Seven Years of Love, All for Nothing

Chapter 5

Olivia's smile froze, her face draining of color as the police approached. Before she could say a word, Mrs. Johnson jumped in, her voice loud and desperate.

"Officers, you can't arrest Olivia! She has late-stage cancer, it's very serious!"

The officers exchanged skeptical glances, eyeing Olivia's rosy complexion. One of them responded firmly, "If the allegations are true, we'll arrange for a medical examination. You have the right to apply for medical parole."

Olivia's expression twisted with panic, and for once, her usual smooth-talking demeanor faltered. She couldn't even find the words to respond.

Andrew, still in shock, stood there as if struck by lightning. He turned to Olivia, his voice shaking. "Olivia, tell me the truth—do you really have cancer?"

"And who are you supposed to have murdered?"

Olivia's lip trembled as her eyes filled with tears. "Andrew, please, you have to believe me! Someone's framing me! I'll explain everything when I get back, I swear!"

With that, she practically ran after the police, her heels clacking against the floor as if they were chasing her.

Even after she was long gone, Andrew stood frozen, too stunned to move. He stumbled toward Mrs. Johnson, desperation written all over his face. "Mom, do you know something? Please, just tell me!"

Mrs. Johnson gave him a look of disgust, a smirk pulling at the corner of her mouth. "I wouldn't dare say anything. You wouldn't believe me anyway."

Andrew's face went white as a sheet.

I wasn't interested in his mental breakdown, so I closed the live stream and tossed my phone aside.

Moments later, my father's name flashed on my screen. I answered it, feeling an unsettling tightness in my chest.

"Rachel, are you behind what happened to Olivia?"

"This was supposed to be the most important day of her life! How could I have raised such a cruel, heartless daughter?"

I let out a soft, bitter laugh. "Dad, you should be more worried about yourself. I won't let anyone who hurt my mother get away with it."

There was a long silence before I heard the unmistakable click of the call being ended.

His reaction made my stomach churn. Was he involved in what happened to my mother?

What no one knew—what no one could know—was that I had been secretly saving the security footage.

As I scrolled through the videos, something caught my eye. A conversation between Olivia and my father. Olivia was clinging to him, whining like a child.

"Dad, I really like Andrew. Can't you do something to help me?"

My father sighed in frustration. "I want to help you, but he's always had his eyes on Rachel. Always. Since they were kids."

Olivia's voice grew more insistent. "I don't care! Just do what you did to Rachel's mom back then…"

My father's face went ashen. He slammed his hand over Olivia's mouth. "Olivia! Don't ever say that again. Rachel is still my flesh and blood! Just keep pushing Andrew and find ways to split them up. I'll back you up—always."

That was the moment I realized.

My mother's death… it wasn't just illness. It was something darker. Something tied to my father and Olivia.

I needed more answers, but no matter how much footage I reviewed, nothing else came to light.

I had no choice but to go to Mrs. Johnson. I laid everything out for her.

She was livid, furious to the point of shaking with rage. She wanted to tear my father and Olivia apart. I had to calm her down.

This footage wasn't enough to go public with, but it was a lead. So, we went after Olivia.

Mrs. Johnson threw every connection she had into investigating Olivia's past. And that's when we found something big.

Back in college, Olivia had bullied a girl so badly that the girl dropped out. And then, she disappeared—gone without a trace.

The evidence against Olivia was solid, but my father had used his power to bury it. The girl's family had been fighting for justice ever since.

When Mrs. Johnson reached out to the girl's family, they were wary at first. They thought she might be a scam artist. But when they realized her genuine intentions, they accepted her help, not wanting to miss a single chance to get justice for their daughter.