Chapter 47: South and North

“This time, I don’t think she’ll escape again. Derrick will definitely marry me. I see myself marrying into the Domino family,” Gabriella mused, envisioning her future. Monica hugged her.

“Gabriella, don’t worry. With your mother here, no one can take away your happiness.”

Gabriella nodded, then added, “By the way, Mom, Olive is my dad’s daughter after all. Do you think Dad will help her?”

Monica sneered. “Even if Olive were killed, your father wouldn’t be sad.”

“Why, Mom? I think Dad likes Olive’s mother, but why doesn’t he like Olive?”

Monica pursed her lips. “My child, don’t worry about adults’ affairs. Don’t ask about this again.”

Gabriella noticed Monica’s secretive demeanor. Though curious, she obediently fell silent. Thinking of Olive’s current predicament, Gabriella smiled with satisfaction.

Gabriella returned to her room. Patrick soon arrived. Monica noticed his gloomy expression; he'd clearly learned of the situation. She knew Patrick well: feudal and pedantic, he cherished a clean reputation.

Monica approached him, unbuttoning his suit. “Patrick, what’s wrong? Who angered you?”

“It’s Olive,” Patrick said angrily. “She’s been flaunting herself with men. Her nude photos are all over the internet. People are trash-talking me.”

“Patrick, I heard. I’ve always said Olive has a messy private life. This is seriously damaging our family’s reputation. We need a solution immediately.”

“I thought so too, but I called Olive, and she didn’t answer.”

Monica knew Olive wouldn't answer; she was likely still with those men.

“Patrick, since Olive had the audacity to do this without considering us, we should immediately cut ties. Tomorrow, we’ll hold a press conference and make a public announcement.”

Patrick considered her suggestion, then nodded. “Okay, you arrange it.”

At Augustine Corporation, Raven entered Elvis’s office. Andrew poured him coffee. Raven sipped it, looking at Elvis across the sofa.

“Elvis, the internet’s exploded. Everyone’s trash-talking you. Aren’t you worried?”

Elvis remained focused on his documents. His lips murmured, “She doesn’t want my interference. She thinks I disrespect her choices. Let her do as she pleases.”

Raven’s brow furrowed in surprise. Elvis’s phone beeped—a message from Olive, the only person he regularly chatted with. He opened it, revealing a picture of her in a swimsuit.

“Can you stand it?” Olive’s message read.

Elvis replied, “Do you want me to come take a look?”

After several minutes, she responded, “I’m sure you’re stunned.”

Monica organized a lavish press conference; LA’s media thronged the venue. Public opinion had exploded overnight, but Olive was nowhere to be found. The reporters clamored for answers; Monica's press conference was perfectly timed.

Suppressing her pride and malice, Monica appeared onstage with Patrick. Gabriella watched from the crowd. Reporters immediately bombarded them with questions.

“Mr. and Mrs. Hart, do you know where Olive is?”

“She caused such a scandal. Is she too ashamed to show her face?”

Monica coughed, speaking sadly, “Everyone, please be quiet. We don’t know Olive’s whereabouts. She’s cut off contact. Though she’s our daughter, her actions were reprehensible, and we are deeply disappointed.”

Patrick’s expression was cold and indifferent. “We know nothing about the photos and will not be held responsible. This press conference is to announce something very important.” He paused, meeting the expectant gaze of the audience. “What she did is humiliating. I publicly declare that, effective immediately, Olive is disowned and no longer part of our family.”

An uproar erupted.

“Disowned? Really?”

“She deserves it!”

Monica remained silent, a vicious smile playing on her lips as she witnessed the audience’s disgust.

Suddenly, a reporter shouted, “Olive… she’s appeared!”

“What?”

“Olive appeared?”

“Go online now! Los Angeles’s number one beauty, North, is live!”

Gabriella was stunned. She quickly accessed the internet. Within minutes, North’s page was trending. North was live, with Olive, at the beach. The sun glinted on their bodies as they chatted happily.

North explained her best friend was visiting her in New York.

Gabriella scrolled through the comments. Netizens compared the viral nude photos to Olive’s beach appearance.

“Shit, it wasn’t Olive in those nude photos. But the resemblance is striking.”

“Olive is far more beautiful than the girl in that picture.”