Leonel's words could be biting at times. "No wonder you look like you've seen a ghost."

Olivia offered a bitter smile.

After a moment, she interjected, “Leonel, don't speak ill of him. At that time, he was also a victim. Even now, he remains unaware of the truth, oblivious to why I had to end things with him."

Leonel chuckled. “Perhaps he's already figured it out."

Raphael's father had been under Mark's jurisdiction. Later, he made a mistake and received a 20-year prison sentence. He was so averse to life behind bars that he later committed suicide.

Mark handled the situation at the time.

Olivia was oblivious when she fervently pursued Raphael. Even during their romance, she remained unaware.

One day, Raphael's mother confronted her and slapped her across the face, leaving Olivia bewildered. Although she couldn't recall many details from that day and chose to selectively forget, she vividly remembered his mother's cutting words, “What do you really want? Let me tell you something! As long as I'm alive, you won't be allowed to marry my son!"

Olivia was merely in her early twenties that year.

With tears in her eyes, she looked at the distraught woman before her, eventually piecing together the entire story.

Later on, she surrendered what she had been reluctant to let go of to Raphael.

That night, in that cramped hotel room, she bled a lot.

It pained Olivia deeply.

Afterwards, Raphael showered her with kisses, repeatedly apologizing for what had happened.

That was the first time for both of them.

The next morning, Olivia ended their relationship. Despite the passing of many years, the memory still weighed heavily on her heart, causing her eyes to ache whenever she recalled it.

How could she not feel the pain? This cruel twist of fate seemed unjust and deeply unfair to her.

But what recourse did she have?

She was the daughter of Raphael's enemy. She didn't want to burden him with her presence, perhaps out of cowardice, fearing he would regard her with eyes filled with disdain.

Thus, she led him to believe she was merely materialistic.

Observing her helplessness, Leonel sighed softly. "Olivia, have you considered that if he truly despises you and feels nothing for you, why hasn't he married at his age?"

Olivia was taken aback.

Leonel remained silent, focusing on the document in his hand.

Noticing his diligence, Olivia fetched him a glass of water. “Aunt Rena and Uncle Waylen mentioned they plan to introduce someone to Alexis, and she's agreed to meet the guy."

Leonel's pen pierced through the paper, snapping him out of his reverie and prompting a moment of embarrassment.

He managed to utter in a chilly tone, "It's good she's starting a new life."

"Don't you care?" Olivia inquired.

Leonel's gaze fell to the document. After a prolonged silence, he responded, “I don't care! I, too, have a new girlfriend. Olivia, both Alexis and I must continue to move forward. There's a brighter future waiting for us ahead."

Olivia remained skeptical. “Leonel, you're just being stubborn! You'll regret this later."

Leonel reassured himself that he wouldn't regret his choice. Tucking away the documents, he turned to Olivia and proposed, "If you doubt me, let's return and dine together. I'll call Hester and invite her to join us."

Despite her doubts, Hester arrived half an hour later.

Olivia whispered, “Aren't you worried about upsetting Alexis?”

Leonel stated nonchalantly, “I'm no longer with her. Today, I'll bring Hester home to meet the family. Perhaps we'll marry next year."

Olivia was stunned, unable to believe her ears.

After a pause, Leonel instructed Hester, “You may head back now.”

Olivia stopped her from leaving.

She fixed her gaze on Hester, pressuring her to confess that she wasn't truly Leonel's girlfriend.