Chapter 143

Elvis drove his Rolls-Royce Phantom in silence. Olive concluded he was angry. Turning to him, she asked, "Mr. Augustine, are you angry?" She hoped to ease the tension and start a conversation.

Elvis kept his eyes on the road, responding, "Why do you ask?"

"Mr. Augustine, I can explain. I didn't know the Holy Nile Academy principal was your aunt, or that Marvin was your brother. It was a coincidence."

Elvis glanced at her. "Is Marvin your colleague?" He was unaware Marvin was in Los Angeles, or that he'd joined the Ivory Council and become Olive's colleague. Marvin was, after all, a young academician in Canada.

Olive nodded. "Yes, I met him at the Ivory Council."

"Are you familiar with each other?"

"Not really; I only learned his name recently. He's helped me a few times."

Before Olive could finish, Elvis chuckled, a low, hoarse sound. The Marvin he knew was cold and distant, uninterested in others' affairs. Why would he help her if they weren't familiar? He slammed the steering wheel, swerving the car. It accelerated rapidly, making Olive gasp, her face paling with fear.

"Mr. Augustine, please slow down!" she urged.

His handsome face remained cold. He didn't slow down; instead, he pressed the accelerator harder. Olive felt dizzy and nauseous. "Mr. Augustine, if you don't slow down, I'll be upset. And, Bounty is your aunt, right? Did you use her connections to send Pamela to Holy Nile? You did, and you think that's nothing. But I don't understand…"

Olive turned to the window, ignoring him. Silence fell, heavy with tension. Elvis ripped open his shirt buttons, furious that Olive had spoken with his brother. He didn't like the feeling at all. He adjusted his collar and looked at Olive's pale face. The speed had unnerved her. She clutched her dress, hoping for the car to slow. Elvis's anger seemed to subside. As a rational man, he recognized the danger of his reckless driving. He licked his lips, realizing how frightening he became when he lost control. He slowed the car and stopped by the roadside.

Olive quickly opened the door and vomited into a nearby trash can. She'd had some red wine earlier. Her eyes grew red with tears.

Elvis exited the car and approached her. He hesitated, his hand reaching out to comfort her, then retracting. He offered her a white handkerchief. Once she'd finished, she looked up.

"I understand you're angry, but please don't drive so fast again. It made me very uncomfortable."

Elvis saw her reddened, tear-filled eyes. A sharp pain pierced his chest. "I can't control myself. Treat me as if I'm sick again."

Olive noticed his self-deprecating expression. She offered him a pill. "Take this medicine; you'll be alright."

He refused, a first. He took the pill from her and threw it in the trash.

"Hey, what are you doing? You can't throw away your medicine!" Olive frowned, reaching into the trash for the pill. Elvis grabbed her waist, pulling her into his arms. "I should be asking what you're doing. Why are you in the trash?"

"Elvis, that's medicine. Don't throw it away, don't give up on yourself. Cooperate with my treatment!"

He hugged her tightly and forced her into the car. "I don't want to take drugs tonight," he said indifferently.

At the Red Villa, Elvis and Olive entered the living room. Samantha, the old lady, greeted them eagerly. "Oh my, welcome! Elvis, did you meet the talented girl your aunt spoke of? Does Marvin like her?"

Before she could finish, Elvis interrupted. "Yes, I saw her. I even brought her home."

"What do you mean?" Samantha asked, confused.

Olive stepped forward shyly, taking the old lady's hand. "Grandma, there's a misunderstanding. The principal—Elvis's aunt—and I knew each other before."

Samantha stared at Olive. "Olive, the talented girl Bounty bragged about… is that you?"

Olive blinked and nodded. "I suppose so."

"But everyone thinks you only graduated from high school…"

"Grandma, I don't know where that idea came from. I was recommended to a top Canadian medical university at thirteen, became a post-doctoral student at fifteen, and returned home after that. Aunt Bounty offered me admission to Holy Nile, but it was too far from home, so I declined. Then she invited me to the dinner party…"