The mysterious woman disconnected the call without answering Olivia’s question. Olivia stared at her suddenly silent phone screen, but was soon distracted by a flashing notification. The message was short, containing only an address to go to.
With hesitant steps, Olivia entered the restaurant mentioned in the message. She sat at one table in the corner, her heart pounding as she waited for the person behind the call.
Not long after, a woman walked up to her with steady steps. The woman had a familiar aura, but Olivia couldn’t place her.
“How are you, Miss Olivia?” greeted the woman in a voice that was soft yet filled with strength. After greeting Olivia, the woman took a seat opposite her.
Olivia watched the woman, trying hard to remember. The woman in front of her was Daniel, who was trapped in Emily’s body.
After successfully remembering her, Olivia said. “Ah, you’re the woman I met in Thailand, right? Daniel’s business partner?” Olivia guessed.
Dressed as Emily, Daniel smiled slightly. “Actually, I’m not Daniel’s business partner, but his future wife,” he replied in a firm and cold voice.
The shock was clear on Olivia’s face. “You mean, you… that ordinary woman?”
Daniel looked at her with an unreadable gaze. “Yes, an ordinary woman who was loved by Mr. Daniel and also his secretary,” he replied, his voice still calm but with a tinge of coldness.
Olivia swallowed, trying to digest the information. “No wonder I felt strange when you introduced yourself as Daniel’s business partner back then. So, Daniel canceled our arranged marriage… just for you, his secretary?” she said in disbelief.
“Why did you want to see me? Ah, you wanted to show off that you were Daniel’s chosen woman? But, ironically, now everyone knows that I’m his future wife,” Olivia said proudly.
“Did you have to go this far to get what you wanted?” asked Daniel.
Olivia laughed, her voice trembling slightly. “Of course. I have to get what I want. That’s the rules of the game, isn’t it? Legalize all means to win. You don’t deserve someone like Daniel, anyway.”
“Even if it’s by devious means?” Daniel raised his eyebrows. “Providing fake photographic evidence and clarifying that you’re in a relationship when you’re not?”
Olivia looked up at Daniel, her eyes flashing with determination. “In the game, all means are legitimate, even if they’re devious.”
A cold smile spread across Daniel’s face, a thin shadow of the plan he had carefully laid out. “You know, Olivia,” he said, his voice silky smooth yet cool as ice, “Sometimes truth is more interesting than fiction.”
Olivia looked at him in confusion, not understanding Daniel’s words. “What do you mean?” she asked, her tone rising slightly.
Daniel took out his cell phone, the screen displaying the recording app still running. “Everything you said, every confession you made, is now irrefutable evidence.”
Olivia choked, the words stopping in her throat as she heard her own voice repeated on the recorder. “You…” her anger was in the air, a storm ready to break.
Daniel maintained his composure, an unshakable fortress. “As you said, Olivia, in this game, all means are legitimate. I’m giving you time to clarify the mess you’ve made. If you don’t, don’t blame me if this recording falls into the wrong hands,” he said in a controlled voice, but there was a threatening tone tucked between his words.
Olivia stared at Daniel with a fiery gaze, as if it could burn everything in front of her. “You think you can control me? You’re just a secretary, and you dare to play with fire with me?”
Daniel didn’t flinch, his eyes remained focused on Olivia. “Twenty-four hours,” he said, his voice cold but filled with power. “That’s the time limit I’ve given you. Protect the Walton family’s reputation, or be prepared to face the consequences,” he said, his voice calm yet authoritative.
Olivia took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside her. “Alright,” she said in a trembling voice, “I’ll clean up this mess, but make sure you do nothing with the recording.”
Daniel gave a brief nod, as if expecting the decision. “I hope you prepare a convincing narrative, Olivia. The Walton family name does not deserve to be tarnished by your actions,” he said in a final tone before walking away, leaving Olivia in an abrupt silence.
Olivia felt her body shaking uncontrollably. She clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palms with enough force to leave marks. Her breath came in gasps, as if every breath was a fight. “It’s not over yet,” she muttered to herself, her voice barely audible above the roar of her turbulent emotions. “I will not lose to that lowly secretary.”
Olivia reached for her cell phone with still trembling hands, her fingers dancing over the keys in the order that had been imprinted in her memory. Seconds passed in suspense before the voice on the other end said hello.
“I need information on someone,” Olivia said, her voice firm despite the slight tremble.
Meanwhile, Daniel stepped into Emily’s car, his fingers massaging the middle of his furrowed brow. “What a hassle,” he muttered.
His vibrating cell phone distracted him for a moment.
“What’s wrong?” asked Daniel after answering the call.
“Sorry, sir. It’s all my fault,” came Emily’s voice from the other side, or rather, Daniel’s own voice, as Emily’s soul was trapped in his body.
“What can I do to solve this problem?”
“I’ve already dealt with this problem. Now it’s just a matter of waiting for that person to take responsibility for this whole mess,” Daniel replied, his voice calm but with a cold tone that couldn’t be ignored.
“What do you mean?” asked Emily, confusion clear in her voice.
Daniel chose not to answer Emily’s question, but asked another question to divert attention. “Where are you?” he asked.
“I’m at your residence,” Emily replied.
“Are you prepared?”
“Prepared for what?” asked Emily, confused by Daniel’s meaning.
“Didn’t I say that I would take you somewhere today?”
Emily recalled Daniel’s invitation last night. “Where are we going, sir?” she asked.
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” Daniel said, and then disconnected the phone, leaving Emily with unanswered questions.
“It’s always like this, answering so casually and leaving me dying of curiosity,” Emily muttered.
With heavy steps, she prepared, choosing her outfit carefully. And on time, like a promise never broken, Daniel arrived. Emily was already waiting out front.
“Let’s take my car,” Daniel said, his voice flat but sure, and he took his car keys from the house.
“Come on,” Daniel invited, which was only answered by a weak nod from Emily.
Throughout the trip, no one spoke, making Emily a little uncomfortable with this situation.
“Actually, where are we going, sir?” Emily asked.
“You’ll find out later,” Daniel replied in a cold tone.
Daniel’s car drove steadily, leaving the hustle and bustle of New York City behind. They passed through Central Park, where the afternoon sunlight broke through the leaves, creating patterns of light that played on the streets. The skyscrapers gave way to a more open landscape as they approached the suburbs.
The car crossed Harlem River Drive, giving a brief view of the calm river. Emily gazed out the window, noticing the change in scenery from the busy metropolis to a more natural and serene one.
After a two-hour drive filled with anticipation and changing scenery, Daniel’s car finally pulled into the Mountain Creek parking lot. Emily stepped out of the car, her eyes widening in disbelief as she gazed at the snows covered slopes stretching out in front of her.
“This is it?” her voice choked, unable to finish her sentence.
“Didn’t you say that you wanted to learn to ski and snowboarding?” Daniel said, reminding Emily of their long-ago conversation.
Emily’s eyes lit up, a sparkle of emotion that was hard to hide. “You still remember it?” she asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of happiness and emotion.
“Mmm,” Daniel nodded briefly in response.
“So, are we here because you agreed to teach me skiing or snowboarding?”
“Mmm.”
“I’m thrilled, thank you, sir,” Emily said, unconsciously hugging Daniel tightly.
After realizing how tight the hug was, Emily immediately released the hug. “Sorry, sir. I-it was… I was too happy, I…” her words stuttered, searching for the right words.
“Let’s go in,” Daniel cut in, removing the awkwardness that had suddenly appeared between them.