The sweet secret

The blissful moment culminated in their exchanged vows and rings. Olsen embraced his wife and placed a gentle peck on her cheek, as urged by the clergyman, who concluded the service with a word of admonition to the newlyweds.

The Richard family entertained their guests with an array of exquisite food and drinks. "Serve yourself" was the motto of the reception, and the guests were thoroughly impressed by the grand hospitality. They were treated like royalty, indulging in the feast as the clinking of glasses and cheerful chatter filled the vast, opulent hall.

Engrossed in conversation with his business associate, Mr. Ansley Richard suddenly noticed a shift in his wife's countenance. Olivia Hansen, ever mindful of social decorum, discreetly excused herself from her group of acquaintances.

"Dearest, is something wrong?" Ansley approached her with a concerned expression.

"Ahem..." Olivia attempted to respond, but the bustling atmosphere was far from ideal.

"Come on," Ansley said gently, leading her to their private suite.

—

Tania was on the verge of breaking down. The day's activities had drained her, yet she maintained a composed demeanor, graciously acknowledging the guests who came to extend their pleasantries. Olsen, a man of few words, merely nodded occasionally and spoke only when necessary. Aware of his reserved nature, people made every effort to remain in his good graces.

Tania herself was not particularly sociable. She was often perceived as distant, keeping to herself like an introvert—a trait exacerbated by her family, who had done everything in their power to make her feel inferior.

As the guests slowly dissipated, she let out a quiet sigh of relief. Finally, the exhausting charade of being the doting, loyal wife could end. Olsen, ever observant, noted her fatigue.

"You must be exhausted. Would you like to take a break?" he inquired with concern.

"Sure," Tania replied, seizing the opportunity to retreat. Politely excusing herself, she headed to the restroom.

On her way, she nearly collided with Olsen's parents, who were too deep in thought to notice her presence as they made their way to their private suite at the Greek resort where the reception was being held.

Curiosity piqued, Tania followed them discreetly. Each step was measured, cautious, ensuring she remained unnoticed. Just as she began to scold herself for eavesdropping, she was taken aback by Olivia's furious words.

"What were you thinking?!" Olivia seethed, barely containing her rage.

"Woman, could you be more specific? I have no idea what you're talking about," Ansley replied, rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"How could you do this to me? We may not always see eye to eye, but did that justify this betrayal?" Olivia lamented bitterly.

Ansley, already nursing a headache, struggled to keep up with her accusations. "What is it this time?" he thought. "Stop beating around the bush and get to the point," he urged, growing impatient.

"Ansley, you're so cruel. I should have listened to my mother when she warned me never to marry you! Blinded by love, I ignored her, and look where that got me—married to a self-centered fool who only cares about himself."

"You forced our son into a marriage he never wanted! You know very well that I never approved of that gold-digger marrying our son. Just like her greedy parents, she's merely feasting on the opportunity you handed her! This is all your doing! They dug a hole, and you fell right into it!"

"Olivia, my dear..."

"Don't touch me!" Olivia snapped, shoving his hands away.

Ansley dared not provoke his wife further. She was truly enraged. "I know I've hurt you countless times, but let's set that aside and look at the bigger picture. Everything I do, I do for this family. People had started gossiping—questioning Olsen's preferences ever since the betrayal by his supposed fiancée and best friend. He hasn't been the same since. He treats everyone with contempt, including you. Even as his mother, you're no exception."

"I had no choice but to salvage this situation before it spiraled further out of control. What did you expect me to do—sit idly by while our son wallowed in misery? Yes, I coerced him into this marriage, but it benefits everyone. Now that it's done, can't you see? Our business investors and associates, present at the wedding, are finally convinced. There's no room for doubt anymore. Moreover, this marriage will only last for two years."

"So, there's no need to worry. Just be civil with the Woods family. Don't forget—they saved us this time. If not for their debt, I don't know how we would have survived this crisis," Ansley concluded, hoping to clarify the misunderstanding.

"Are you telling me this has nothing to do with your affair with Selene?" Olivia interrogated stubbornly.

"Of course not! What are you suggesting?" Ansley tried to silence her.

"My goodness!" Tania gasped. This family had far too many skeletons in their closet. An affair between Mr. Ansley and her stepmother? Outrageous! But knowing Selene, it was entirely plausible—she would do anything for money.

Suddenly, a beam of light illuminated her hidden corner.

"Who are you, and what are you doing there?" came a stoic voice.

Tania's breath hitched. "Oh no!" Panic surged through her. If caught, she had no plausible excuse to offer. Without hesitation, she bolted from the suite, narrowly escaping detection. She was fortunate—hiding behind the corridor door had been her saving grace. This VIP suite was off-limits to uninvited guests, making her presence all the more suspicious.

Heart pounding, she shut the restroom door behind her, leaning against it to steady herself. "That was close," she whispered, recalling everything she had just overheard. So, she was nothing more than a pawn, a mere tool to fix a scandal. And once her purpose was served, she would be cast aside like a stray animal.

"No. I won't let them do this to me. I have to play my cards right," she resolved, her mind racing.

As she washed her hands, she caught sight of her own reflection in the mirror. A smirk curled at the corner of her lips.

—

Olsen furrowed his brows in discomfort. Tania had left for the restroom a while ago, yet she had not returned. Her phone was dead, making it impossible to reach her. His concern deepened.

"Could she be in some kind of trouble?" he wondered, trying to piece together the possibilities.

—

"Well, well, look who's all dressed up today," Sienna sneered. "Tania, did you really think this would make Olsen fall for you? Wake up! You're nowhere near his league. You couldn't level up to his status even if you tried a thousand times."

Tania, outwardly composed, seethed internally. She was at her breaking point. "No, Tania. You can't let her get to you. Not this time," she reminded herself, forcing calm.

Irritated by Tania's silence, Sienna raised her hand to strike her. Just then, Selene arrived, her meticulously made-up face twisting in contempt.

Quick-witted, Tania caught Sienna's wrist before the slap could land.

"Let go of me!" Sienna cried, struggling against Tania's grip.

Tania, savoring her sister's frustration, twisted her arm just enough to make her wince.

"Smack!"

A sharp slap landed across Tania's cheek. Licking her bruised lip, she turned to see Selene raising her hand for another blow.

Tania braced herself, but the second strike never came. Instead, a firm hand stopped Selene mid-motion.

Eyes wide, Tania stared in shock.

"Olsen…" she whispered, stunned.