Chapter 98

Chapter 98

She considered all the possibilities for how this could play out on her way to Collington Cove. All she had to do was abandon her pride and cooperate with Marina. It couldn't be that difficult. What did her pride matter when she was about to die anyway?

It was her first time inside Collington Cove.

The decorations were all to her liking: blue arches, horseshoe–shaped windows, gray walls, and white curtains swaying in the sea breeze. It had a mysterious, romantic air to it.

It was a pity that the owner of the house was Marina.

With the maid leading her, Olivia arrived at the spacious and bright living room. The room sported a 270–degree circular floor -to–ceiling window that provided a clear view of the sea from every angle.

Before she spotted Marina, something touched her leg. It was Connor, whom she hadn't seen for some time.

"Mommy," he called out, his voice cute and pleasant to the ear. His eyes were sparkling like stars in the sky, and Olivia felt a little more affectionate toward him.

Connor opened his arms toward Olivia, drooling as he said, "Mommy, hug me."

Olivia wanted to reach out and pat his head, but the nanny quickly came over and took Connor away. "Oh, come upstairs, quickly, Connor. Mommy will come to play with you later," the nanny coaxed.

Connor was very upset about being taken away and began to cry, reaching out his arms towards Olivia. "Mommy, mommy."

Olivia's heart ached, and she was surprised that she felt this way towards Marina's son.

After a while, Marina appeared on the second floor. As she could hear Connor's voice from afar, she told him, "Good boy, you finally know how to call out to me. I'll come to you later."

Connor ignored her and kept looking in Olivia's direction.

Marina plopped herself down on the sofa as the maid asked, "What drink would you like?"

Marina rested her head on her hand, looking at Olivia with indifference. "I heard that you bake good cakes."

"If that's what it takes to get the Fordham residence, I can bake for you." Olivia got straight to the point.

Marina laughed in response.

"Olivia, Olivia. I should've expected this. After all, your family has its own business. I'm sure you've been taught that you have to give something to get something. I assume you want to talk about Fordham residence. What makes you think you have the right to negotiate with me?"

"What do you want to eat?"

"The maid will tell you."

Following the maid's instructions, Olivia baked a plate of honey cake.

"Too sweet," Marina commented.

Olivia baked a second one.

"Too hard."

Olivia kept finding excuses to reject it. When it came to the fifth attempt, she poured the batter on Olivia's hair. Olivia held her anger in check, letting the flour mixture run down her hair and drip to the floor.

Olivia lowered her head, trying to conceal her emotions. Her voice was very soft, making it difficult to discern her emotions." Ms. Carlton, I'm not a chef, so I cannot bake something to your liking."

Yet Marina didn't stop there. She haughtily responded, "Olivia, you should know that I hold grudges. Didn't I tell you to bring Everly with you? This is the consequence of not listening to me."

Olivia knew that Marina's arrogant and reckless behavior was all thanks to Ethan. Olivia, on the other hand, had no one to back her up. That's why Marina thought she could treat her however she liked.

As Marina gleefully enjoyed Olivia's misery, the latter, who'd been considering it for a while now, suddenly moved. Swiftly, she picked up the remaining bowl of batter and slapped it on Marina's face.