Chapter 6

Olivia's POV

I tried not to reflect on the past and how I was humiliated by them, but as much as I tried, I couldn’t help but recollect every single memory from that day.

“This has to be a joke… Uncle, I think you brought the wrong lady.” My legs were trembling. As confident as I tried to look, I still felt a little inferior. Theodore held my hand immediately; he noticed I wasn’t as confident as I looked earlier.

“What do you mean, Liam? I just told you this woman standing beside me is my wife. I lived with Liam for five years, and I could tell his ego was brushed; the woman he condemned has been picked by his rival; he couldn’t hide the anger he was feeling.

“Olivia, I knew you could go low to get anything you want, but I never imagined you would do such a terrible thing. You keep embarrassing our family; what is wrong with you?" She tried to fake it again with that baby voice, always pretending to care, but she doesn’t at all.

“Liam, it’s your wedding day; that’s why I would spare your darling wife for what she just said about my wife. I hope you control the way she speaks from now on.” Theo turned to look at me and smiled. My confidence returned immediately; I couldn’t feel my legs trembling anymore.

“This is bullshit, Uncle! That is my ex-wife, and you know it!” Liam screamed at the top of his voice, and murmurs across the hall grew wider. This is exactly what Theo wanted, and Liam is playing along so well.

I let out a soft smile before my eyes met with my dad's. Those eyes again—he looked at me with so much disgust. Meeting those eyes again made me recollect a memory from childhood when I was still oblivious to the reality that they hated me.

I cried to him about how Bella keeps bullying me at school, and his response was, “Anyone in her shoes would do the same." After that day I realized I was alone.

I genuinely wanted them to love me the exact way they loved Bella, but it never happened; it felt like the hatred towards me kept growing every day. I poured out my all into making the company grow when it was losing value, just so they could find me important too, but it never happened.

After looking at each other for a while, I looked away.

“Olivia, I know very well that you’re mad at me for telling the truth about what you were secretly doing to destroy the company, but I couldn’t turn a blind eye to the truth.” Even now she’s still trying to act like the victim.

“Well, since you are so truthful, you must have told them about your night with Amos.” Bella couldn’t believe her ears; I was also shocked because I didn’t know anything happened between Amos and Bella; in fact, she always talked about how much she disliked him.

“What are you talking about?” I whispered in Theodore’s ear.

“Just stand pretty and watch the drama.” He responded with a bright smile. I had never known what it felt like to have someone stand up for me; experiencing that now was the best thing ever.

“What is he talking about?” Liam asked Bella who had suddenly lost her voice. I can’t believe she had such a secret but always acted like a saint.

“Uncle, I don’t support your marriage with my ex-wife; if this is a joke, I need you to stop now.”

Theodore raised my finger and brought out our marriage certificate. “I guess now you know I am not joking. And before I leave, I want you to know that I didn’t just return to attend your wedding; I’m here to take back what’s mine.”

Liam walked closer to us slowly. I was wondering why he suddenly took a step.

“You cheap whore, I knew you were going to run wild the moment I left you; you should have died that day and done everyone the favor of disappearing. Why did you come back?" He screamed angrily and grabbed my neck tightly. Everyone in the hall gasped at his action.

“Get your hands off my wife.” Theodore punched him on the face heavily. I started coughing because for the few seconds he strangled me, I couldn’t breathe at all.

“Are you okay?” Theodore asked, looking very worried about me.

“Why didn’t you die? Why did you have to come back to us like a horrible nightmare.” I heard a familiar voice say to me in a very low tone. I turned to the side and saw my dad standing there; his eyes were not friendly at all, and as usual, my mom stood beside him. My heart was racing, this time not because I was embarrassed but because I was upset.

“The last time we met, you two clearly told me that I’m no longer a family member, and I want to believe that is still valid. So I need you two to pretend like I don’t exist anymore.” It was the first time I ever said something like this to them; my heart beat grew faster, maybe because I still have a lot to say, but I don’t have enough confidence to say all of it.

Liam was still struggling to get up from the floor after the heavy punch Theo gave him. His dad came forward immediately and stopped him.

“Can’t you see you are embarrassing yourself? Everyone's eyes are fixed on you, and did you get the part where he said he’s back for everything? I need you to get your ass together and stop this madness.” His dad said a little above a whisper before turning to look at Theodore.

“As your sister’s husband, I should host a welcome-back party for you.” Liam’s dad said to Theodore.

From the stories I heard, Theodore and Liam’s dad never got along well, and it only got worse when his sister died.

“You don’t need to; only families can do such things, and you’re not my family.” Theodore said to Liam’s dad before walking away. He suddenly stopped. I was wondering why.

"In case you haven’t heard, I’m the owner of Apex Media Group; I’m no longer the hungry Theo you used to know.” He announced and held my hand as we both walked away; I saw the satisfying smile on his face as the voice of murmurs echoed through our ears.

“He really owns Apex Media?" One of the journalists asked as we walked out of the hall.