Olivia Sparks

After tucking the drunk version of Auntie Martha in her bed, Olivia stayed for a few minutes to watch her aunt sleep. 

It was the first time she saw her aunt in a hysterical and shaken state. Locking Auntie Martha's hair behind her ears, Olivia wished that her aunt's hangover won't hurt tomorrow.

"Poor auntie must have had the shock of her life," Olivia uttered, cupping Auntie Martha's hand with hers. 

She understood why her aunt was rattled after what happened. Who wouldn't be when the person who put their lives in misery claimed to be legally married to Henry? 

And not only was Rona married to him, but her stupid brother went as far as assigning his fortune to the wretched woman?

Letting out a sigh, Olivia then closed her eyes and released the tension in her neck by stretching it left and right. She thought, had she not given Oliver a call, she would be coming in blind in the lion's den.

Earlier, after Auntie Martha ended their call, Olivia dialed Oliver's number. It took her twice to reach him, and it was apparent how exhausted he was from the tone of his voice. 

According to Oliver, their father suffered a health scare, which was a downplayed term he coined for a massive coronary heart attack—it rendered Henry Lin to be placed in a medically induced coma. 

Oliver narrated to Olivia the series of events which led to their father's hospitalization. 

He stated that he and Henry were doing their morning routine, doing a run-through of Lin Prime Holding's 2021 goals, which they would present at the year-end board member's meeting. 

However, Rona Co flung the door open and welcomed herself inside Henry's study.

"She just stood there with her arms folded on her c.h.e.s.t like a psycho," Oliver described how Rona Co's attitude disgusted him. "She was insisting for Dad to see their son and bury the baby, but we both know there wasn't any."

Oliver went on and detailed how their father went ballistic, throwing anything his hand could grab towards Rona's direction before dropping dead like a rag doll on the floor.

Hearing Oliver's story, Olivia realized that maybe, their father had been under pressure after finding out that Rona Co wasn't pregnant. 

Who were they kidding? If Henry really wanted to marry Rona, he would have done that years ago but he didn't.

Perhaps, Henry thought that since Rona claimed she was with his child, then maybe Henry could get the Pyxis as a packaged deal with his union to her. 

Also, he could keep Rona on a leash, using their child to blackmail her in the future. However, after finding out that Rona was not pregnant at all, it looked as if he just offered his empire to Rona on a silver platter.

Snapping her out of her trance was a hand cupping Olivia's shoulders. She peered up and saw Oliver with a wry smile on his face. 

Shifting on her seat, her eyes darted to her brother's pristine white dress shirt. 

"Take a bath before you go home. Ava might sense that." Olivia's hands lifted, her fingers traced the crimson dots splattered on Oliver's shirt. "You know you didn't have to watch it, right?"

He absently nodded, but his gaze was far out through the window. Suddenly, a lone tear dropped from the corner of Oliver's eye. 

Without looking at Olivia he spoke, "She deserved worse. If I could go back in time and give her another life, I would pick a harsher punishment for her."

"Like?"

"Like what Dad did to me." 

Olivia squeezed her brother's hand. She heard from Ava an abridged story of Oliver's younger days, and she was thankful how he pulled himself up from utter ruin. She squeezed his hand one more time, tethering Oliver back to reality.

Olive broke away from his stupor. He peered down at Olivia and a rueful smile painted his lips. "I'm fine. I actually felt free now more than ever."

Pulling Olivia up, Oliver slung his arm over her in a side hug. "Let's go," he whispered. "Auntie is a meanie when she's nursing a hangover." The siblings snickered. They stepped outside of their aunt's room and made their way to the foyer. 

They were about to reach the threshold when Olivia halted her step. "What are we going to do with the body?" she asked.

"There's no body."

"What? Are you serious?"

"Babur mauled her… and dismembered her a bit."

"Ollie! I thought we would just send her to a coma the same way as mum and father!" Olivia stomped her foot, but soon her c.h.e.s.t rose and fell. Eventually, she had to cover her mouth from roaring a laughter.

"It's not my fault. Let me reiterate, Babur went for her arm, and dislocated it like a wishbone. They aimed for the kill."

"Oh, my goodness. Save me the imagery." Olivia gagged. "And the powder room?" She asked. 

When they were brainstorming earlier in the car, Oliver suggested placing Henry's beloved Caspian tiger in the powder room.

Apparently, Rona Co had a habit of making a trip down the powder room before leaving the Lin mansion. It was the perfect place for the perfect ambush.

Rubbing the back of his head, Oliver responded, "I'll send someone to do tear down the walls. It badly needed an updating anyway."

Olivia nodded and the siblings conversed on their way out about how they would get away from Rona's disappearance as if it was child's play. 

Stopping by the door, Olivia scrunched her nose. A voice was whispering in her head to give Oliver a hug, but she was holding back because they were never expressive with their emotions. However, she pushed past her boundaries, and cocooned Oliver in a hug, surprising him.

Oliver shook his head but welcomed his sister's once in a lifetime display of affection. He gently patted her back the same way their mom would do. Sniffling back his tears, he mused, "Jeez, Livi. You're getting emotional again."

"Says the boy who's crying," she teased.

Oliver playfully shoved Olivia away from him and angled his body to wipe the hot blob of tears on the corner of his eyes. "Leave," he mouthed, waving Olivia off.

…

Later, four cars sn.a.k.e.d down the hilly road of Lin Estate. 

The first and last car bore a white plate with the Suis crest printed on it, while the second and third car belonged to Olivia's chosen security detail.

Seated in the third car, Olivia sat with her ankles crossed as her nose stuck on her phone. 

She was counting a timeline in her calendar, but somehow, she never got the same total.

Giving up, she locked her phone screen and called Shadow's attention. "Please tell the car ahead that you have an upset stomach, and we needed to drop by the pharmacy."

Shadow did as told, fluidly lying for her boss. She didn't have an upset stomach, but if the boss said she has, then maybe she truly did. That's how deep her loyalty was to Olivia. 

How could Shadow not repay the second life Olivia had given her? 

Years ago, she got wounded during a classified operation in Afghanistan and was discharged out of service because of the severity of her injuries. 

For months, Shadow couldn't walk and lost hope that she would ever get back on her feet.

Until Olivia came and offered a once in a lifetime chance. Surgery after surgery, titanium replaced every broken bone in Shadow's body. 

It took her eighteen months to fully recover, but every pain and sweat was worth it. 

Looking up on the rearview mirror, a small smile curved on Shadow's lips at Olivia's placid expression. 

Shadow thought Olivia didn't only give her another chance at life. Olivia turned Shadow into an indestructible, bionic woman, and with that she was grateful.

The envoy slowed down upon reaching the first pharmacy they drove by. Twisting on her seat to face her boss, Shadow asked, "What do I need for my tummy ache.

Pursing her lips into a thin line, Olivia hesitated for a bit. "All the brands," she whispered.

"Of antiacid?" Shadow tipped her head to the side. 

"No. All brands of pregnancy kit."

…

Hi guys! I'd really appreciate your powerstones for my New Year's Special story Titled: Stellar Step for a 1001 Mile Journey. 

It's a story about a girl named Stellar who grew up receiving criticisms from her family, and how she decided to break the chains that held her back all the years plus the two men who would vie for her attention. 

Sounds excitiiiing right? BTW, Contest runs 12/14-12/28. Thank you so much!