But I had forgotten—back when she was eighteen, Olivia had once loved someone with a burning intensity.

My uncle hadn’t been wrong: Olivia really had been introduced to Eric by the family.

They’d put it delicately at the time.

They said Olivia was withdrawn, had just transferred back from abroad, and might not adjust well. They wanted to find her a friend to keep her company.

No one knew her true identity.

But Eric, drawn by her beautiful face, had pursued her anyway.

Back then, Eric was the proud, arrogant eldest son of the Smith family, the star athlete of the entire high school.

He was like a blazing flame, wrapping Olivia in his heat.

And so easily, he melted through her icy shell.

The two of them fell madly in love, inseparable.

At the height of their passion, Olivia defied her family and had Eric’s name tattooed on her collarbone.

They promised each other that after graduation, they would get married.

Olivia was full of hope, even painstakingly preparing a grand proposal.

But when she went to find Eric, she discovered him with another woman in his arms.

Outraged, Olivia confronted him, only to be slapped hard across the face.

Pointing at her, Eric sneered,

“Olivia, it was just for fun. You didn’t really think it meant something, did you?”

“Look at yourself—besides being pretty, what do you have that’s special?”

“I’ve been bored of that face for a long time. If you know what’s good for you, get lost!”

Her pride as a young woman was shattered.

Her true feelings, crushed.

Olivia fell ill from the blow, murmuring his name even in her feverish dreams.

The entire Smith household dismissed the affair as nothing.

Only when the White family stormed over demanding answers did everyone realize—this delicate, beautiful girl was not just a pretty face. She was the only daughter of the White family, heir to the White Corporation.

Her family had deliberately hidden her identity, hoping she’d toughen up outside.

No one had expected her first taste of love to cause such a disaster.

My parents panicked.

They feared Eric would be implicated, so they hurriedly sent him abroad overnight—and pushed me forward in his place.

I still remember—it was my birthday.

For the first time in her life, my mother baked me a homemade birthday cake.

She smiled at me and said, “Daniel, you’re the older brother. You have to help your little brother.”

“Eric is still young. His whole life can’t be ruined because of Olivia.”

As a child, I had no power or courage to resist my family.

And so, on my birthday, I was tied with a bow like a gift and delivered to the Whites—to Olivia.

Olivia hated me. Hated the Smiths. Hated anything connected to Eric.

She called me worthless.

Threw vases at me, telling me to get out.

She mocked me as a fool, saying my eyes looked just as hateful as Eric’s.

But no matter how she treated me, I gritted my teeth and stayed by her side.

Until one day, Olivia saw Eric’s official photos online with another girl.

She was silent for a long time, then began drinking, glass after glass.

Drunk and reckless, she dragged me along for a joyride.

And as expected, it ended in a car accident.

The moment before the car exploded, I pulled Olivia out.

My own back was shredded and burned by the blast.

Olivia trembled as she held my blood-soaked body in her arms.

That day she cried for a long time before finally rasping out,

“Daniel, will you be with me?”

Of course I would.

Beyond the affection I already held, she was also the heir of the White family.

She needed someone to help her move on from her heartbreak.

And I needed someone to help me escape the abyss of the Smith family.

And so, we officially began our relationship.

After surviving a brush with death, Olivia grew calmer, more grounded.

Our love wasn’t as fiery or reckless as hers had been with Eric, but it was steady and happy.

She wanted to start a business—I joined her.

She wanted independence—I agreed without hesitation.

As a girlfriend, Olivia was flawless.

As a business partner, she was even more perfect.

Ten years passed.

We built our own company. Amassed enough wealth to live comfortably for the rest of our lives.

One ordinary afternoon, Olivia casually suggested,

“Daniel, let’s get married.”

I agreed.

And that led to the farce we endured today.

A click—the sound of a lighter cut through my thoughts.

Though she had quit smoking long ago, Olivia had somehow produced a lighter and a cigarette.

The small flame flickered between her fingers.

In the dim light, I couldn’t see her expression, only the rings of smoke curling from her lips.

I was about to speak when Olivia suddenly pulled me close and kissed me deeply.

Only when I was breathless did she reluctantly let go.

Pressing her forehead against mine, she said gently but firmly,

“Daniel, being with you in this life is my greatest blessing. From now on, let’s just live our own lives, and forget the Smiths.”

Relief washed over me.

I nodded, but before I could respond, my phone rang.

The caller ID: Eric Smith.

Olivia frowned, tapped the screen, and blocked the number.

Then she started the car, and we drove back to the mansion we now lived in.

That night, Olivia was unusually clingy.

Even in sleep, she held my hand tightly, refusing to let go for even a second.

By morning, the pillow beside me was empty.

The silent room echoed only with an impatient knocking at the door.

Still half-asleep, I shuffled to open it—only to see my mother standing there with a displeased expression.

The moment she saw me, she raised the platinum handbag in her hand and smashed it against my head.

“You worthless brat! What did you say to Eric that made him cry all night in his room?”

“Stealing Olivia wasn’t enough—you want to drive your brother to his death too? How can your heart be this cruel?”

“If you don’t apologize to Eric today, I’ll never acknowledge you as my son again!”

I’d heard these words too many times growing up.

When I was born, my parents were busy building their business, leaving me behind in the countryside.

By the time they were successful, Eric was already at their side.

To them, he was their son.

And I was nothing more than a piece of the past they’d rather not remember.

In that house, if Eric cried, it was my fault.

If Eric was tired, it was my fault.

Whenever anything went wrong, it was always my fault.

In the end, everything was always my fault.

Years ago, I naively believed that if I just worked hard enough, I could earn my parents’ love.

So I pushed myself to be the top of my class.

I threw myself into business ventures and investments.

But all of my efforts combined still couldn’t compete with Eric calling out “Mom, Dad” in his sweet voice.

Fortunately, I grew up.

I found the courage to fight back.

When Mrs. Smith once again swung her platinum handbag at my head, I slapped her hand away.

“Leave in five minutes, or see you in court.”

The sharp sting stunned her into silence for a moment.

But when she recovered, she became even more hysterical.

She yanked my hair and screamed,

“You’re kicking me out? You’re really kicking me out?”

“I carried you for ten months, raised you with so much effort, and this is how you repay me? You ungrateful little bastard! Instead of letting you trample me, I might as well kill you right now!”

In her rage, my mother grabbed a vase and hurled it at me.

Just as the crystal ornament came flying toward me, a familiar figure stepped in front of me.

“Mrs. Smith, I already told you—Daniel Smith has nothing to do with your family anymore.”

“If you dare to bully my fiancé again, I won’t hesitate to use certain means to make you pay.”

Looking at Olivia White’s back as she shielded me, my nose stung.

All my life, I had longed for this moment—for someone to stand in front of me when I was beaten and helpless.

But now, as I watched Olivia’s back, my heart felt only bitterness.

Because before she stepped forward, I had already smelled it—the lingering scent of Eric’s cologne on her.

Still, it was Olivia who got rid of the problem.

After my mother stormed off, she knelt down to tend to my wounds.

When she saw the bruises and blood, she frowned.

“Daniel, why are you so foolish? When others hurt you, don’t you ever think to fight back?”

“I’m used to it,” I replied flatly.

Used to being bullied.

Used to being mocked.

Used to comforting myself with clumsy lies.

Olivia’s hand stilled for a moment before she gently pulled me into her arms.

“Don’t be afraid. From now on, I’ll protect you. I won’t let you suffer even the slightest grievance again.”

I gave a faint, indifferent smile without answering, though in my heart, I already knew the truth.

After this episode passed, the wedding proceeded as planned.

But on the eve of the ceremony, a series of explicit photos exploded online.

My fiancée, Olivia White, and my younger brother, Eric Smith.

In my own car, lost in their passion.

The footage had been captured by a nearby surveillance camera.

The timestamp: July 19, 10:35 a.m.

Exactly ten minutes after Olivia had hugged me and promised she would protect me forever.

In an instant, Olivia and Eric were thrown into the eye of a storm.

At the company headquarters, outside the mansion—reporters swarmed everywhere.

Reading the countless reports online, I only felt exhausted.

It was as if, over the past ten years, I had never truly known Olivia.

All I had possessed was an empty shell.

At that moment, I no longer cared about anything else.

My mind was consumed with one thought: how to protect my own interests.