmed from seeing her as Victoria's replacement.

From that moment, every spark of tenderness she'd felt—every time that red-eyed boy shared his secrets—turned to ash.

Olivia blankly blocked them and casually hailed a cab to head back to the villa and pack her things.

The moment she entered, she saw Alexander glowering in the living room.

He slapped a check before her.

"Ten million. Compensation for you and your mom."

"I'll announce publicly your mom's suicide was due to depression—nothing to do with Noble Family Estate."

Hearing this, Olivia laughed bitterly.

What was this?

Hush money for murderers?

She shredded the check without hesitation and turned toward the stairs.

Alexander suddenly grabbed her wrist. "Olivia, how dare you throw tantrums after hurting Victoria so badly?

Or is ten million not enough?"

He flung a wad of cash at her face, voice dripping scorn: "the Sinclair family has endless money. But marrying me? Don't even dream it!"

Olivia's cheek burned from the impact, yet she calmly met his furious eyes: "Alexander, I've never wanted to marry you.

My mother never wanted your father William either."

Seeing her stonewall him, Alexander laughed in rage. "Olivia, you think your mom's death means I've lost leverage?

Mark my words—you'll regret this!"

He stormed out, slamming the door.

Next morning, reporters swarmed Olivia the instant she stepped out.

"Miss Olivia, is it true your mother stole someone's husband?"

"Miss Olivia, Alexander claims you sabotaged his engagement to Victoria. Any response?"

"Miss Olivia, did your mother kill herself from shame after being caught cheating in bed?"

......

Venomous, icy questions threatened to rupture her eardrums.

Olivia snapped back to reality instantly.

Regardless of whether her mother was alive or dead, she remained Olivia's weak spot.

To keep controlling her, Alexander dared to smear the reputation of the deceased!

Olivia quickly shook off the reporters and rushed to the nearest police station, but no officer would take her case.

As vicious rumors about her mother spread, Olivia dialed Alexander's number.

Thirty minutes later, she reappeared at the bar.

Strobe lights illuminated the writhing crowd on the dance floor, epitomizing pure decadence.

Alexander lounged at the center spot, eyeing her lazily: "Two choices: keep being my doormat, or I'll make sure your mother can’t rest even in hell!"

Olivia felt an invisible hand clawing at her heart.

But she couldn't afford to confront Alexander yet—she needed to escape!

Biting her inner cheek, she nodded humiliatingly, "I’ll keep obeying you. But please keep your promise and retract the rumors."

Alexander's smile didn't reach his eyes: "Prove your sincerity then."

"Kneel before Victoria and apologize publicly. Do that, and I'll spare you this once."

Fingernails digging into her palms, Olivia numbly walked toward Victoria. With a thud, she knelt, voice trembling:

"Sorry... I shouldn't have worn matching outfits, stolen your spotlight, or made you cry for days. Please forgive me."

Chapter 3

Bystanders whispered among themselves, their eyes darting between Olivia and Victoria.

"My god, I've never seen someone kneel to apologize over matching outfits!"

"Alexander doted on Victoria so much!"

......

Olivia knelt in the crowd, her heart bleeding with pain.

Victoria ordered the waiter to bring ten bottles of strong liquor, smiling brightly: "Miss Brown, I'll forgive you if you finish all this!"

Her innocent doll-face radiated sunny delight.

But Olivia clearly saw malice and triumph swirling in those eyes.

Olivia instinctively looked at Alexander, about to remind him of her alcohol allergy.

Yet Alexander anticipated her words, his thin lips curling with scorn: "What's alcohol allergy?

Olivia, nobody's going to coddle you here."

His words dripped venomous ice.

As if he weren't the same Alexander who shattered her glass years ago, furious she neglected her health.

Olivia stayed silent, pouring liquor down her throat.

High-proof alcohol scorched her stomach like fire, pain twisting her face as cold sweat poured.

Ten bottles burned away the last remaining affection between her and Alexander.

Gritting through agony, Olivia glared at him with bloodshot eyes: "Satisfied now?"

"Satisfied?"

Alexander wrapped an arm around Victoria's waist, his tone doting: "Darling, what else do you want her to do to apologize?"

Victoria flushed pink, casting Olivia a contemptuous glance, "Why not make her wear a maid outfit? Let everyone experience kneeling service?"

As if unsatisfied, Victoria added cheerfully: "Don't worry, Miss Brown. If you please my friends, I'll have Alexander pay you."

"How about three thousand an hour?

Same price as that wine your mother stole from us."

At those words, Olivia's face turned deathly pale.

Back when her father died, leaving them destitute.

Sophia became a maid at the Beaumont family through an agency, only to endure harassment from James Beaumont for her beauty.

Framed by Victoria for theft, she was thrown out.

Her mother's life had been nothing but misery

From stealing wine to stealing men—driven to suicide!

The victim bore undeserved guilt while the tormentors slept soundly.

How ironic?

Olivia clenched her teeth, voice sharpening: "My mother never stole wine! Nor men!"

As soon as she spoke, another burst of laughter erupted.

Only Alexander frowned in displeasure: "Olivia, still making excuses?

Dare you claim Victoria framed your mother?"

"You'd better know slander is illegal—"

"Then call the police."

Olivia stared coldly: "Let them investigate the real liar!"

Alexander sneered: "Pity this is Washington. I call the shots here."

"Do what Victoria says before I still have patience."

Tears welled in Olivia's eyes as she numbly pulled on the maid uniform.

Her lovely face endured slaps, her clean hands offered poisoned chalices, her self-esteem shattered.

After everyone left, Alexander finally relented: "Next time, it won't be this easy."

He then wrapped his arm around Victoria's waist and entered the car.

The vehicle soon began rocking violently, occasional sounds of intimacy escaping its confines.

In her daze, Olivia seemed to see the past replay before her eyes.

Alexander forced himself on her in the car, spewing cruel words while holding her so tightly it seemed he wanted to crush her.

She'd believed he held at least some affection for her.

That his hurtful words stemmed from guilt toward Margaret Sinclair.

Never had she imagined Alexander simply wanted to defile and punish her.

Tears blurred her vision before darkness swallowed Olivia.

When consciousness returned, she found herself suspended hundreds of feet in the air.

A single downward glance unleashed nauseating weightlessness.

Olivia's eyes widened in terror, muffled screams trapped behind tape as "Mmmph! Mmmph!" escaped her.

Icy winds lashed her frail body, threatening to tear her from the ropes.

Only when torrential rain began did Alexander's glacial voice slice through the storm: "Olivia, I underestimated you."

"I asked you to apologize, yet you brought a miniature camera to record us?"

"Tell me—what media outlet in the entire Washington would dare to go against the Sinclair Group?"

"Who'd ever broadcast your footage for you?"

Olivia's heart sank at his words.

Chapter 4

She should have known.

Alexander had connections everywhere, and no one dared cross him at the risk of their life.

Yet Olivia still held onto hope.

Hope that someone might share her resolve—

to chase justice buried in darkness and time, even when standing alone against the endless night.

Alexander’s voice cut through the air like ice: "Olivia, you’ll pay for your stupidity!"

The ropes binding her suddenly loosened, and Olivia felt as if she were on a freefall ride.

Plummeting violently, then rising slowly.

Only to crash down again when least expected.

Over and over, each cycle testing death’s limits.

Anger, grief, despair—all tangled in her chest, yet she couldn’t even scream.

Was this how her mother felt when there was no one left to turn to?

Was that why she chose death without hesitation?

Time blurred before bodyguards dragged Olivia onto the rooftop.

She collapsed, hollow-eyed, and slowly lifted her gaze to the man before her.

Bitter tears streaked her face as she choked out, "Alexander... what will it take for you to let my mother and me go?"

She couldn’t bear another day walking the razor’s edge.

Nor let her mother’s memory drown in infamy.

Alexander’s eyes flickered with irritation at Olivia’s broken stare. He almost reached for her—

then caught himself, face hardening. "Olivia, don’t even think about getting rid of me."

He turned and left without a backward glance.

Olivia sat alone on the rooftop, unaware when he’d gone.

The next day, Alexander announced his engagement to Victoria, jetting off for a pre-wedding getaway.

Beaches, oceans, sunsets—all witnesses to their romance.

Olivia healed quickly and checked herself out of the hospital.

She returned to the Sinclair Manor to pack, then retreated alone into the mountains.

For a week, peace settled over her days.

Until she stumbled upon Alexander and Victoria’s hiking group deep in those same woods.

Olivia tried to slip past unseen, but Alexander commanded, "Ten grand. Lead the way."

Arrogant. Entitled. Cold.

What had she ever seen in him?

As she opened her mouth to refuse, a white flash split the sky—

A jagged bolt of lightning struck like a blade.

CRACK!

It split the hillside trees ahead.

Worse—sparks erupted, igniting the forest.

"RUN!"

Olivia’s shout tore from her throat as she bolted downhill.

The group scrambled after her, but none matched her speed. Some even fumbled straight into the flames.

Soon, only Alexander and Victoria kept pace.

Fire lashed at Olivia’s exposed skin, blistering her arms. Flames licked at her calves, searing marks into her flesh.

Safety was just steps away when brute force yanked her backward.

Alexander commanded coldly, "Slow down. Victoria's foot got cut."

Olivia followed his gaze and barked a bitter laugh.

"A tiny scratch without even a drop of blood?

What kind of injury is that?!"

They might want to die, but she didn't!

Hearing this, Victoria's tears welled up. "Alexander, am I holding you back?

It's okay, go ahead. I'll catch up."

Just then, a burning tree crashed toward them.

"Look out!"

Alexander violently shoved Olivia into harm's way.

Scooping up Victoria, he sprinted downhill without a backward glance.

Cradled in his arms, Victoria shot Olivia a triumphant smile.

It screamed: "He doesn't care if you live or die."

Olivia heard her heart shatter.

Searing pain exploded across her back before darkness swallowed her.

She awoke swathed in bandages, gasping at the agony.

A doctor briefed Alexander: "Ms. Brown's burns are extensive. Skin grafts are essential."

Olivia braced for refusal.

Yet he agreed.

A flicker of hope stirred her numb heart—

until his next words froze her blood:

"Perform the grafts without anesthesia."

"Whether she survives... rests with fate."

Chapter 5

Olivia felt as if a knife were twisting in her heart, her eyes bloodshot to the point of dripping crimson.

She struggled to speak: "Why...?"

But what answered her was Alexander's furious accusation: "How dare you ask why?"

"If you hadn't left without her, how could she have nearly been crushed by that tree?"

"You should be grateful you took the hit for her—otherwise you'd be lying in the morgue right now!"

"So I'll let you live—but you'll live in agony!"

Every word pierced like a blade through the heart.

Olivia closed her eyes and suddenly laughed.

As she laughed, fat tears began rolling down her cheeks.

Numb and vacant, she was wheeled into the operating room like a soulless shell.

The moment the operating room doors shut, nurses seized Olivia's limbs, pinning her rigidly to the table.

Olivia didn't resist, lying motionless with hollow eyes fixed on the ceiling.

When the knife sliced her skin, blinding pain exploded through her body.

Olivia's frame shuddered instinctively, but she bit down hard, uttering no sound.

The blade carved through her flesh inch by inch, blood soaking the operating table scarlet.

Her fingers clawed the bed's edge until they turned bone-white, nails digging into her palms—yet still silent.

Her consciousness faded, leaving only the cold tick-tick-tick of machines in her ears.

......

Olivia woke to nurses chattering nearby.

"Alexander treats Miss Victoria like royalty!

He cleared the entire pent floor just for her, visits daily, even hand-feeds her!"

"Absolutely! Rumor is they're marrying in two weeks—a perfect match!"

"That Olivia, the homewrecker who split Alexander and Miss Victoria? Bet she's seething! Haha!"

Olivia stayed mute, counting down the days in silence.

Exactly two weeks remained.

The hospital door swung open as Victoria sauntered in.

Rosy-cheeked, she looked nothing like a patient.

Olivia's lips curled faintly: "On the mountain—you stalled on purpose, didn't you?"

"Yes."

Victoria flashed a triumphant grin. "Pity that tree didn't finish you off."

"You saw it—Alexander loves me. You're just a disposable toy!

How did you cling to him so long?"

Suddenly, she slapped her own face viciously.

Between strikes, she wailed: "Miss Olivia, take your anger out on me!

I'll apologize, but leave my family alone!"

"First your mother seduced Katherine Beaumont—now you're after him too?

Trying to destroy our family?!"

Olivia froze in shock.

As she reached to stop Victoria, Alexander stormed in and smacked her hand away.

Victoria collapsed against him, tear-streaked and trembling: "Alexander, I only came to check on Miss Olivia—but she's vicious!"

"She threatened to steal you... and Katherine too!"

"You know, my father always coveted her mother, so he'd be defenseless against her. What about my mom then?"

"Victor, please talk some sense into her?"

Victor stared at Olivia in disbelief, his rage burning like wildfire that threatened to consume the entire hospital room.

"Olivia, you're utterly hopeless!"

Olivia parted her lips to explain, but Victor refused to listen.

He even raised his hand and struck her hard across the face, leaving her cheek swollen and burning.

"Trash really does fall far from the tree!" he spat coldly.

"Why didn't that mother of yours take you with her when she died?!"

"Since you love sleeping with men so much, I'll make sure you get your fill!"

With that, he scooped Victoria into his arms and walked out without granting Olivia so much as a backward glance.

Olivia's pupils contracted violently, her blood turning to ice in her veins.

For shortly after Victor left, a gang of ragged beggars burst into her hospital room.

Greed and malice glittered in their eyes as their limbs coiled around Olivia like venomous snakes.

They tore at her clothes, trampling her dignity beneath their filthy hands.

Olivia's body trembled uncontrollably, tears flooding down her face.

"Victor! Save me! Please! Don't leave me here!" she begged, her voice shattering like broken glass.

Chapter 6

Olivia threw herself at the door with all her might, desperate to grab Alexander's sleeve.

But the moment her fingers brushed his clothes, he coldly shook her off.

"Mistakes demand consequences."

Hearing this, Olivia dropped to her knees, frantically kowtowing until her forehead struck the floor with sickening thuds.

"Alexander, I was wrong!

Let me out!

I can't stay with these men!

They'll kill me!"

"Alexander!!"

Her agonized screams tore through the air, tears mingling with blood as they stained the floor crimson.

Alexander only sneered, "Filthy flesh has no right to be picky."

Without a backward glance, he walked away as if she were garbage.

The beggars lunged, dragging Olivia onto the bed, their heavy breathing and cruel laughter pressing down on her.

Alexander's venomous words echoed relentlessly in her mind.

An invisible fist clenched her heart, stealing her breath with pain.

Just as despair consumed her, nurses and security burst in, scattering the beggars.

No sorrow is greater than a dead heart—Olivia couldn't shed another tear.

She curled up under the blankets, battered and bruised.

Time blurred before she numbly rose and stumbled to the window, gazing blankly at the sky.

Would Mom be disappointed to see her like this?

Olivia drifted like a ghost toward the cemetery.

She needed to visit Mom, pour out her anguish, and say goodbye.

But when she arrived, men were digging up Sophia's grave.

Her mother's favorite flowers lay trampled; dirt smeared the photo on the tombstone.

Olivia's heart seized. She charged forward, shoving them aside, voice raw: "What are you doing?!"

How could she overpower these burly men?

They effortlessly pinned her down and kept digging.

"Those beggars last night weren't enough?

Now you're pawing at more men?"

Alexander's mocking voice cut through the air.

Olivia whirled to see him hand-in-hand with Victoria, fingers intertwined.

The sight stabbed her eyes and heart.

Victoria smiled sweetly: "Miss Brown, after your cruel words yesterday, Alexander got a bit upset. Punishing you wasn't enough—your mother had to pay too."

"When he calms down, I'll have her grave restored. Fair?"

Her gloating expression was infuriating, her words pure poison.

Olivia's blood ran cold. She stared at Alexander in disbelief: "Have you lost your mind?!"

"Hate me all you want!

But desecrating my mother's grave? Coward!!"

Her scream drained her last strength, yet Alexander's icy command drowned it out: "Keep digging."

A worker held up Sophia's funeral urn: "Mr. Sinclair, what about this?"

"No!"

Olivia trembled violently, summoning impossible strength to break free.

She snatched Sophia's funeral urn, clutching it tightly to her chest: "Alexander, have you forgotten how my mother treated you?"

"Who took you to the hospital when you had a fever in the middle of the night?

Who covered for you at school and begged for mercy behind your father's back?"

"Have you forgotten all that?"

Sophia obeyed him in every way, foolishly hoping to soften his resentment with love.

But who could have thought, Sophia waited until death, yet never saw a moment of compassion from Alexander.

Seeing Olivia's swollen, red eyes, Alexander felt a rare pang of heartache, instinctively reaching to wipe away her tears as he used to.

But Victoria grabbed his hand, coquettishly saying: "Alexander, didn't you promise to vent my anger?"

At those words, Alexander snapped back to reason and kicked Olivia hard in the chest.

He coldly ordered: "What are you standing around for?

Scatter that bitch's ashes!"

Olivia was kicked to the ground, her fingers pried open roughly: "No!"

She struggled to get up to snatch back the funeral urn, but Alexander shoved her aside, watching helplessly as they poured her mother's ashes into the dirty, stinking river.

At that moment, her heart stopped beating.

Chapter 7

Olivia dazedly crawled to the empty funeral urn, even the sensation of pain forgotten.

"Olivia, be strong."

"Olivia, Mom loves you."

"Olivia, life is short. Find happiness."

......

Her mother's words coiled around her ears like an incantation.

So warm. So seductive.

So much so that Olivia actually considered joining her mother below.

"Learned your lesson?"

Alexander's cold, selfish voice pierced her ears.

But Olivia wanted to hear nothing, respond to nothing, nor know what Alexander might do next.

Because to her, Alexander had already destroyed her entire world.

Nothing else mattered.

Seeing Olivia ignoring him, Alexander flushed with humiliated rage.

Victoria fanned the flames beside him: "Alexander, seems Miss Olivia refuses to admit fault. Is she challenging your authority?"

BANG—

Alexander kicked over a nearby tombstone, crushing Sophia's photo under his heel.

"Olivia, since you reject kindness and choose punishment, then—"

"Then what?"

Olivia's expression remained wooden as a bleak smile twisted her lips. "I admitted fault, apologized, kowtowed. But did you ever let me go?"

She truly couldn't understand.

Why must the innocent kneel and beg forgiveness?

Why do the guilty roam free?

This world dealt her such injustice.

Olivia slowly rose, meeting Alexander's eyes: "How will you punish me this time?

Force me to kneel in a maid's uniform?

Hire men to rape me?

Or kill someone I care about?"

She closed her eyes wearily, her voice barely audible in the wind: "Alexander, I'm tired. Kill me."

For some reason, unease pricked Alexander.

But Victoria suddenly chirped: "Miss Olivia, even if you're playing the self-sacrifice scheme, don't joke like this!

Death is life's only true gravity. We just played a few little jokes on you.

No need for such dramatics."

"Alexander, surely you don't believe her act?"

The hesitation in Alexander's eyes vanished instantly. He sneered, "Since you want death, then die."

He ordered the burly men to throw Olivia into the pit and bury her alive.

The men hesitated until Alexander barked: "Bury her!

I'll take responsibility!"

He refused to believe Olivia wouldn't fear death.

Yet unexpectedly, Olivia remained silent, passively accepting the living burial.

Mud mixed with rain pounded onto her body. She never begged.

Only when dirt was about to seal her face did Alexander growl, "Stop!

Olivia, I'll spare you this time. Reflect on your actions here tonight!"

He turned and left with Victoria.

Olivia lay vacantly and dully, staring at the sky as rain washed her tears away.

Memories of her mother flooded her mind—

She loved bright flowers, so Mom planted the whole yard blooming with them;

She loved swinging, so Mom built her a swing, playing wildly with her every day;

When she feared the road ahead looked tough, Mom patiently taught her: "Do good deeds, don't worry about the future."

Mom taught well, and she learned well.

Yet it seemed no match for the darkness before dawn.

As the first golden rays pierced the clouds, shining on Olivia's face, she seemed to hear Mom's final words:

"Olivia, be strong, be kind, be happy."

At this moment, the gloom lifted, golden rays piercing through the clouds.

Olivia felt reborn, turning to her vibrating phone.

[Ms. Brown, your emigration procedures are complete. Please give final confirmation.]

[Olivia, it's time for your journey.]

Two hours later, Olivia finally arrived at the place she'd dreamed of countless times.

The coach solemnly placed the team badge that once belonged to her around her neck.

"Olivia, welcome back to the team!"