Became Heiress, Lost Me

Olivia Brooks had found her biological parents.

I never expected that she would turn out to be the long-lost heiress of the Brooks family.

What surprised me even more was that Olivia showed up at the Brooks family’s homecoming reception with her assistant, Daniel Foster, and publicly announced that Daniel was her fiancé.

She even declared that she would marry him on William Brooks’ 80th birthday, giving the family a “double celebration.”

Calmly, I sent her a message: “Congratulations—may the lovers finally be united.”

Soon, Olivia called me, her tone impatient.

“Ethan Carter, can’t you stop being so petty?

You’re still in a wheelchair, your image isn’t great right now. There’s no way I can introduce you to my family like this.

My grandfather’s in poor health, so I asked Daniel to pose as my fiancé and marry me on his 80th birthday. That should help lift his spirits.

Once your leg heals, I’ll bring you to my family. For now, just focus on your recovery in the hospital!”

Before I could respond, she hung up.

Immediately after, Daniel sent me a video from the Brooks family’s reception.

He stood beside Olivia, dressed to the nines, holding her hand. Both of them were all smiles as they toasted the family elders.

He followed up with a voice message, his tone dripping with smug provocation:

“VP Carter, the Brooks family is so warm and welcoming—I can hardly keep up!

Such a shame… If you hadn’t fractured your leg, you’d be the one standing next to Ms. Brooks today.

Don’t worry, just heal up in the hospital. I’ll take good care of her.”

I knew Daniel was deliberately trying to provoke me.

In the past, I might have lost my temper, but now, I felt nothing but calm.

I replied: “Wishing you both an early congratulations on your wedding.”

Ever since Olivia reunited with her biological parents and returned to the Brooks family a month ago, her attitude toward me had changed.

Soon after, Daniel joined the startup we had founded and became her assistant.

Good-looking and smooth-talking, he kept her in high spirits, and their behavior toward each other had long crossed the line between boss and assistant.

I had argued with Olivia over Daniel before, but every time, the fight ended with me apologizing.

Olivia was my first love—I loved her to the bone.

But now, that love had left me covered in wounds.

Daniel’s place in her heart was clearly above mine.

Maybe she thought I couldn’t live without her, because she showed no regard for my feelings and always took Daniel’s side.

A few days ago, Daniel and I had another dispute.

When Olivia arrived to scold me, Daniel pretended to lose his balance and shoved me down the stairs, leaving me with a fractured shin.

Afterward, he put on a guilty, pitiful act to apologize, but Olivia blamed me for picking a fight with him—said it was my own fault—and didn’t place even the slightest blame on Daniel.

I could see through Daniel’s intentions: he wanted me hospitalized so he could take my place as Olivia’s “fiancé” at the Brooks family reception.

When I told Olivia this, she looked impatient and snapped,

“Ethan Carter, can you stop assuming the worst about people?

I know what kind of person Daniel is better than you do.”