Chapter 2

The next day was the Gilbert family dinner.

I hadn't wanted to go.

Then my mother-in-law called, and there was real warmth in her voice.

“Olivia, you've been part of this family for three years now. The old lady's jade bracelet should be officially yours today.”

I changed into a high-necked top to cover the needle marks on the back of my hand and the rash on my neck.

The moment I walked in, Shirley Matthews was already sitting beside Jim.

She'd changed into a pale dress, her face bright and healthy, with no trace of the woman who'd been gasping about her racing heart earlier that day.

My mother-in-law's smile cooled when she saw her.

“Why did Shirley come too?”

Shirley hooked her arm through Jim's.

“Jim was worried I'd sit at home overthinking everything on my own, so he insisted on bringing me along for the company.”

My mother-in-law turned to me, an apology in her eyes.

“Olivia, come here.”

She opened a jewelry box. A clear, translucent jade bracelet lay inside.

Then Jim's hand shot out and snapped the box shut.

“Mom, Olivia can be careless with things. It doesn't really seem right to give her something this valuable, an old family piece like this.”

My mother-in-law froze.

“It's always been passed down to the eldest grandson's wife. How is that not right?”

“Shirley grew up in this family. Let her wear it for a few days first, so Olivia doesn't knock it against something by accident and break your heart.”

And with that, he slipped the bracelet straight onto Shirley's wrist.

Shirley hurried to refuse.

“I really can't…… Olivia will be upset if she sees this.”

Jim held her wrist and pushed the bracelet a little further up her arm.

“It's just a bracelet. What does she have to be upset about?”

My mother-in-law's face went dark.

I lowered my head and took a bite of food, but my stomach was churning.

Then Shirley brought out a dessert.

“I made mango mousse especially. Jim, this used to be your favorite.”

As she spoke, she picked up a dish herself and set it down in front of me with a bright smile.

“Olivia, you should try some too. I accidentally disturbed you at the house yesterday, so think of this mousse as my apology. I hope you won't stay angry with me, all right?”

My chopsticks stopped.

“I can't eat it. I'm allergic to mango.”

Jim raised his eyes to me.

“It's one little bite. Just taste it. It's not going to kill you.”

Shirley's eyes went red at once.

“Do you really hate me that much, Olivia…… you won't even touch a dessert I made with my own hands? I only wanted everyone to be happy……”

The Gilbert relatives all started urging me.

“Olivia, it's a family dinner. Everyone's having a nice time. Don't spoil it.”

“Exactly. Shirley meant well. Just take one little bite to be polite.”

Jim picked up the plate and came over to me.

“Olivia. Apologize to Shirley.”

“Why on earth should I apologize to her?”

“She ran herself ragged over your family dinner, and you sit there scowling. Who's that supposed to be for?”

Looking at that mango mousse, my breathing started to tighten.

“Jim, I'm really going to have a reaction!”

“Who are you trying to threaten with this act now?”

He gripped my chin and brought the spoon to my lips.

“Open. Eat it.”

I clenched my teeth.

Jim forced his hand harder, and cream smeared across the corner of my mouth.

“Olivia, stop being childish. The elders are all here today. Don't make a scene in front of everyone.”

The mango slid into my mouth, and my throat started itching fast.

I shoved him away hard enough to knock over the chair.

Shirley screamed.

Jim looked at me with a cold face.

“Olivia Donaldson, are you done with this performance yet?”

I clutched the edge of the table, my breathing coming faster and faster.

Jim looked down at me, his eyes full of disgust.

“Olivia Donaldson, now you're playing dead. Whatever patience I had left for you is just about gone.”

My mother-in-law was terrified, her hands shaking as she dug in her pocket for her phone.

“Something's wrong with Olivia. Quick…… call 911!”

Jim cut her off impatiently.

“Mom, don't let her fool you.”

He strode over, seized my arm, and dragged me toward the door.

“If you like playing dead so much, go sit in the car and come to your senses. Stop embarrassing yourself in here.”

He yanked me hard enough to send me stumbling, my knee slamming into the hard wooden back of a chair.

From somewhere I found the strength to lower my head and bite down on the back of Jim's hand.

He let go on reflex.

I staggered back against the chair, gasping for air.

My mother-in-law was frantic now. She shoved Jim aside and dialed 911 with trembling hands.

“Jim, have you lost your mind? She really is allergic!”

Seeing this, several relatives rushed over to hold Jim back.

I curled up on the floor, my vision going black in waves.

Everything around me was chaos. All I heard was him, standing a little way off, dropping two words.

“Still acting.”

In the emergency room, the doctor gave me an emergency allergy treatment and kept me for observation until the early hours.

Jim never showed up.

As the sky was starting to lighten, a bank alert suddenly popped up on my phone.

【Your supplementary card ending in 0678 has been suspended.】

Right after it came a message from Jim.

【Olivia Donaldson, since you're so proud, don't spend my money anymore.】