Chapter 41: He Brought a Woman Home

Olive opened the room door to find Gabriella standing there, fist clenched and glaring with reddened eyes. The engagement party was over. Patrick and Monica had dismissed the guests and were dealing with the aftermath. Gabriella, who had envisioned herself as Derrick’s bride, was brought crashing back to reality. All she wanted to do was strangle Olive.

“Olive,” she demanded, “what did you say to confuse Derrick? Was that message from you? What was its content?”

Olive pursed her lips. “You can ask Derrick all those questions.”

“Olive, are you happy now?”

Gabriella felt frustrated. No matter how hard she tried to humiliate Olive, she always ended up humiliated herself. Gabriella cried in resentment.

Olive looked at her and muttered, “You guys invited me to the engagement party. Are you satisfied with the outcome? Don't shed tears like a loser. I'm very happy and proud of your outcome. You guys repeatedly made trouble for me; I'm glad you got a taste of your own medicine.”

“F*** you!” Gabriella felt as if she were kneeling at Olive's feet.

Olive moved closer, whispering, “Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you. I won't let you win the rest of the game.”

Olive headed for the stairs. Gabriella felt her head explode. She shut her eyes and collapsed. Olive stopped, turned, and stared.

“Gabriella!” Monica rushed over, lifting Gabriella. “Gabriella, what’s wrong? Wake up! Olive, do you think destroying people’s engagement party and being a mistress is honorable?”

Patrick also approached. Like Monica, he had hoped Gabriella would marry into the Domino family. The ruined engagement party felt like a dissolving dream.

“Olive,” he said, “I always thought your poor attitude stemmed from growing up in an orphanage. I never expected your heart to be so vicious. For goodness sake, Gabriella is your sister!”

Olive walked back. As she approached Patrick, he raised his hand to slap her. Olive didn't dodge. She looked at him coldly and moved her face into his palm.

“Dad, hit me. Go ahead and hit me hard. Since you despise me so much, why didn’t you kill me after Mother’s death?” she challenged. “Speaking of being a mistress, Ma, you really are my mentor. It’s a pity I didn’t inherit your number one attribute.”

Olive turned and left. Monica’s heart ached. “Patrick, call an ambulance! Hurry!”

Olive left the villa and headed to the Red Villa. Unseen, a luxury car was parked nearby. Elvis lowered the window, watching her.

Raven watched the arriving ambulance and the medical staff carrying a stretcher. “Elvis, your bride is something. She turned a great engagement party into this. I think you’ll have a hard time taming her.”

Raven understood why Elvis liked Olive. She was calm, intelligent, brave, and dazzling—the kind of woman who easily stimulated a man's desire. Olive disappeared from view. Elvis withdrew his gaze.

“I’m going back,” he said.

“Where? To the Red Villa?”

“Back to the company.”

Raven sensed something mysterious about Elvis. He’d clearly been worried about Olive at the party and had rushed over.

Olive first went to the hospital to see Aunt Rebecca. Rebecca was still asleep, so Olive returned to the Red Villa and lay on her bed. Although she’d won a battle, she felt unhappy and unloved. She wanted to message North but feared disturbing him on set. She closed her eyes but couldn’t sleep. She suddenly missed Elvis’s warm embrace. If he were there, he’d hold her.

Wait, what was she thinking?

Olive quickly dismissed the thought. He was a scumbag; probably discussing things with his director, Rita. Why did she suddenly crave his hugs? She closed her eyes, forcing herself to sleep.

The next morning, Olive saw Mr. Henry, the butler, instructing the servants. “Wipe here clean. No dust.” “Is the food ready? Juice?”

Olive went downstairs. “Uncle Henry, why the special cleanup? Is today a special day? Expecting guests?”

Mr. Henry’s eyes flickered. “Ma’am Olive, the young master called. He’s coming home with a guest. We should prepare a warm reception.”

“A VIP?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Olive was unaware of the guest and Elvis hadn’t informed her. The gates opened automatically, and a luxurious car drove in, parking on the lawn.

“Young master is back!” Mr. Henry announced. Olive stood by the door, watching. A servant opened the car door, and Elvis’s tall figure emerged, wearing a handmade white shirt and black trousers. Another figure followed: Rita, in a red dress, her figure outlined, wearing delicate makeup and dazzling red lipstick. She was extremely charming.

Elvis had brought Rita home. Olive froze. She hadn’t expected him to bring a woman home.