Chapter 5

Sophia was Olivia's stepsister.

She was also the orphaned child of Frank's deceased war buddy.

When Sophia was three, Frank's comrade stepped on a landmine while trying to save Frank and died.

His wife committed suicide soon after.

Frank felt extremely guilty and took the initiative to raise Sophia.

He even brought Sophia to live with the Hayes family.

The Hayes weren't particularly wealthy, but could easily afford to raise another child.

But Sophia had trouble getting along with Olivia.

So they sent Olivia to live with her grandmother in the countryside.

The white jade pendant Olivia's grandmother left was specifically meant for Olivia.

At the time, Linda was very distraught over her mother's passing and cried while holding the pendant.

Olivia felt bad for her mother and gave her the pendant.

But Linda had also said that whenever Olivia wanted it, she could come take it back.

Linda nervously smoothed her hair.

"Olivia dear, why are you asking about the pendant as soon as you arrive? Why don't you catch up with everyone first?"

In the past, she always cared about them when she came back.

But did they appreciate it?

As soon as Sophia returned, they never spared her a single glance.

It was they who trampled on her concern, not her who didn't give it.

Linda's demeanor made Olivia suspicious.

"Mom, where's the pendant?"

Linda couldn't meet her eyes.

Sophia's clear voice rang out.

"Sis, do you mean this pendant?"

Sophia pulled out the pendant from her neckline.

"I didn't know it was from your grandmother. I thought Mom bought it for me."

Olivia's body trembled as she looked at Linda.

"Mom, that's the pendant Grandma left for me!"

Linda tried to explain.

But before she could speak, Frank interrupted.

"What's yours or mine? Olivia, don't you understand? If Sophia wants the pendant, are you really going to fight her for it?"

Olivia felt it was getting hard to breathe.

She could give up everything else.

But this was Grandma's pendant!

She and her grandmother had relied on each other for over a decade. The pendant was the only thing her grandmother left behind!

Frank continued to berate her.

"You dare raise your voice at your parents over a mere pendant? Where are your manners?"

"That's right," Ryan chimed in from the side, "It's just a pendant, what's the big deal? Olivia, you're being too petty."

"Enough," Linda pulled on Ryan's arm and said to Olivia, "Your sister likes it, so just let her have it."

Olivia looked at the silent Ethan.

Ethan felt uncomfortable under her gaze.

His eyes moved to the pendant in Sophia's hand.

He had some impression of that pendant.

The first time he met Olivia, she was holding that pendant.

But Olivia owed Sophia too much.

Ethan spoke flatly: "It's just a pendant. If Sophia likes it, let her have it."

Olivia looked at the people before her, feeling they were complete strangers.

"Just a pendant?"

She suddenly laughed.

Her grandmother had been her only family until she was sixteen.

"That was left to me by my grandmother! What right does she have to take it?!"

"She's your sister!"

Olivia shouted with all her strength: "She's not!"

Hearing Olivia say this, Frank's eyes widened in anger.

Olivia didn't give him a chance to speak.

"Dad, for Sophia's sake, you sent me away and ruined my future. Now you want to give her my pendant too? You owed your war buddy! I don't owe anyone anything!"

Back then, Sophia wanted to study medicine abroad while Olivia was about to start college.

There was enough money for both of them to study.

But to give Sophia a better life, Frank gave her double the living expenses.

At that time, Olivia had just passed the art exam.

But Frank told her to stop studying art.

To continue learning to paint, she begged many times.

Frank remained unmoved.

Having his sore spot poked, Frank stood up from the sofa and slapped Olivia hard across the face.

"What are you doing!" Linda pulled Frank back and went to Olivia.

"Olivia, your father didn't mean it. Be the bigger person and apologize to your father. Let's put this behind us."

Linda always tried to smooth things over like this.

Her actions made Olivia feel utterly helpless every time.

"You knew that was from Grandma, why did you give it to Sophia!"

Olivia grabbed Linda's hands, forcing her to look at her. "Mom, that was from Grandma! I've already given up everything else, why do you have to take away my last memento?"

Linda was at a loss for words.

Sophia spoke up from the side.

"Sis, don't blame Mom. It's all my fault. I'll give it back to you."