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"Sis, you okay? You’re spacing out."
I shuddered.
There he was—alive, healthy, standing before me.
He asked if he should help Olivia with her luggage.
I saw Olivia's pleading eyes fixed on me, now tinged with admiration for Jason.
In my past life,I missed it.
Jason, 6'1, built from years of sports, rolled up his sleeves in the September heat, his muscles flexing.
Olivia batted her lashes, waiting for my answer.
Only at this time did I realize she'd wanted him, but he'd rejected her quest.
Olivia came from a poor rural family.
Her father died not long after her birth, so her mother raised her and her brother alone, hoping Olivia could brought fortune to the family.
She was groomed to snag a rich man to support the family,especially her brother.
Olivia always kept her options open.
Behind her innocent facade,she’d cycled through boyfriends in high school,dumping them for better prospects.
Her current boyfriend, Ethan, came from a scholarly family of comfortably upper-middle-class.
He was fond of her helpless sweetheart act.
Olivia played the baby in front of him—being fed mouth-to-mouth and late-night calls to comfort her.
But Ethan had one firm principle—his girlfriend had to match his status. Olivia worked hard to fake it.
Her monthly budget was$300.
She'd lie about "dieting" to share Ethan's meal, then raid all the snacks in our dorm.
She’d preach“minimalism,”mooching our skincare and makeup.
Ethan was totally smitten by her, wiring her cash.
It all went to her mom and brother,Tommy Harper.
I’d overheard her calls on the balcony,urging her to come clean about her background.
She'd scoff, "It doesn't matter. I’ll find a better simp."
I thought she was bluffing until at that hotel bar, where she'd became a tycoon's wife, ousting his original spouse.
Her face—pure yet sultry—paired with a soft,seductive voice melted most men.
Jason was the first man to reject her.
Her ego bruised, she couldn't let go of him, goading Ethan to push him down the stairs.
Now, all had just returned to the very beginning of that day.
I yanked my brother behind me.
"No." My voice was cold.
"Why?" Olivia blinked, stunned.
"Jason’s helping me print papers. Handle it on your own."
Olivia's face twisted in disbelief.
Her eyes welled. "I'm just so weak…it’s so heavy…how can I manage?"
“Your brother’s so strong.It’s a small favor—can’t he help me?”
She turned her doe eyes on Jason,unleashing her sweetheart charm.
But Jason, who used to be loyal to me, shook his head, grinning, “Ask your boyfriend. He is more than happy to be at your service."
