The day Aaron brought Olivia home, Madison was furious.
She couldn't accept that the child of her husband's former lover would be living under the same roof as her and their three-year-old daughter, Anne.
The argument between Aaron and Madison was intense.
Madison couldn't understand how Aaron could bring another woman's child into their home as if nothing had happened.
Aaron tried to explain. He tried to calm her down. But Madison was too hurt and angry to listen. Finally, in a moment of anger and desperation, she gave Aaron an ultimatum.
"If Olivia stays in this house, Anne and I will leave."
Aaron was devastated. He loved Madison with all his heart, and the thought of losing his wife and daughter was unbearable.
He pleaded with her and he promised her that Olivia would never replace Anne. He promised that Anne would always remain his daughter and that his love for her would never change.
But Madison's heart had already been deeply hurt by the situation.
And from that day onward, Olivia's presence would forever change the Williams family.
Eventually, Madison relented.
As the years passed, Olivia eventually enrolled in school.
At first, Aaron and Madison had hoped that things would become easier for her once she started making friends and living a normal life. But things turned out to be very different.
The moment her classmates learned about her family background, Olivia became the target of relentless bullying. They mocked her for being an illegitimate child.
Some of the children refused to sit beside her, while others whispered cruel things whenever she walked past them. They called her names, laughed at her, and constantly reminded her that she was different from the other children.
No matter how hard Olivia tried to fit in, she always seemed to be pushed away. Day after day, she returned home with tears in her eyes. Sometimes she would lock herself inside her room and refuse to speak to anyone.
Other times, she would sit quietly at the dining table, barely touching her food. Watching the little girl suffer so much slowly softened Madison's heart.
At first, Madison had struggled to accept Olivia.
She had seen her as a painful reminder of her husband's past—a child born from his relationship with another woman.
But as the years passed, Madison's anger gradually faded. The hatred she had once carried in her heart slowly disappeared, replaced by sympathy. She began to feel sorry for Olivia.
The little girl hadn't chosen the circumstances of her birth. She hadn't asked to become the reason for the pain between the adults around her. Little by little, Madison began treating Olivia differently.
She comforted her when she came home crying.
She helped her with her schoolwork.
She bought her clothes and gifts.
Whenever Olivia was sick, Madison stayed beside her until she felt better.
Eventually, Madison began treating Olivia as though she were her own daughter.
But what Madison never realized was that while she was trying to heal Olivia's wounds, Olivia was quietly driving a wedge between Madison and Anne.
It didn't happen all at once. It happened slowly.
A little distance here.
A misunderstanding there.
A few carefully chosen words.
And with each passing year, the relationship between Madison and Anne grew weaker.
Anne, who had once been the center of her mother's world, slowly found herself pushed to the side. Eva silently observed the interaction before her.
After hearing Olivia's words, she glanced toward Madison and sighed inwardly.
Madison has such a wonderful daughter like Anne... yet she pours all her love and attention into Olivia without ever considering Anne's feelings.
The thought made Eva's heart ache. She knew Anne had never complained. The girl had always kept her feelings to herself, even when she was hurt.
That poor child...
Eva looked toward the direction Jason had disappeared.
Her own mother doesn't even realize how much she's hurting her.
***
Meanwhile, in the Office
Jason sat on the sofa across from his father, Ray, and Aaron Williams. The atmosphere inside the office was unusually tense. No one spoke for several moments.
Jason sat with his arms crossed over his chest, his expression growing increasingly impatient as he waited for his father to explain why he had been called here.
Finally, unable to tolerate the silence any longer, Jason broke it. "Dad, you told me to pretend to be in love with Olivia for some time."
His voice was filled with frustration. "But it's been years now. And now you want me to get engaged to her? How is that supposed to be possible?"
Ray looked at his son and let out a tired sigh. "I know we told you that you would only have to pretend for a while."
Jason's eyes narrowed.
"But you don't need to worry about the engagement," Ray continued. "It's only for show. You're not actually going to marry her. It's just an engagement for appearances."
Jason frowned. "For show?"
"Yes," Ray replied firmly. He leaned back against his chair, his expression serious. "Once we catch the person we're looking for, you won't have to pretend anymore."
Jason leaned back against the sofa and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. He had spent years pretending to care about Olivia.
Years of smiling at her.
Years of allowing her to stay close to him.
Years of hiding his true feelings.
And through all those years, there had only ever been one woman in his heart.
"But what about Anne, Dad?" His voice softened when he spoke her name. "You know how much I love her."
Jason lowered his gaze for a moment. "She'll be heartbroken when she hears about this."
His hands tightened into fists. "I've already hurt her so much. I can't hurt her even more."
Aaron looked at him seriously. "We know how much you love her, Jason." There was a hint of guilt in Aaron's voice. "Everything we're doing is to protect both of you."
Jason looked up sharply. "Protect us?"
Confusion appeared in his eyes. "Protect us from what?"
Aaron hesitated. For several seconds, he didn't answer. Ray and Aaron exchanged a brief glance. Finally, Aaron let out a slow breath.
"After the accident three years ago, we realized that Anne wasn't safe."
Jason's expression immediately changed. "Until we find the person responsible, we have to make sure she's protected."
Jason's hands, which had been resting on his knees, slowly tightened into fists.
His jaw clenched. "So that's why?"
His voice was low. "You've been hiding all of this from me because of Anne?"
There was another question that had been bothering him for years.
"And when Olivia eventually learns the truth about my feelings, don't you think she'll be heartbroken?"