Chapter 82
“As for why I hit you Charlotte held up her phone, her voice cold and sharp. “I still have the security footage from last time. Want to see it again?”
The mention of the video made Olivia suck in a shaky breath. Her face went pale, almost sickly. Afraid Charlotte might actually show everyone the clip, she bit her lip and whispered, “You didn’t hit me. It was just a misunderstanding.”
“Olivia Nancy frowned, remembering all the times Olivia had confided in her about being bullied by Charlotte. Seeing her friend so small and quiet now, Nancy immediately stepped up. “What are you scared of? Did Charlotte threaten you?”
She turned to the crowd, her voice growing louder. “Olivia never said she was the only daughter in the Main family. Sure, she’s not related by blood, but she’s still a Main in every way that counts. Besides, we’ve all seen how hard Olivia works and how much she’s done for the family. She’s made them proud, year after year.”
Nancy’s frustration only grew. She glared at Charlotte, her words fierce. “And you, Charlotte? What have you given the Main family? You pick fights, bully your stepmother and stepsister, and even your own father couldn’t stand it. He tried to kick you out. Have you ever stopped to think about what you’ve done?”
Silence settled over the courtyard. The students watching exchanged uncertain looks. Just a minute ago, they’d been shocked to learn Olivia wasn’t the real heiress, but now sympathy started to flicker in their eyes. After all, Olivia had worked so hard for the family’s reputation. That kind of dedication deserved respect.
Charlotte, though… She had the family name and the looks, but her grades were bad, her attitude worse, and she never seemed to do anything right.
Catching the pitiful glances from her classmates, Olivia dabbed at her eyes and took a deep breath, regaining her composure. It felt like she’d made the right call in letting Nancy speak for her.
Just when everyone thought Charlotte had finally run out of things to say, she looked up. Her lashes lifted, revealing eyes that were clear and bright, but cold as ice. She glanced over at Nancy and Olivia, her expression unreadable.
“When Steven had nothing, it was my mother who believed in him. She gave him the money to start his company from scratch. It’s just… She died right when the business was finally taking off.” Charlotte’s lips curled in a half-smile, a mix of regret and bitter amusement.
Olivia stiffened, her hands clenching at her sides. She already knew where this was going. Her glare at Charlotte grew sharper, and she bit her lip so hard it nearly drew blood.
“Right after my mom died, Olivia and
her mom just moved right in. Suddenly, they were Mrs. Main and Miss Main, living the high life, loved and respected by everyone.”
Sveik
Charlotte paused and pulled a tissue from her bad carefully wiping down bagca
her phone as if Olivia’s touch had
tainted it. Her tone was dripping with scorn. “Your tuition, your allowance, the designer clothes, the fancy jewelry-every last bit of it came from my mom. So, does anyone still want to ask what I’ve done for the Main family?”
Her claim as the Main Group’s true heir was clear as day. That was her strength, her security.
Main
Olivia felt the words hit her like a slap. She couldn’t even think of a comeback. She remembered her father saying it before. The Main Group owed every ything to Charlotte’s mother. He’d even told her that Charlotte inherited a big chunk of shares, though Olivia had never known the details.
The other students seemed to get it now too. Without Charlotte’s mom, there would be no Main Group, no mansion, no Olivia shining in the spotlight. Living in Cabinda’s elite circles Olivia’s lifestyle wasn’t cheap-her clothes her parties, alt those luxuries… None of it would have existed if not for Charlotte’s mother.