Chapter 9: Awakening and Awakening–1
Chapter 9: Awakening and Awakening
(Olivia’s POV)
I woke naturally, stretching my limbs across the soft sheets as sunlight streamed through the
windows of Moonlight Manor.
“Ah-” I yawned contentedly, relishing the unusual sensation of freedom. “The feeling of not having to go to work is just sofortable.”
After a leisurely shower, I dressed infortable clothes and headed downstairs. The familiar
scent of freshly brewed herb tea and venison broth greeted me as I entered the dining room.
Martha Jenkins had prepared breakfast for two, with ce settings arranged neatly across
from each other. I nced at the empty seat opposite mine but said nothing as I took my
ce.
Martha noticed my arrival and approached with a pot of steaming tea. “Miss Winters, is Mr. Grey noting down for breakfast today?” she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
I calmly epted the cup she offered, inhaling the soothing aroma before taking a sip. “He
didn’te backst night, so probably not.”
Martha’s eyes widened slightly before she quicklyposed herself, realizing she was being nosy. With a small <i>nod</i>, she quietly retreated to the kitchen, leaving me to enjoy my breakfast
in peace.
The venison broth was rich and vorful, prepared exactly as I liked it. For three years, Martha had learned my preferences, always ensuring myfort despite her primary loyalty to the Grey family. I appreciated her kindness, one of the few genuine things I’d experienced in this
house.
As I finished my meal, my phone vibrated with an iing message. Connor Rivers‘ name
shed on the screen, bringing an unexpected warmth to my chest.
“Livvy, do you want the engagement dress to be custom–made or just pick a current–season designer one?”
I hesitated, my finger hovering over the keyboard. Custom–made would be beautiful, but would there be enough time? I realized I didn’t even know when the ceremony would take ce.
“When is the engagement ceremony scheduled?” I typed back.
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Connor’s response came quickly. “Not fixed yet. Whenever you finish things in Harbor City and
return to Riverdale, we can set it.”
I felt a small smile form on my lips. Unlike Ethan, Connor never pressured me or made
decisions without my input.
“Okay, I’ll be done here in nine days,” I assured him.
“Great,” he replied, and I could almost hear the gentle tone he always used with me.
I considered the timeframe. Custom tailoring would be cutting it close, and I didn’t want to
rush the artisans.
“I’ll just pick from the current season’s dresses, I’ll go pick one,” I decided.
“Okay, let me know when you decide,” Connor responded.
Just as I was about to exit my messages, a notification caught my eye–a new message from
Ethan Grey. My heart skipped a beat, not from longing but from wariness.
I clicked on it and found a video waiting to be yed. Taking a deep breath, I pressed y.
The scene unfolded in a dimly lit private room, music thumping in the background. Ethan was clearly drunk, his normally perfect appearance disheveled as he leaned intimately into
Cassandra’s embrace.
“Cassie, <i>you </i>finally came back…” he mumbled, his words slurred but distinct. “I knew you would… I waited five years for you…”
The background was filled with noisy jeers andughter. I recognized the voices–Ethan’s friends, Sophie Parker, and others from their social circle. All familiar faces who had smiled at
me while harboring contempt.
Cassandra held him with practiced tenderness, a soft smile ying on her lips. “Ethan, you’re
drunk,” she said, her voice carrying just the right note of concern.
He rubbed against her, his movements clumsy but determined. “No, I’m perfectly sober… You
are Cassandra Evans, my one true love, I’m not wrong… See, I’m sober…”
Someone in the background jeered loudly, “Ethan, if Cassandra is your true love, then what
about Olivia?”
Ethan’s response was slurred but crystal clear: “Who is Olivia Winters? I… I only love Cassie…”
Sophie’s voice chimed in, teasing and triumphant. “Future Luna, Ethan is really only into you.
Look, drunk as he is, you’re all he can see.”
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Hearing this, my eyes turned cold. During my three years with Ethan, <i>no </i>one had ever called
me “Future Luna.” It proved what I had always suspected: none of them ever truly epted me
as Ethan’s potential partner.
It was no surprise. In that upper–crust social circle, I was always just a tolerated outsider from
a rival territory.
The mockery in the video only grew harsher. Victoria Reed, Sophie’s so–called good friend–the
same woman who had previously used my mother’s silver pendant of being fake–sneered
loudly.
“Why is Olivia so shameless? Cassandra is back already, yet she still clings on. Hasn’t she
any sense?”