The night before I was ready to act, Olivia’s PR team suddenly released a statement.
They claimed that Eric had been Olivia’s first love in her youth.
That the two had been together for over a decade, but hadn’t gone public due to business reasons.
That I was merely her business partner.
Facing the cameras, Olivia earnestly explained,
“Back then, when Eric went abroad for further studies, we were forced to separate for a time.”
“He cared deeply about his older brother, and asked me to look after Daniel in his absence.”
“It was out of trust and love for Eric that I chose Daniel as my business partner.”
“I hope people won’t confuse our relationship, and certainly won’t do anything to hurt Eric because of this.”
She spoke with sincerity, but her words shoved me directly into the fire.
Overnight, Eric’s reputation was restored.
Meanwhile, every accusation and condemnation turned toward me.
Fueled by Eric’s own manipulative posts that blurred the truth, nearly everyone came to believe it.
That I was a selfish, greedy man who, while my younger brother studied abroad, seduced his girlfriend.
My phone rang off the hook.
Red paint and dead rats were thrown all over the doorstep of my home.
In an instant, I went from being a respected, enviable businessman to a reviled homewrecker.
Even my parents stepped forward to testify against me.
My father claimed I had always been cruel, bullying my younger brother.
My mother declared that the Smith family had no such shameless son, and that she was cutting ties with me.
After enduring endless ridicule and curses, I ordered a milk tea and stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching the tidal wave of hatred crash down on me.
It was then that Olivia knocked on my office door.
Her tone was calm, her expression gentle, but in her eyes was the same condescension I had seen so often in Eric’s.
“I didn’t want it to come to this. But I can’t just stand by and let them drive Eric to his death.”
“You’re his older brother. You should know his temper best.”
“A boy who’s been pampered his whole life, never suffered even the slightest setback—he can’t possibly withstand this kind of cyberbullying.”
“This time, consider it a debt I owe you. Once things calm down, I’ll find a way to make it up to you.”
Those words.
The ones I’d heard from my parents my entire life.
Now, they came from Olivia’s mouth.
I laughed coldly.
Calmly, I poured the unfinished milk tea over her face.
“No need. There is no ‘after’ for us.”
I called my lawyer and asked him to meet me at home to discuss strategy.
But when I opened my front door, I found Eric sitting there smugly.
He pressed a cigarette butt into my wedding photo and smirked.
“What’s wrong? Not smiling now? You looked so proud in that wedding photo. Why can’t you laugh anymore?”
“Daniel, you’re a real fool. You actually thought stealing Olivia would put you above me?”
“Did you forget? Ever since we were kids, if I wanted something, I always got it.”
I frowned, cutting him off.
“Do you even like Olivia?”
Eric shrugged, utterly indifferent.
“Like or dislike—what does it matter? If it’s something you care about, I can’t resist the urge to take it. To ruin it.”
“I love watching you get angry and miserable, knowing there’s nothing you can do.”
