Chapter 6: Public Humiliation
Chapter 6: Public Humiliation
(Olivia’s POV)
“Olivia, if anything happens to Bella, I’ll hold you responsible!” Graham’s face was grim, and his voice pierced my heart like a silver blade.
I watched as he cradled Bella in his arms, her body limp and fragile against his chest. The theatrical display of concern on his face made my stomach turn. Without another word, he turned and rushed out of my office.
I stood frozen, my mind replaying his expression–the anger, the accusation, the complete absence of the love he once claimed to feel for me. When had his heart truly turned? How had I missed the signs?
“Miss Oasis? Are you okay?”
Blair’s voice pulled me from the abyss of my thoughts. She stood in the doorway, concern etched across her
face.
“I’m fine, Blair,” I said, straightening my shoulders and returning to my desk. “Just another dramatic performance from the Oasis–Storm theater troupe.”
“They’re unbelievable,” she muttered, shaking her head. “The way they treat you after everything you’ve
done…”
I picked up a contract that needed my review. “It’s not worth my tears or my time. We have a company to run.”
Around noon, my phone rang. Gloria, I hung up without answering.
The phone rang again almost immediately. This time it was Ambrose and I stared at the screen, was something wrong with Bella? Had she died?
I got on the phone, but immediately regretted it.
“Olivia Oasis you are out of your mind!” My father’s alpha roar came through the speaker forcing me to hold the phone away from him “Bella was already weak and you hit her and pushed her to the ground!
I waited patiently for his tirade to end before bringing the phone back to my ear.
“I’ve got surveillance in my office, why don’t you come see for yourself?” Even though I knew he didn’t care, he just finally found the opportunity to teach me a lesson.
“Does the truth matter?” he scoffed, confirming my thoughts. “What matters is that your sister has a terminal illness, and you don’t feel sorry for her at all, and you don’t know how to give in a little!”
“So do you have anything else? No I’m hanging up.
His tone quickly shifted from anger to more calculation. “Forget it. Bella wants you to be the witness at the mating ceremony. You have nothing to do that day anyway, so just help her.”
“If you are not afraid of me ruining her ceremony, I will go,” I replied coldly.
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Don’t you want the company shares? As long as you honestly act as the witness, I will transfer the shares that originally belonged to your mother to you.”
I froze. The shares representing the assets stolen from my maternal grandfather, William Brooks–property |
O
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Chazar & Public Humidiat.
had tried for years to reclaim without success. Now he was offering them all?
“Transfer half to my name first,” I said cautiously, “and transfer the other half after the ceremony
“Okay, as you wish.” After a brief hesitation, he added through gritted teeth, “You are just like your mother,
greedy”
“It’s better than being heartless like you,” I retorted before ending the call.
Bella’s “fall” had apparently worsened her already fragile condition. It wasn’t until the day of the mating
ceremony that she could barely get out of bed and walk.
I stood in the preparation room, watching as she was helped into my handcrafted ceremonial gown–the one I
had spent months creating for my own ceremony. The gown hung loosely on her emaciated frame, too large
around the chest and waist.
“Olivia’s craftsmanship is nothing more than this,” Gloria sneered, adjusting the fabric on her daughter. “She
brags about how many international awards she has won every day, but she can’t even make clothes that fit.”
“Because that is my size!” I replied pointedly.” Your daughter is just like you, she likes to steal from people
and be picky when she does.”
“You-” Gloria began, her face contorting with rage.
“Mom…” Bella pulled her back with a weak hand. “Don’t blame Sister. It doesn’t matter if it’s a little bigger. It’s
easier to put on and take off.”
She turned to me with that sickeningly sweet smile. “Sister, thank you for fulfilling my dream.”
The nausea rising in my throat was overwhelming. I needed air.
I turned toward the door, desperate to escape, only to see Graham walking toward me.
He was wearing the tuxedo I had designed for him, and there was no denying that he was very handsome and
always as regal and elegant as a prince. Members of the pack turned their heads to gaze at him as he passed, admiring his elegance.
Another creation of mine, now worn to celebrate his betrayal.
“Little Livvy…” he whispered when he saw me.
I averted my gaze and attempted to walk past him, but my father’s voice stopped me.
“Where are you going? The ceremony is about to start, go help Bella down the aisle.”
I turned back, incredulous. “I?”
Ambrose’s eyes narrowed. “You are the witness and her older sister. What’s wrong with helping your sister?”
Before I could respond, Graham joined in. “Olivia, you pushed Bella down last time, and her physical condition
has worsened. The hem of the gown is too long and heavy, she-”
I don’t want to hear any more of his shameless words. With a cold expression, I walked back to Bella, who
raised her arms expectantly, like a royal princess waiting for her servant.
“Thank you, Sister…” she said as she placed her arm on mine, her voice dripping with false gratitude.
The triumphant gleam in her eyes was unmistakable.
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Chuye & Prese
Smug, little b***n, you’re going to die anyway, I thought to myself,
The mating ceremony begins
The doors to the Storm pack’s gilded auditorium opened, ancient werewolf music played, and I helped Bella stand at the start of the red carpet as the spotlight hit es.
I felt the gazes of countless pack members focused on me, my wolf Cora growing in my chest, “You weskk woman, why don’t you just tear them all apar
What do I get for myself when I tear them apart? The Alpha Council’s prison to imprison me for the rest of my Me?” I conversed with her indifferently while holding Belle’s arm and stepping onto the red carpet.
I heard shocked whispers sweep through the venue.
What’s going on? Isn’t the mate–to–be Miss Olivia? Why is the younger sister wearing the ceremonial gown?”
“Yeah, what’s going on? It’s so werd
The intended mate becomes the bridesmaid? What is the Oasis Pack doing?”
Each whisper was like a needle piercing my skin, I suppressed the burning humiliation and anger in my heart as I escorted Bella down the aisle.
Graham was waiting for us at the end of the red carpet, and I could see the look of excitement on his face, and he wasn’t even looking at me, he was staring eagerly at Bella. In his eyes were those… Tears?
Heartache flooded my mind. This was my mate? The men to whom I gave my blood?
He claimed he only wanted to fulfill Bella’s dying wish, but the way he looked at her told a different story. The person he truly wanted to mark, the shewolf he genuinely loved, was Bella,
Tears filled my eyes, blurring my vision. I instinctively handed Bella’s hand out. Graham reached for it, gently embraced her, and the two looked at each other affectionately as they stepped onto the ceremonial platform
together
I turned and took my seat in the front row. I had thought my heart was already numb, that I could watch this ceremony like an outsider observing a farce. But I was wrong.
A large, clean, alender hand handed me a handkerchief. The owner of the handkerchief didn’t say anything, and I was too distraught to turn around. I took the handkerchief and whispered, “Thank you……
“You’re welcome, replied a deep, pleasant voice–cool and clear, cutting through the surrounding noise.
“Not choosing you is his loss. He’s an idiot.”
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