Chapter 69

Olive had been waiting for Aunt Rebecca to wake up so she could find out what had happened that year.

“Kelvin was the housekeeper; later, she married the housekeeper’s son,” Aunt Rebecca uttered, coughing. “Aunt Rebecca, I don’t understand. Please explain it to me.”

Aunt Rebecca looked at Olive lovingly.

“Little Miss, once you retrieve the box your mother left you, you’ll understand.”

After speaking, Aunt Rebecca tiredly closed her eyes and fell back into a coma.

Olive stared, surprised. She hastily called the doctor.

When the doctor examined Aunt Rebecca, he said strangely, “Miss Hart, the patient’s health has been poor, but she seems to have taken a pill that prevented heart failure.”

Olive checked her pulse; as the doctor said, Aunt Rebecca had a life-saving pill in her system. She hadn't noticed it a month and a half ago. The medical skill required to sustain someone's life for so long unnoticed was impressive.

Olive knew it was her mother, administered before her death. Things were becoming complicated; she felt enveloped by a vast, unknown net.

Her phone rang—Patrick. Unsurprised, she knew he was calling about her relationship with Augustine. She answered.

“Hello, Dad.”

“Olive, come home. I need to ask you something,” Patrick said anxiously.

Olive pursed her lips. “Okay, Dad. I need to tell you something, too.”

Olive first went to her grandmother’s room. Mr. Hart remained in a coma, but after her last injection, he seemed to be slowly recovering. Olive gave him a second injection. The old man had been in a vegetative state for ten years.

Putting away the needle, Olive quietly looked at him. “Grandpa, Aunt Rebecca said you were Mom’s housekeeper. What did she mean? She also said Mom came to LA; could she not have been from LA? Who was the man she feared?”

Patrick entered. “Olive, come to my study.”

Patrick’s face was cold and ugly. “Dad, did Pamela tell you I was with Elvis Augustine?” Olive asked.

Patrick didn’t deny it. “Pamela said you have Elvis’s card. I remember the Royal Star Hotel manager sent a Rolls-Royce to drive you home after Gabriella’s birthday party. Are you sleeping with Elvis?”

Olive’s eyes filled with disgust. “Did you say the same to Pamela? That she was sleeping with Elvis Augustine?”

“You two are different. Pamela isn’t married,” Patrick defended.

“I can get a divorced, right? Pamela and I are both your daughters. Elvis Augustine will still be your son-in-law regardless of whom he marries. What’s the difference?”

Patrick scoffed. There was a huge difference; Olive wasn’t his biological daughter. News of Augustine’s multi-million dollar investment in his company had boosted Patrick’s status. Everyone wanted to associate with him. Learning about Olive’s entanglement with Elvis enraged him.

“Augustine belongs to Pamela, and she intends to marry him. Break up with him,” Patrick reprimanded.

Olive chuckled indifferently. “Dad, don’t you think whoever marries President Augustine depends on whom he likes?”

This ignited Patrick’s anger. The door opened, and Pamela entered.

Pamela looked at Patrick soothingly. “Dad, don’t worry about Olive. I know what to do.”

Patrick was satisfied. He breathed deeply and looked at Olive. “You’re my responsibility too. I haven’t disciplined you properly. I’ll find a university for you. Look at Pamela; she finished her studies abroad and was accepted by the Ivory Council.”

Olive looked at Pamela. “You were accepted into the Ivory Council?”

“Yes. I haven’t told you. I was accepted into the medical institute.” Pamela’s eyes shone with pride.

Olive pondered. “Dad, I want to enter the Ivory Council, too.”

“What?” Patrick suspected he’d misheard. “You want to enter the Ivory Council? Are you dreaming? You haven’t been to college! How will they admit you?”

Olive had only graduated high school. Contempt flickered in Pamela’s eyes. “Olive, we don’t mean to look down on you, but you definitely won’t be able to enter the Ivory Council.”

“We’ll see,” Olive said, smiling, and left the room.

“Ignore her. She’s crazy. If she can enter the Ivory Council, I’ll… forget it. It’s impossible,” Patrick said.

Pamela returned to her room, called Gwen, and said, “Let me tell you something hilarious…”