Baffled, Olivia looked at Penny. Wrinkles adorned Penny's face, and her eyes were murky.Her wrinkle-surrounded mouth was shaking due to vehement emotions."Mrs. Durst, are you speaking to me?""Yes, you!" The excited older woman held Olivia's hand, rubbing her rough hands against the back of Olivia's hand so much that it stung.Penny's reaction took Olivia aback. They didn't know each other, but why was Penny getting so excited?"Mrs. Durst, did you get the wrong person?""How could I possibly get the wrong person? Miss, I've never expected myself to be able to meet you again. You look exactly the same as you were that year! You barely changed."Penny sized her up. "No, you seemed skinnier. Something's different about your face, too."Megan quickly said, "I think you got the wrong person. Olivia has never come to this village before. This is her first visit.""Olivia?" Penny circled Olivia while pointing at her at times. "Something's off. You're taller and skinnier than her.

She could barely remember her name, but such etiquette was still etched deep in Penny's bones."Madam, make yourself at home. Let's talk inside."Olivia scanned the area casually. It was her first time coming to this loft.Ethan pointed at a nearby guest room. "I asked Madam Burgess to clean that room. Mrs. Durst can stay there for the moment. If she lives under the same roof with you, she might be able to remember sooner.""Okay.""Let her get used to the place for a few days. I'll ask someone to give her a thorough medical checkup after that.""Thanks." Olivia had been giving him an aloof attitude as though they were neighbors.Ethan sighed helplessly, knowing that this would last for a while."You should get some rest, Liv. You're not fully recovered yet. From today onward, I'll ask someone to come over to treat your hand. "As for your father, there's a medical team checking on him 24/7. Don't worry, nothing will happen."Olivia couldn't pick any fault out of his arrangem

Ethan's brows furrowed tightly. "Which city?""Mrs. Durst can't remember. She said that she wandered along the streets all the way from her hometown. She didn't have a place to go in mind. "She followed others wandering around. I heard that her city was close to the sea.""The country was tangled with wars over 60 years ago. Every military troop attacked everywhere to claim territories. There were countless bandits, too. "The people formed organizations themselves to make riots. That period was chaotic. The place names kept changing. This alone won't be able to get us to the right place.""It's alright. Take your time. I am happy enough to be able to meet Mrs. Durst. It can be considered as a guide from God. Who knows? She might be able to recall more things one day.""Liv, it is true that we have leads. But you have to be mentally prepared. Even if you resemble Ms. Nat—the person Mrs. Durst served—it is possible that this is a mere coincidence. "It's common for people to loo

Ethan reclined on the leather couch, slightly raising his head.He looked exhausted. Judging from his shut eyes, he seemed to be asleep.Olivia spared him a glance, and she didn't wake him up. She sat opposite him silently instead, casually taking a programming book.It was only when a cold wind came through the window that Ethan slowly woke up.Gazing at the cold scenery, he reckoned that it was going to snow soon.The light in the room was brightly lit, contradicting the somber sky outside.There were fresh flowers, which were brought over this morning, placed on the table. They were trimmed into lovely and graceful arrangements, giving off a faint, fresh scent.The apartment finally felt like home.However, no matter how wholesome the interior design was, it couldn't mend the relationship between Ethan and Olivia.Previously, only the weather outside would be described as cold; now, their relationship itself had turned cold, too.Back in the past, she would definitely

Olivia went out on the day of the first snow.She initially thought that the excessive training would worsen her illness, but it seemed like her stomach hadn't caused her trouble since before she got pregnant.Although she didn't know what was going on with the tumor, she was certain that her condition was stable. It didn't spread over her body, which was the best-case scenario for her.It had been almost a year since she last went shopping or enjoyed life.Olivia stood before the most famous shopping center. She could see a career woman in heels from afar. Wearing a wool coat over her, the woman strode over with hurried steps.She stood under a large billboard and looked around until she heard a familiar voice. "Eve."Everly turned to look back at Olivia, who was standing nearby in a black wool coat.The latter's hair, which was tied up, was longer than before. A pair of simple earrings hung on her earlobes.She still looked beautiful.Olivia was like a sunflower in the p

Surprised, Everly held Olivia's hand. "Farewell? Where are you going?""Don't worry. I simply wanna go somewhere to get some rest."Everly couldn't feel a sense of energy from Olivia's all-black outfit. Olivia was giving off an aloof demeanor.Everly figured that Olivia might want to get some fresh air."Are you going to be gone for a long time?""Yeah, probably.""Well, it's not bad to leave this saddening place." The positive Everly didn't even know how to comfort Olivia. What Olivia experienced wasn't something that could be placated with mere words.Converting anger and resentment into appetite might help, so Everly ordered a lot of expensive dishes."Eat. Have this caviar to your heart's content. You don't have to hold yourself back. I'm loaded with cash."Olivia smiled. "Speak softer. People might think that you're a rich lady who lacks foresight.""So what? I became rich with my capabilities. Liv, honestly speaking, I've always wanted to be successful and become some

The next morning, Olivia entered Jeff's room one last time. She stared at the bedridden man, who was skin and bone.His muscles had shrunken, and his face was haggard.The pungent smell of medicine lingered in the air.Olivia didn't have the courage to enter the room before this.She was aware that the day she made up her mind would be the day she bid farewell.Thick layers of snow filled the yard after a snowy night.Olivia drew the thick curtains to open the window, letting the sunlight and wind in."Dad, I bet it's been a long time since you last got some fresh air outside. It's winter again. It's snowing."Although Olivia's right hand wasn't as sensitive as her left hand, she could make simple movements with it.She scooped the snow and began molding it into a snow rabbit."I remember you'd always have snow fights and build a snowman with me in the yard whenever it snowed. Your craftsmanship is always on point. "I once said that when you're old, I will push you in a whe

Marina, who was sitting in a wheelchair, watched Ethan hold an umbrella for Olivia from afar. He was standing while Olivia was kneeling. They somehow looked like a match made in heaven standing before the snowy background.Marina had asked him about Jeff's whereabouts many times, but he didn't tell her anything.It was only this morning that she received news about Jeff's death.She couldn't even see Jeff in his last moments or send him off for the one last time. She thought that Jeff didn't know that her biological daughter was her until his last day.Ethan was cruel, but he told her that this was her karma.But Marina didn't know what she did wrong.She was kept in the dark for so many years. In the end, she killed her parents with her bare hands. It pricked her guilty conscience day and night.During those days when she first returned to the country, she thought she was the happiest person in the world. She had a harmonious family, a loving mother, and a protective Etha

Olivia stopped in her tracks to turn to look at Marina after hearing her despairing voice.Marina didn't care about the housekeeper, who was trying to help her up. She was so stubborn that she wanted to crawl toward Ethan.Her helpless and pitiful state reminded Olivia of her past. Olivia had once pleaded with Ethan not to divorce her.She now realized how pitiful she seemed at that time."Are you going to let her be?" Olivia crossed her arms, assuming that Ethan ignored Marina because he was considering her emotions. "You don't have to mind me. It doesn't bother me."Ethan was hurt to hear that. He held Olivia's hand. "Liv, I have never loved Marina. I said I was going to marry her because I wanted to repay a favor."She sneered. "And that repayment requires you to have sex with her? Interesting.""Liv, Connor's actually—" When he was going to blurt that out, he closed his eyes only to recall the night he rescued Olivia from the sea. She almost died at that time, and it bro

Volt Peak Mountain was also called the Isle of Hell. It was formed with five islands.Like a waste disposal center, it accepted prisoners who were on death row, slaves …It was more like a demon-nurturing vessel and a colosseum. To survive there, one had to run and fight nonstop.It was a compulsory stage of experience for every special agent in the world.According to the rules, the first-round candidates would be sent to the four surrounding islands randomly. There, they would start their wildlife survival game.Ninety percent of the candidates would be eliminated within three months. The remaining candidates would be sent to the main island, where the top three candidates would battle their way out of it.After passing the test, those three people would be sold off at a high price.They could become a senior security guard at the national defense, a special agent of a secret organization, or a skillful assassin in a mercenary organization.Olivia knew that most of the winnin