While sitting in the car, Ethan's mood brightened when he saw Zara's response. Even though it was just an "Ok," it was a big deal for her to reply, given her usual vibe.
[Good Night. It's already late sleep soon.]
After sending that, he kept glancing at the chat, hoping for more from Zara.
Meanwhile, Zara was gazing at the moon when she felt her phone buzz. She checked the message and a warm smile spread across her face. After that, she closed the chat and snuggled back into bed.
Ethan, still waiting for a reply, looked at the chat with no new messages and couldn't help but smile, lost in thoughts of Zara.
....
The next day.
At breakfast, Olivia noticed that Zara and the four Adam brothers were missing.
The first thought that crossed her mind was that her brothers had gone with Zara leaving her behind in the house, which made her feel frustrated.
As she pondered this, her expression soured, and the food seemed to taste more bitter than usual. Nevertheless, she managed to put on a cheerful smile and asked her mom with genuine curiosity, "Mom, where are sister and the brothers today? Are they not at home?"
"Yes, Olivia. Lia mentioned she has some tasks to handle at Clover Hill, so she might be late or could return tomorrow. As for your brothers, they said they had some work to do and stepped out," Kylie said, smiling at Olivia.
"Oh, alright, Mom." When she heard that Zara wasn't home and her brothers had gone out, Olivia scoffed as she thought, "They must be sneaking off to spend time with Zara without telling her."
However, realizing that Zara wouldn't be back today made her feel excited. She walked over to Kylie, linked her arms with hers, and said, "Mom, it feels like ages since we had some quality time together. How about we go out today, do some shopping, and grab a bite at a restaurant with Dad?" while pouting playfully.
Kylie couldn't resist the adorable pout that seemed to demand a yes. She smiled and gently ran her fingers through Olivia's hair, replying, "Of course! Let's go and pick out whatever you want, Olivia."
"Today is all about Olivia! Let's hit the shops and get her some treats," Kylie added, glancing between Olivia and Andrew.
Andrew, who had been pretty quiet until now, glanced at Kylie, who was grinning at him. He gave a nod without saying a word and motioned for Mark to get things ready.
As the trio headed back to their room to prep for their shopping trip, Gia walked into Olivia's room. "Young Miss, you really know how to plan things! The moment you realized Zara was out, you jumped at the chance to hang out with Master and Madam," Gia said, giving her a thumbs-up.
"Exactly! I can't just let her have all the fun with my parents while I get left out. I was brainstorming ways to get her out of the house so I could have some quality time with Mom and Dad," Olivia replied with a smile. "But who would've guessed she'd give me the perfect chance herself?"
Gia smiled at Olivia as she listened to her words. A sudden thought crossed her mind, "But, Young Miss, it seems like everyone is more interested in Zara. Even if you spend time with Madam and Master, do you really think people will choose you over her?" she asked, her expression showing concern.
"I understand that they won't stop supporting her just because they support me. I need to come up with a plan quickly to make her leave. If I don't, she might take my place, even on family property," Olivia replied.
Olivia had been contemplating her next steps for a while, determined to secure her rights as the sole daughter of the Adam family.
In the past, she never really gave much thought to anything because she believed she was the only daughter, and everyone would naturally prioritize her happiness, giving her everything she wanted without her even having to ask.
Now, though, things have changed. She has a competitor who's ready to go head-to-head with her for everything—money, shares, and even the love and attention of their family. It feels like she's already taken Ethan, who was supposed to be her fiancé.
"But, Young Miss, what can we do? She has the whole family on her side, and even Mr. Ethan seems to be more into her," Gia said, looking worried after a moment of contemplation.
"You really think I overlooked that possibility? Ever since my plan fell apart with the brothers, I lost all faith in the family. From now on, I have to depend solely on myself for everything I do." Seeing the determined and composed expression on Olivia's face, Gia felt a sense of relief knowing that Olivia understood what was right and what actions would truly benefit her.
"But Young Miss, wouldn't it be wiser to focus on saving your assets rather than pursuing other options? What if you asked your parents for some money? You could use that to invest in property deeds and similar things. It would also ensure that the assets are in your name," Gia suggested, considering one potential route.
Seeing the worry etched on Gia's face, Olivia felt a wave of confusion wash over her. "What's bothering you? Why would I need to take some money and buy property deeds when I'm the youngest daughter of the Adam family? Even if I used the money Mom and Dad gave me to buy those deeds, it wouldn't even amount to one percent of the Adam family's total assets."
With a sly grin, Olivia continued, "It's far better to claim what rightfully belongs to me rather than letting it slip away to others. Even the person who should be mine must stay mine. I won't allow her to take the man who is rightfully mine without a fight. Whether it's a man or property, it's all mine after my brothers."
Gia noticed how serious Olivia was about the situation and felt a bit lost for words. She finally said, "Alright, Young Miss. If you need my assistance with anything, just let me know. I'm here to help whenever I can." Olivia smiled back, replying, "Thanks, Gia. I really appreciate that you'll always support me."
As she spoke, Olivia's mind was racing with ideas on how to keep Zara at Clover Hill for a while. She wanted to find a way to bond more with her family and win their approval, while also plotting to tarnish Zara's reputation in the city so that she wouldn't dare to return.