Stolen love: In love with my sister 's fiance-Chapter 27: Olivia’s drama

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Mary and Elaine settled onto the couch, wrapped in warm blankets as the soft glow of the television illuminated the cozy living room. Mary, ever the determined friend, grabbed the remote and scrolled through Netflix.

"We need something to distract you," Mary announced, eyeing Elaine. "No brooding allowed tonight."

Elaine gave a weak chuckle. "Good luck with that."

Mary smirked. "Challenge accepted." She finally settled on The Summer I Turned Pretty. "This should be fun," she said, pressing play.

As the episodes rolled on, they found themselves immersed in the tangled summer romance on screen.

"Oh my God, how does she not see that he's obviously in love with her?" Mary groaned, tossing popcorn at the screen.

Elaine laughed for the first time that night. "Right? It's painfully obvious!"

They continued throwing in dramatic comments, laughing at the characters' decisions. For a little while, the weight on Elaine's heart felt lighter.

Mary stretched her arms and sighed. "At least we can binge-watch in peace. My parents are away on a business trip, so we have the house all to ourselves."

Elaine hummed in agreement, feeling a sense of comfort in the quiet space. As the night deepened, their voices softened, their laughter fading as exhaustion took over.

Somewhere between the episodes, wrapped in blankets and warmth, they both drifted off to sleep, the soft hum of the TV playing in the background.

As morning came, Elaine slowly blinked awake, the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the curtains. She found herself still curled up on the sofa, wrapped in a warm blanket. The TV was off, and the house was quiet except for the faint sounds coming from the kitchen.

Stretching lazily, she sat up and glanced around. Mary was nowhere in sight. Curious, Elaine got up and followed the scent of freshly brewed coffee.

In the kitchen, Mary stood by the counter, stirring her cup with a content sigh. She looked up and grinned as Elaine entered. "Morning, sleepyhead."

Elaine rubbed her eyes. "Morning... You're up early."

Mary handed her a cup of coffee. "Couldn't sleep in. But last night was fun." She took a sip, then smirked. "We should do this more often."

Elaine smiled, wrapping her hands around the warm mug. "Yeah... We should."

Elaine returned home, exhaustion weighing on her shoulders as she stepped inside the her villa. As she made her way through the hall, a strong wave of expensive perfume filled her senses. She looked up to find Olivia lounging gracefully on the couch, her usual smug expression in place. Beside her, their mother sat with an air of quiet superiority, sipping tea as if the world revolved around their presence.

Olivia's lips curled into a smirk. "Oh, look who finally decided to come home," she mused, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Had fun at your boy toy's house?"

Elaine froze mid-step, her fingers twitching at her sides.

Her stepmother let out a small scoff, setting her teacup down with a soft clink. "Like mother, like daughter," she said, her voice laced with disdain. "Must be nice to enjoy the night however you please."

Elaine clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. The sharp sting grounded her, kept her from snapping back. She knew better than to engage—it was exactly what they wanted.

So, she took a slow breath, steadied herself, and simply walked past them without a word.

Ignoring them was the best choice. Even if it burned.

Elaine climbed the stairs, eager to escape to her room, when Olivia's voice rang out behind her, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Look, Alex, your sister was out all night and is only just now coming home in the morning," Olivia drawled, feigning innocence. "Must've been with her boyfriend."

Elaine halted mid-step, her fingers gripping the wooden railing. Her father was there too. She could feel his presence, his gaze shifting toward her.

"Elaine." His voice was firm, expectant. "Where were you?"

Olivia smirked, leaning back against the couch, clearly enjoying the drama she had set in motion.

Elaine exhaled slowly, then stepped forward with an unwavering expression. "I was at my college friend's house—Mary Williams," she stated clearly, meeting her father's gaze.

Her father's expression shifted slightly, his brows raising. "Jack Williams' daughter?"

Elaine nodded.

To her surprise, his lips curled into a pleased smile. "Good. Yeah, make her your friend. Jack Williams is one of the best in his field. Good job."

Elaine almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. The blatant hypocrisy. She had spent years being treated like an outsider, an inconvenience. Yet the moment her association with someone useful was mentioned, she was suddenly worth acknowledging.

But she held her tongue.

Instead, she nodded once and continued up the stairs, ignoring the disdain on Olivia's face and the unreadable expression on Alex's.

Olivia pouted in disappointment, clearly expecting more drama to unfold. She had wanted a spectacle, but Elaine had shut it down too quickly for her liking.

Meanwhile, Alex let out a quiet sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly. He had been waiting for an argument to explode, for their father's harsh words or another bitter exchange. But Elaine had handled it smoothly, leaving no room for further questioning.