At first, Madison had simply felt sympathy for the little girl.
Olivia had been young.
She was Aaron's daughter and Madison had never wanted a child to suffer because of the mistakes of adults.
So Madison had welcomed her.
She had protected her.
She had comforted her.
And over the years, Olivia's constant displays of innocence and helplessness had made Madison increasingly protective of her.
Eventually, Madison began treating Olivia almost like her own daughter. Sophie had never expected Olivia to become so skilled at manipulating Madison.
Together, mother and daughter had slowly created distance between Madison and Anne. A small misunderstanding here. A tear there. A carefully chosen word. A quiet accusation. And a helpless expression.
It had worked.
And now, years later, Olivia was using the same trick again.
The Innocent Sister
"Anne!" Madison's upset voice pulled everyone back into the present. "Olivia is your elder sister. Why are you being so mean to her?"
Anne stared at her mother.
Olivia immediately shook her head. "Aunt Madison, please don't be angry with Sister."
Her voice remained soft. "I was the one who asked you to come here with me."
She lowered her head. "Sister must have been upset because of everything that happened."
Her shoulders trembled slightly. She looked more pitiful by the second.
Anne stared at her. For several seconds, she said nothing. Then she rolled her eyes. She was already irritated by the entire situation, and watching Olivia perform yet another innocent little act was making her patience disappear.
Anne slowly inhaled. Then she looked toward Madison.
"Mother."
Her voice was calm. "Did you actually see what happened?"
Madison hesitated.
Her lips parted, but no answer came. Anne noticed the hesitation immediately. She then turned toward the manager. "Tell me exactly what happened from the beginning."
The manager straightened. "Yes, ma'am."
He was about to speak when Sophie suddenly interrupted.
"There is no need for all this, Anne."
Anne's eyes shifted toward her.
Sophie crossed her arms. "Everyone already knows what happened."
Anne slowly turned to face her. For the first time since entering the room, she looked directly at Sophie.
Her expression was completely calm. Far too calm. "Then why don't you tell me what happened?"
Sophie raised her chin. "What is there to tell?"
She looked around. "Everyone knows what happened here." Her voice became louder. "Your store treats its customers poorly."
Anne remained silent. She simply stared at Sophie. There was something unsettling about her silence. Sophie had expected Anne to become emotional.
She had expected anger. Perhaps even an argument. But Anne wasn't giving her any of that. Instead, she stood there calmly, watching. And somehow, that calmness made Sophie more uncomfortable than anger would have.
Clara stood beside Anne and watched the exchange carefully. Megan remained silent, her tablet held against her chest. Daniel's expression had hardened.
Eva, meanwhile, had already figured out what Anne was doing.
She was letting Sophie speak. She was giving her enough rope to expose herself.
Anne finally spoke. "Is that what you believe happened?"
Sophie scoffed. "It's not what I believe. It's what happened."
Anne's gaze remained steady. "Then you won't mind telling everyone exactly how the incident happened."
Sophie opened her mouth.
But for the first time, she hesitated. Olivia's fingers tightened slightly. The innocent expression on her face remained in place.
But beneath it, her eyes had changed. She was watching Anne carefully, because she suddenly realized something.
Anne wasn't defending herself.
She wasn't panicking.
She wasn't even angry.
She was investigating.
And that was dangerous.
Olivia lowered her eyes again, hiding the uneasiness that had briefly flashed across her face. Across the room, Eva noticed. Her eyes narrowed.
Interesting.
She had seen that expression before.
The expression of someone who had just realized that their carefully prepared story might not go according to plan.
"Well, I must say, this looks more dramatic than any television drama."
Anne crossed her arms, her voice dry and unimpressed. "But if you're done with your acting, you can leave now."
The room fell silent. Sophie stared at her in disbelief.
Olivia's eyes widened slightly. Even Madison looked surprised by Anne's bluntness.
Anne didn't wait for a response. She turned toward Clara. "Let's go. We have other important things to do."
Clara immediately nodded. "Of course."
The two women turned around and began walking away, with Megan and the bodyguards following behind them.
But Eva remained where she was.
She watched Madison and then Olivia.
The way they had treated Anne throughout the entire situation was beginning to upset her more and more.
Eva had seen enough.
She knew Anne. She knew how patient she could be, and she also knew that Anne rarely defended herself when someone accused her unfairly.
Yet today, she had been pushed too far.
"Sister, wait!" Olivia's voice suddenly echoed through the room.
Anne stopped. She slowly turned around.
Olivia quickly stepped in front of her. "Sister, I'm sorry."
Her voice was soft and trembling. "Because of me, Aunt Madison is upset with you."
She lowered her eyes and made herself look completely helpless. Then she reached for Anne's hand.
Anne didn't expect it.
Olivia grabbed her hand tightly.
"Olivia, why are you apologizing to her?" Sophie immediately spoke in a gentle, comforting tone. "You haven't done anything wrong."
But Olivia didn't release Anne's hand.
Instead, her fingers tightened. Her sharp nails pressed into Anne's skin.
Anne's expression changed slightly.
A sharp pain shot through her wrist.
"Olivia…" She looked down at their hands. "Let go of my hand."
Olivia didn't. Her grip became even tighter.
Anne tried to pull her hand away. Olivia tightened her fingers again. The nails dug deeper into Anne's skin. A small red mark appeared. Then a tiny trace of blood.
Anne's eyes hardened. "Olivia, let go."
Still, Olivia refused. The bodyguard standing behind them noticed Anne's discomfort immediately.
He took one step forward. But before he could intervene, Anne forcefully pulled her hand free.
The sudden movement caught Olivia off guard. She stumbled backward. "Ah!"
She lost her balance and fell onto the floor. "Ouch!"
Olivia immediately grabbed her ankle.
A few customers who had witnessed everything exchanged looks. One woman covered her mouth, apparently trying not to laugh. Another customer looked away awkwardly.
Olivia noticed. Her face turned red with humiliation.
She slowly looked around. Then her eyes settled on Anne. Tears quickly filled them. Madison and Sophie rushed toward her.
"Oh, Olivia, darling! Are you okay?" Sophie hurriedly helped her daughter up.
Madison turned toward Anne. Her expression immediately hardened. "What is this behavior, Anne?"
Her voice was filled with anger. "Olivia is your elder sister! How could you push her like that?"