And Olivia had begun to notice it more clearly than ever. She looked toward the entrance of the mall, her eyes narrowing slightly.
What exactly are you hiding, Jason? And how much does Anne still mean to you?
For the first time, the upcoming engagement did not feel as secure to Olivia as it had a few hours earlier.
And that realization made her uneasy.
Sophie stared at her daughter for a moment before finally releasing her arm. "Fine. Just be careful."
She took Olivia's hand again, this time more gently. "The reason I'm telling you to keep an eye on him is because I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did."
Olivia frowned. "What mistakes?"
For the first time, something vulnerable appeared in Sophie's eyes. It was only there for a brief moment, but Olivia noticed it.
There was pain behind her mother's expression. A pain that Sophie had carried for years.
But just as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared behind her usual calm expression.
"You'll understand someday," Sophie said quietly. "But it doesn't matter now."
She gave Olivia's hand a reassuring squeeze. "You should focus on your plan."
Olivia remained silent. She could tell that her mother was deliberately avoiding the question.
"What happened to you, Mom?" she wondered silently.
But Sophie had already composed herself.
"Just remember one thing," she continued. "Never become so confident in a man's love and words that you stop paying attention to his actions."
Olivia's expression became thoughtful. Her mother's words echoed in her mind.
Don't trust his words... Watch his actions.
She suddenly remembered Jason's reaction when Anne's name had been mentioned earlier.
His expression had changed.
His tone had become irritated.
And when Olivia had asked him to come shopping, he had refused without hesitation. Was it really because of his meeting? Or was there another reason?
Olivia lowered her eyes. She had always believed that she understood Jason better than anyone else. But now, for the first time, a small seed of doubt had been planted in her mind.
Sophie quickly noticed her daughter's silence and smiled. "Enough of that serious expression."
She gently touched Olivia's cheek. "Come on. You're getting engaged soon. Let's make sure you look like the most beautiful woman at your engagement."
Olivia gave her a faint smile. "All right, Mom." But even as she smiled, her thoughts had already returned to Jason.
He was irritated the moment Anne was mentioned.
Her eyes darkened slightly.
Could Jason still have feelings for her?
The thought made Olivia's chest tighten. Until now, she had considered Anne a problem that she had already dealt with.
A woman who had been pushed away.
A woman who no longer lived in the same house.
A woman who, in Olivia's mind, had already lost her place.
But Jason's reaction had made Olivia question everything and for the first time, Olivia wondered if Anne was a much bigger threat to her engagement than she had imagined.
She tightened her grip around her mother's hand.
No, I can't let that happen.
Whatever Jason felt for Anne, Olivia had no intention of allowing those feelings to stand between her and the future she had planned.
***
Inside Imperial City Mall
The moment the group entered the mall, Madison looked around in amazement.
The enormous interior was brightly illuminated, with elegant decorations stretching across the spacious halls.
Luxury boutiques lined both sides of the main walkway. Designer clothing stores displayed their latest collections behind enormous glass windows, while expensive jewelry stores sparkled under carefully arranged lights.
Imperial City Mall was one of the most prestigious shopping destinations in the city.
It was known for its luxury boutiques, designer stores, high-end restaurants, and exclusive brands that catered primarily to wealthy families.
The mall had five floors, with the uppermost level reserved for some of the most expensive and exclusive brands in the city.
Madison looked around with a small smile. "There are so many shops here. Where should we start?"
Sophie glanced around before leaning slightly toward Olivia. She quietly whispered something into her daughter's ear.
Madison was distracted by a display in one of the nearby stores and didn't notice their exchange. Eva, however, noticed. Her eyes briefly moved toward Sophie and Olivia.
The two were standing close together, speaking in low voices. Eva couldn't hear what they were saying, but the secrecy itself caught her attention.
She watched them for a moment before deciding not to interfere. Whatever they were discussing, she would rather observe than confront them without knowing the truth.
A few moments later, Olivia turned toward Madison with a bright smile.
"Aunt Madison, I heard Sister recently opened her 'Angel by Anne' store here."
Madison immediately looked at her. "Angel by Anne?"
Olivia nodded enthusiastically. "Some of my friends have been talking about her latest collection. They said it's incredible."
She smiled innocently. "Why don't we start there?"
Madison's face immediately brightened. "Yes! I've heard about it too."
There was genuine pride in her expression when she mentioned her daughter. "I haven't seen Anne much lately." She looked around the mall as if expecting to catch a glimpse of her.
"Is she back in the country?" Sophie smiled. "I heard she had been living abroad for some time."
She paused before adding, "And after the accident three years ago, I hardly got the chance to see her."
There was something meaningful in her smile as she looked at Madison. Madison's expression remained calm. "Anne is doing well."
Her voice softened with motherly pride. "She's following in her father's footsteps and has become the CEO of the clothing brand. She's built quite a successful career for herself."
The moment she began talking about Anne, Madison's face lit up. It was impossible to hide how proud she was.
"She really has," Sophie replied.
She studied Madison's expression carefully. "I'm so proud of everything she's accomplished."
But there was something strange about the way Sophie said it. Her words sounded warm. Her expression was pleasant, yet her eyes remained difficult to read.
After a brief pause, she continued. "But I heard she doesn't live with you anymore."
Madison's smile faded slightly. Sophie's smile became a little more pointed. "What happened?"
She tilted her head. "Is she still angry with you for sending her abroad?"
The question immediately changed the atmosphere.
Madison's expression stiffened. For a moment, she didn't know how to respond. There were too many emotions hidden behind that simple question.
Pain.
Regret.
Guilt.
And things she had never been able to properly explain to Anne. Before Madison could answer, Olivia gently squeezed her mother's hand.
Sophie looked at her daughter questioningly. Olivia subtly shook her head.
Not here.