CHAPTER 42: HEARTBROKEN JACK

[Reid Mansion—Morning After the Gala]

The mansion was painfully quiet, in fact, it was too quiet for Olivia’s liking.

Sunlight poured through the tall windows but the brightness only made Olivia’s headache worse.

She paced the length of the sitting room in a silk robe and her fingers clenched tightly around a half-finished cup of coffee she no longer tasted.

She stopped by the window. Her chest was rising and falling in short angry breaths, still very enraged over how Alexander and her husband had insulted her during the event. And no matter how many times she had tried, she couldn’t let it go.

Her hand tightened around the coffee cup as she replayed the scene in her mind like a. It felt like an open wound pressed hard and it burned.

Just then, Benjamin entered the room, adjusting his cuff links and looking far too calm for her state of mind.

He didn’t spare her more than a brief glance.

"You are up early, honey," he said mildly. "Didn’t you sleep well?"

Olivia turned toward him with her eyes blazing with anger. "Don’t you dare pretend you didn’t see what happened last night."

"I did," Benjamin said, picking up the newspaper from the side table. "And I suggest you get over it."

Her breath hitched in disbelief. "Excuse me?"

Benjamin didn’t even look up. "It wasn’t a big deal."

"A big deal?" Olivia nearly choked on her anger. "Your son humiliated me in front of half the city—"

"He corrected you," Benjamin said calmly. "Anyway, you were out of line."

Her jaw dropped as she felt jots of anger stab her spine. "Out of line?" she yelled. "I was stating facts. That girl—"

Benjamin closed the newspaper slowly, finally meeting her eyes with a controlled irritation.

"Her name is Evelyn and it would serve you well to remember it."

That threw Olivia off for a second but anger burned through her embarrassment.

"So now you are defending her too? What is this sudden obsession with the Carters? Because Margaret is practically worshipping that girl and Pauline smiles like Evelyn is her new daughter-in-law. And now you—"

Olivia couldn’t quite understand what was going on. Evelyn had dated Jack maybe for two years but not once had she heard Benjamin mention her name or even acknowledge her.

But now that she was technically with Alexander, he had suddenly started worshiping her and awarding her the ’Best Woman’ title.

None of it made sense in any way.

Benjamin held up a hand. "Enough, you are getting way out of hand." He looked at her with cold, sinister eyes. "I have always given you what you wanted. Gold, diamonds, all those expensive dresses you wear only once."

"All you have to do is enjoy your life and mind your own business," he added, "But you are clearly incapable of doing such a minimal thing as well."

She went still. His words had hit her harder than they should have.

"You made a scene," he said coolly. "You tried to embarrass a young woman who hasn’t done anything except show up gracefully despite everything she has been through."

She stared at him, open-mouthed. She was stunned. "Benjamin, Jack is heartbroken—"

"Jack is dramatic." Benjamin scoffed, "That boy falls in and out of a relationship like it’s a hobby. Everyday he is with a new woman who he had probably picked up from a bar."

Olivia faltered. Even she couldn’t defend that.

"He had somehow managed to find one useful woman for himself but he couldn’t keep her as well." Benjamin scoffed again, "And if you don’t know, you so-called heartbroken Jack is whoring around with a woman he met in a strip club."

Olivia pursed her lips and frowned, secretly regretting mentioning Jack’s name.

Jack was always a magnet of troubles. He was often involved in scandals and had very little to zero involvement in the family business. But there was one thing he was very good at—abusing the name and wealth he was born to

But despite his shortcomings, she had always kept him close. He had always been the easiest one to manipulate and get things done her way.

Benjamin put the newspaper down. "Look Olivia, you were the one who wanted attention and you also wanted to make Evelyn look small. But it backfired and made you look petty instead."

Color drained from Olivia’s face before rushing back twice as dark.

Sensing her wrath, he added, "But for your peace of mind, I will talk to Alexander and tell him to be careful while talking to you next time."

Returning his focus back to his morning paper, he dropped her a casual warning, "And you should stop meddling, especially when it comes to Alexander."

Her stomach dropped. "What are you implying?"

"That every time you meddle—" he said before taking a sip of his coffee, "you make it worse for yourself."

Olivia’s hands shook. "So you are saying, it was right for him to disrespect me like that—"

Benjamin paused and looked at her. "He didn’t disrespect you. He restrained himself when he could have said worse things."

He stood and picked up his coat. "But If you provoke him again, don’t expect me to take your side or tell him anything."

Olivia felt the floor sway.

"And Olivia—" Benjamin added as he stepped out. "drop whatever jealousy you have toward that girl. She is not your enemy but if you keep pushing, you will make her one."

The door closed behind him with a soft thud.

Olivia stood frozen in the silence with breath trembling and nails digging into her palms.

Her humiliation was now doubled—first by Alexander and now by Benjamin.

Slowly, fury took shape inside her.

She closed her eyes to calm herself down. She was angry but that anger would lead her to nowhere.

She had to come up with something more strategic and she exactly knew who to approach.

A cold sinister smile plastered her lips as she picked up her phone.

....