Chapter 23⚽ · TED

The storm that had raged the night before had finally quieted down.

Olivia steadied her ragged breathing.

‘If only you hadn’t been in my womb… Elena, my daughter, could’ve started over. So make yourself useful—enough to make up for your mother.’

The Count, clutching the bank guarantee, ID, and passport, looked down at Olivia sprawled on the wrecked floor of the guest room with contempt, then turned and walked out.

It had been a night stained with merciless violence. Anne wept softly, but for some reason, Olivia couldn’t cry.

At six years old—when the business failed, her father died, and her mother left her behind—Han Ji-an had survived.

Everything had been a mess, and it felt like things couldn’t possibly get any worse, yet she hadn’t cried. Crying never solved anything.

This world was full of unfixable, uncontrollable problems.

Even so, she had never given up on life.

“Don’t cry,…