The murderous intent radiating from her was
palpable, even through the phone. She was
desperate.
“It’s not that complicated. It’s just a matter of
money. You know, I’m broke. A million for the
video, half a million for the audio. How about
<
Ashley hadn’t expected me to just want
money.
“You seriously just want money?”
She’d assumed I wanted back into the Miller
family. She didn’t realize I didn’t care about
them at all.
“Yep. Think it over and get back to me.”
Ashley, desperate to protect her future, would
pay any price. Besides, this amount was
nothing to her.
When Ashley and I met, she sneered.
“You actually came alone? Brave.”
I knew she had something up her sleeve.
“I’m here to make peace, not enemies.”
“Make peace? With you? You’re nothing! You
don’t deserve it!”
Two large men emerged from the room. So
that’s why she’d wanted to meet inside.
I discreetly touched the phone in my pocket.
“Ashley I told you don’t want to fight with
く
ASNIEY, I LOIU you, I dont want to nynt wIL
you. Why can’t you stand my existence?”
Ashley glared at me, her face twisted in a
terrifying grimace.
“What good are your words? From the
moment you returned, it was all decided. Even
if you didn’t fight for it, everything belonged
to you. I have nothing. Why? Why?”
Ashley seemed to have forgotten one crucial
detail.
“Did you forget you were only adopted?
You’ve gotten more than enough. Why aren’t
you satisfied? Why go to such lengths to
frame me and ruin me?”
“If you’re gone, it’s all mine. You’re a
mistake. You shouldn’t have come back. You
should have stayed where you belonged!”
Ashley was delusional. The Millers had given
her enough to live comfortably for the rest of
her life. Yet, she still wasn’t content.
く
She was insane enough to want the entire
Miller fortune.
“You’re truly crazy. If the Millers hadn’t
adopted you, you’d have nothing.”
Ashley’s ambition couldn’t be hidden. She wanted the Millers, and no one, not even the real Miller daughter, would take it from her. She expected me to hand it over on a silver
platter.
“I don’t want to waste my breath. If you don’t
want peace, then fine.”
“You think you can leave now?”
I looked at Ashley’s crazed eyes.
“Leave? I never planned on leaving. Why
should I? I’m not the one who did anything
wrong.
Ashley sensed something was off.
I touched the pinhole camera attached to my
shirt.
“Oops, sorry. I was filming on location earlier
and forgot to take it off. Oh, and it’s live. The
whole school’s watching.”
Ashley froze, her carefully laid plans
crumbling around her.
“What? You set me up? You tricked me?”
It was laughable. She thought she had the right to scheme against me, but I wasn’t allowed to retaliate. How ridiculous.
“Did you think you had it all figured out? Did you forget? I wouldn’t come here alone
without a plan.”
As Ashley processed my words, voices came from outside the door. Her face paled.
Mrs. Miller stood there, looking heartbroken
and filled with guilt.
“Olivia, we…
I cut her off. I hadn’t done any of this for their
acceptance.
Their guilt meant nothing to me. I walked past
them, ready to leave, but they stopped me.
“Olivia, we’re so sorry. We were wrong about
you. But both you and Ashley are our
daughters.”
I thought they would kick Ashley out after
realizing their mistake. But apparently, no
matter what Ashley did, she was worthy of
forgiveness. Meanwhile, a few lies about me
were enough for them to condemn and
discard me.
“Mr. and Mrs. Miller, you’re mistaken. I’m just
an orphan. I can’t afford parents like you.”
I don’t know what happened to Ashley. I
boarded a plane with my team and left the
country.
Five years later, my world tour brought me
back home.
“Still haven’t let it go?” Chloe asked. She was
now my manager and had been by my side all
these years.
“After all this time? There’s nothing to let go
<
- of. They’re just…insignificant people and
events.”
I didn’t expect to run into Ashley on my first
day back.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my little sister. Where have you been hiding? Oh, I forgot to tell you, I’m about to take over Miller
Industries and marry into the Sterling family.” Ashley was practically radiating smugness. I couldn’t understand why it mattered so much
to her.
“Oh, good for you.”
My lack of reaction surprised her, but she
quickly recovered.
“Right, a hillbilly like you wouldn’t understand
how prestigious it is to run Miller Industries.
By the way, I’m going to see the world-
renowned pianist Y perform with my fiancé,
Alex Sterling, the day after tomorrow. Never
mind you wouldn’t get it ”
