New discovery

Tania and Olsen drove in silence, the hum of the engine filling the luxurious red car. Tania sat close to the window, enjoying the cool breeze and the passing night scenery. Though night had fallen, people still loitered around the countryside.

"You shouldn't have done that," Tania finally spoke, breaking the silence.

Olsen rolled his eyes lazily. "What?" he asked, his voice laced with disinterest.

"You meddled in my affairs. You had no right to intrude in my business," she stated, her tone firm and her expression unreadable.

She continued, her voice steady. "Don't forget our agreement. In public, we are the perfect couple, but in private, we owe each other no explanations for our actions."

"You were the one who set those terms, and they were signed in black and white. I hope you can uphold your own words," Olsen responded, his gaze briefly flickering toward her.

For a moment, he was stunned. He could hardly believe his ears. This was the first time he had seen her so serious. Until now, he had thought of her as gentle, a weakling who couldn't stand up for herself.

"Yeah, that's right," he mused internally. "Why was I even getting involved in her matters? If it were me, I wouldn't have taken it lightly."

Glancing at her discreetly, he cleared his throat. "Ahem… I'm sorry," he said unexpectedly, breaking the silence.

Tania remained silent, offering neither a response nor acknowledgment.

"So rude," Olsen thought to himself. "She didn't even thank me for earlier. I really should mind my own business."

The rest of the drive passed in silence, neither willing to speak.

Greenville Villas

They arrived home with heavy expressions, their feet dragging as they made their way to their respective rooms.

Sienna, still dazed, couldn't shake off the feeling. Her arms still throbbed from Tania's grip. "Tania, Tania…" she muttered in disbelief. "It seems she's grown wings—challenging me outright."

"Of course, getting married to a wealthy man like Olsen must have given her the audacity to mistreat me the way she did," she fumed. "But wasn't it supposed to be just a nominal marriage? Why, then, do they seem to have some sort of chemistry? Olsen even had the nerve to side with her so openly."

Sienna, sharp-witted as ever, thrived in situations like this. She was an expert at scheming, a master at pretending. As she racked her brain for the perfect way to punish her sister, a sinister smile spread across her lips—another devious plan had just formed.

Meanwhile, their parents, Selene and Taylor, were also deep in thought. Taylor sat in his room, fidgeting, his fingers tapping against his lips in agitation.

"You've been like this since we got back. Don't you have anything to say? That daughter of yours has become insolent," Selene complained, exasperated.

"This is all your fault," Taylor snapped, his voice laced with anger.

Selene flinched. "What do you mean?"

"Weren't you the one who suggested using her as a pawn to settle our debt with the Richards, just so we could regain their trust? So why are you complaining now? You'll have to deal with the consequences yourself. Leave me out of this mess," he spat, leaving Selene in utter shock.

They had been married for over twenty years, and this was the first time he had ever raised his voice at her. Taylor had always been a doting and patient husband, standing by her side—even when she was wrong.

"No…" Selene gasped, clutching her throbbing head, overwhelmed by the storm of questions swirling in her mind.

"Listen, Tania. I was the one who changed your life into a bed of roses, and I can just as easily destroy it," she hissed to herself, her voice dripping with venom. "You dare bite the hand that fed you? You ungrateful brat. Let's see who has the last laugh."

Spring Fall Cottage

The sleek red Porsche came to a smooth halt in front of an opulent European-style hotel in the heart of the city. Its name, Spring Fall Cottage, was boldly engraved at the entrance of the majestic seven-story building.

Raymond, the ever-efficient driver, swiftly stepped out and opened the passenger door, bowing slightly. "Sir. Ma'am, we've arrived," he announced politely.

Tania, engrossed in her phone, looked up upon hearing Raymond's voice. Her eyes widened in awe as she took in the breathtaking architecture, its grandeur unlike any hotel she had visited before.

"Wow, this place is beautiful," she whispered. "I've seen many high-end hotels, but none compare to this."

But as admiration settled, a realization hit her. Olsen made all these arrangements without telling me?

As if reading her mind, Olsen interjected swiftly. "It's late. I figured a good night's rest would do us good after everything we've been through today."

Hotel attendants rushed forward, efficiently unloading their luggage from the car's trunk.

Tania sighed, crossing her arms. "Fine. But next time, give me a heads-up. I don't appreciate surprises." With that, she turned on her heel and strode toward the entrance without so much as a backward glance.

Olsen watched her retreating figure, intrigued. Is this really the same woman I rejected at first sight?

Dressed in a fitted knee-length black evening dress, a delicate scarf wrapped elegantly around her neck, Tania exuded effortless sophistication. The side slit in her dress revealed glimpses of her long, slender legs as she moved. Her black-and-gold hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, giving her an almost ethereal presence.

They arrived at their suite, escorted by the hotel staff. A young woman, likely in her early twenties, flashed a charming smile. "Sir, Ma'am, this is your room—2110."

She then held out a notepad and pen. "Would you like to place an order?" she inquired sweetly, her voice carrying an unmistakable flirtatious undertone.

Tania observed her closely. The girl was attractive and far too comfortable around Olsen, even in her presence. Rolling her eyes in irritation, she turned away.

Olsen, unfazed, handed Tania the menu. "Here, choose something for dinner."

"I'll pass. I'm still full from earlier," she replied nonchalantly.

With their belongings settled, they retired for the night. Olsen took a quick shower, and upon his return, he found Tania fast asleep. She was curled under the covers, a book resting on her chest.

He gently removed the book and placed it on the bedside table, adjusting the covers over her. With one last glance at her peaceful face, he switched off the lights and made his way to the sitting area, settling on the sofa for the night.