Chapter 3 Hated at home

After the disgusting matchmaking session, Olivia went straight home without eating. Her stomach grumbled, but her heart felt heavier than hunger could fix. She wanted to crawl into bed, pretend this day never happened, and forget the humiliation of sitting across from that man.

The house glowed warmly when she arrived, laughter and the clatter of dishes echoing from the dining room. For a moment, she hesitated by the door. Maybe they saved something for me, she thought, trying to push away the dull ache in her chest.

But the moment she stepped inside, the truth hit her like cold water.

The table was a mess of empty plates and discarded napkins. Everyone had already eaten.

Her stepmother, Michelle, was still seated, chatting cheerfully with Samantha, Olivia’s younger stepsister, whose smile was far too sweet to be genuine.

“Oh? Aren’t you supposed to be on a blind date, little sister?” Samantha’s voice was light but laced with mockery. “Didn’t he take you out to eat?”

Olivia forced a small smile. “I wasn’t hungry.”

Samantha stood and grabbed her arm, pretending to pull her closer. “Why didn’t you say so sooner? I won third place in the piano competition today, and Mom had the kitchen make a lot of good food to celebrate. It’s a shame you missed it.”

Her tone dripped with smug satisfaction.

Olivia looked down at the table. The dishes were indeed lavish — roasted duck, steak, shrimp, and a half-finished bottle of wine. But the centerpiece, a Boston lobster, was nothing but empty shells.

She sighed quietly and pouted. “Congratulations, Samantha,” she said softly.

Samantha gave her a proud smile, brushing her long curls over her shoulder. “Thank you, sister. It’s not easy to win, but talent speaks for itself.”

Olivia bit the inside of her cheek, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

Just then, her father’s deep voice echoed from the hallway. “Olivia!”

Andrew Peterson stormed into the dining room, phone still in hand, his face twisted with fury. “What on earth are you dressed like?”

Olivia froze.

She looked down at her brown cleaning dress and the smudged makeup still on her face — remnants of her little plan to scare off Mr. Agabus’s suitor.

Her father’s voice rose. “You went on a blind date looking like that? Are you trying to ruin me?”

Olivia took a step back. “Father, I—”

“Don’t you dare talk back!” he snapped, slamming his phone onto the table. “Mr. Agabus just called me. He said our family isn’t taking this marriage seriously at all! Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Michelle stood up quickly, panic flashing in her eyes. “What? Mr. Agabus called you?”

Andrew rubbed his temples angrily. “He said he’ll reconsider the investment. If this deal falls apart, it’s on her!” He jabbed a finger toward Olivia.

Michelle turned to her, voice trembling with anger. “Olivia, do you understand what this means? If you don’t get chosen and can’t marry him, what happens if Mr. Agabus withdraws his money? He’s the biggest shareholder in the company! Are you trying to bankrupt your father’s business just because of your childish whims?”

Olivia stared at her stepmother, feeling her blood boil. They don’t care about me at all. Just the money.

She clenched her fists. “Since it’s about business,” she said coldly, “and you need to marry off a daughter, why not let Samantha go?”

The room went dead silent.

Samantha gasped as if slapped. Her big brown eyes shimmered with fake tears. “Olivia, how can you say that? I’m only seventeen. How could you wish something so cruel on your sister?”

Olivia glared at her. “You’re old enough to compete in piano competitions and go to parties, but not old enough to be useful when Father needs a deal?”

Samantha covered her face, her shoulders trembling dramatically. “You’re so mean to me, sister,” she whimpered, sobbing loud enough for the neighbors to hear.

Michelle rushed to Samantha’s side, glaring at Olivia with pure hatred. “Enough! Samantha is so outstanding that men are lining up for her. Unlike you, who’s useless!”

Olivia’s throat tightened.

Michelle continued, her voice dripping with disdain. “You should be grateful that you even have a chance to marry a rich man. Instead, you act spoiled and ungrateful. Look at yourself — you’re not even that pretty, and yet you’re being picky. Who do you think you are?”

Her words hit Olivia harder than she expected. For a moment, she just stood there, pale and silent, her heart aching in her chest.

She had heard these words before, over and over again. Useless. Ugly. Not enough.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to stay calm. “I don’t care about being rich,” she said quietly. “And I don’t want to marry someone like Mr. Agabus, no matter how much money he has.”

Andrew slammed his fist against the wall. “You selfish girl! Do you think this is about what you want? Everything I’ve built is at stake! And you’re willing to throw it all away?”

Olivia’s eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. “You’re the one who threw everything away, Father. You chose money over your daughter a long time ago.”

“Enough!” he shouted. “As long as you live under my roof, you’ll do as I say!”

Olivia’s heart pounded painfully in her chest.

She looked at her family — her father’s cold eyes, Michelle’s fake concern, Samantha’s teary smirk — and realized she didn’t belong there anymore.

Without another word, she turned and walked toward the door.

Andrew’s voice roared behind her, furious and desperate. “It’s so late! Where are you going, you dead girl? If you step out of this door tonight, don’t ever come back!”

Olivia stopped at the doorway. Her hands trembled, but she didn’t turn around.

For years, she had hoped her father would see her, that one day he might love her the way he loved Samantha. But tonight, she finally understood — he never would.

She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and walked out.

The night air hit her face, cool and sharp. She closed the door behind her, blocking out her father’s voice, her stepmother’s nagging, and Samantha’s fake sobs.

For the first time in her life, she was free scared, yes, but free.

The streets were quiet, the city lights reflecting off the wet pavement. She hugged her arms around herself and started walking aimlessly, not knowing where she was going.

But one thought burned bright in her mind.

I won’t let them sell me again.

Somewhere, deep in her chest, a small flicker of hope stirred, the memory of a man’s calm eyes and a fleeting kiss that had changed everything.

Maybe fate wasn’t done with her yet.