Olivia Sparks

"I think that's feasible." Tristan heaved a long sigh and bobbed his head after hearing Olivia's idea. "How long have you been planning this again, Livi?"

"This morning," she nonchalantly replied, examining her nails.

"What?" Tristan faced Olivia, scanning her face for any hint that she was joking, but she just stared back at him like he was the joke for not believing her words.

He sighed. "Yeah, what else is new. Sometimes I wish I had that pretty little head of yours."

"I'm glad this pretty little head belonged to me because who knows what you'd do with it." 

Olivia glanced at Tristan and the two shared a half laugh, half sigh as they faced another hurdle in their lives. 

In Olivia's thoughts, it was weird that they were calm about their surprise engagement, but the weirder thing was knowing she was thankful to be betrothed to Tristan because it made things easier for her to carry out her agenda.

"Does this mean the rumors about you and Maxen are true? The headmistress asked me to spy on you." He didn't beat around the bush and came clean because there's no point in going around circles with Olivia because she loved it; seeing you scramble as you pile a lie after another and that's the last thing that Tristan wanted to happen.

Olivia scoffed. "What rumors are you talking about? That old hag should just focus on her retirement."

"Hey, stop talking about her like that. Show some respect to the old witch." Both chuckled as the image of Cruella de Vil flashed in their minds.

Tristan pushed the swinging chair with his lanky legs that it caused a lull sensation to spread in their bellies.

"Apparently, the headmistress got a whiff of the royal family doing a search on you when Maxen called you using his private phone. The private phone that nobody in the royal family knows except themselves."

"How sure are you? For all we know, he called some girl with that number too. And there's nothing to talk about Maxen and I because we just met." Olivia shook her head and gazed at the blanket of stars above them, wondering if they're seeing the same constellations that night.

Beside Olivia, Tristan's lips twitched. How could Olivia dodge his question when he did his best to be honest? Shouldn't she just answer with a yes or no to his question?

Deep inside, no matter how annoyed he was at her, he also felt bad for Olivia too. How hard it must be for her to walk on her toes all the time that she's always skeptical and suspicious of the people that she encountered. 

"Nobody knows the Suis' private number, Livi. It's a number within a web of numbers so it's safe to say that you can consider yourself a royal. Ha!" He elbowed Olivia then sincerely said, "Honestly, I'm glad if you end up with him. Do you want to know a story?"

"Go ahead. Humor me, Tristan." She swiped her hand on her dress, bracing herself for what Tristan had to say.

"You see, Maxen is a man of his word. It's commendable and scary at the same time, but people knew that whatever comes out of his mouth, it sure is bound to happen." Tristan took a sharp breath as he braced himself for that one story he never dreamt of narrating. "I'm sure you've heard about Xandra?"

"Who? Never heard of that name." Olivia dug her heels on the ground, halting the swinging chair. The name sounded eerily familiar to her.

"Xandra, the painter. She—" However, before Tristan could utter more words, the door in the private room opened and the two stood to welcome their unwelcome guest.

"Can I have a word with Olivia, young chap?" Henry Lin smiled. It was a smile of a doting father yet nobody bought it. Not even the bodyguard who shadowed Henry's every more.

Tristan stood and offered a hand to Olivia, helping her find her footing. They walked from the courtyard back inside the private room.

"I'm sure you have a lot of things to discuss with her, Uncle Henry." 

Patting Tristan's shoulder, Henry mused, "Oh! Don't call me Uncle. You should start calling me Father as early as tonight. Your wedding will be in a month's time anyway."

Tristan nervously laughed. One month. In his thoughts, he wondered why Henry Lin seemed to be in a rush to give Olivia's hand in marriage.

Glancing at Olivia, Tristan contained his amus.e.m.e.nt at how she looked calm and still as the sea, hiding the devastating storm within her with an alluring smile.

He bowed to Henry Lin and cheek kissed Olivia, squeezing her arms in consolation. His hand hovered on the doorknob, sending a rueful smile towards Olivia before joining the party outside.

Once Tristan was out of earshot, Henry Lin threw photos after photos of Maxen and Olivia on the table, all taken inside the Lin Estate.

"Did you think I wouldn't find out that you're whoring yourself to the Suis?" he sneered. "I knew it the instant that circus of a lunch made rounds!"

"Oh. So this engagement is my punishment." Olivia's hand dramatically flew to her mouth.

"No, this is not a punishment. This is my birthday gift to you and a welcome back gift to Maxen." 

"Very well. Your present is greatly appreciated. Are you done talking? Are you done shedding that skin of insecurity on you?" Olivia stood close to Henry and flicked the lone lint on his suit jacket. "Because if you are, then please excuse me. I have an engagement party to attend to."

Truth be told, Olivia had a can full of words in her mind but she knew it was fruitless to utter even a syllable.

She knew it. Perhaps her mother knew it too, that even though Henry Lin had a pair of working ears, he would never listen to others. The only voice he could hear was himself. 

And so she did what she knew was best for her sanity. She left the private room and stayed a mile away from Henry Lin.

Because growing up alone taught her one thing. If people treat you like they don't care, it only means one thing: They really don't.

Out in the party hall, Olivia scanned the area and scrutinized every single person whilst forcing a smile.

She knew none of these people and all she wanted to do was escape this wretched party. Her gaze landed on the dance floor where Oliver, Ava, Emily, and Wyatt were dancing.

Creeping up behind her, Tristan whispered in her ear, "That was quick."

She scoffed. "There was nothing for us to talk about anyway."

She side-eyed Tristan and downed her champagne, exchanging her empty flute with a for a new one from the passing waiter.

However, before she could take another sip of alcohol, Tristan blocked her, holding her arm with a firm grip.

"How about we dance… for the sake of the cameras?" he asked. A camera flashed in their direction at the same time his face painted his signature wide and charming smile.

Hesitantly, Olivia tugged her arm free from Tristan's vice grip and flashed him a sweet smile. "Sure," she curtly said. 

After all, the show must go on. For her freedom. For her mother's freedom. And for the downfall of Henry Lin.

Walking towards the dance floor, Olivia looked over her shoulders. She knew that photo would make the headlines tomorrow and their engagement would be the talk of the town for weeks until their wedding day.

And she knew that neither the photo nor the news would ever reach Maxen.