Chapter 3: I Am Alive!

"Aunt! You are here."Leonard came running, giving Olivia a chance to breathe. Her face was red, and her breath was shallow. Olivia bent and hugged him tightly as if assuring herself that the worst had not come yet. "Happy birthday, Leonard." His soft hug was the only warmth in this cold life. "Do not worry, I will keep mum busy," he giggled and then held Oriana's hand. "Mother, I want strawberry pudding instead of apple pie. Look..." he dragged her away, but when Olivia looked back, the man was looking at her. She froze at her place. A cold feeling touched her neck, and sweat dripped over it. Damon had never looked at her in the past. Like he did not exist, she does not exist either. They are both just background to give her sister light. His eyes seem to be searching for something. "My lady, you look more beautiful day by day. May I have the honor of dancing with you?" Olivia did not hear who asked her for a dance. But to avoid his eyes, she placed her hand on the extended hand and nodded. She needed time to sort out her thoughts and make a plan. Taking three steps away, she finally noticed who the man was. "Count Efelentia!" her luck! It was worse than she had thought. The fat pig of a noble smiled at her without caring that his teeth had long turned black because of the drugs he took all day. "Lady Witherland! I have never thought that you would accept it readily. Are you finally finishing your hard-to-get game with me and accepting my favors!" the man grinned again without a care! Talk about confidence! "I apologize to my lord. But you are twice my age. And you have married twice already, too. " Olivia reminded him with a forced smile, but the man just snorted. "And you are an orphan, my lady. Did you not hear that old is gold? Since I have taken good care of my previous wives, I will take good care of you too." his hands pressed her waist tightly, er and she winced. How she wanted to push him away and run away. Yes, running away would be the best solution if she could take Leo and Abi with her. But Oriana would never let that happen! "You know my first wife was insincere and ill. She did not last long, so I was forced to marry ag, but my second wife was better. She was a smart woman like you and had a good upbringing. Alas, she also died while giving birth. But yo...." he stared at her hips and licked his lips, "you seem like you could give birth to an army without feeling tired at all. Furyry burned her chest. It took her all her strength to keep that smile on her face. "I may give birth to an army without getting tired, my lord. But I wonder if you still have the power to reproduce," she looked at his bottom just as he had assessed her, and then shook her head with pity. "I have something urgent to deal with, my lord. If you kindly let me go." She ignored his rage. If he wants to speak the truth, he must be prepared to hear one too. The song ended, and she had already bowed her head. But he kept holding her hand. She could push him away. But then, everyone would look at her. She did not have the time to deal with this mess. She needed to find Oriana and convince her somehow. Or she had to take the kids and run away. Breathi, het like a cold blade was dangling over her neck. It may fall every second, and she would be dead again. "You lowly wench! Do you think you would survive without your sister? A day out, and you would be raped and turned into a slave. You have no talent, no wealth,h ono r power. Without your sister! What are you? I am giving you a chance to start your own family, but you only want a slap by rejecting my kindness. Do you not?" He held her firmly, pressing her hard to hurt her. The next song started, and he did not let her go. So she could only continue. But she did not feel the pain coming from his fingers or his actions. Her mind rang with his words. He was right. She did not have a name, wealth, or power. Alone without money with two kids. She would die earlier than Damon would kill her. She was as pathetic as she had been in her previous life. Except for her sharp tongue, she had nothing. Looking at her pale face and dimmed eyes, the man smirked. A woman was nothing without a man. As long as she would learn this fact, she would accept him. She had a temper, but she was so gorgeous to let go. It would be thrilling to tame a wild horse like her. His eyes glowed with desire. "I am being kind to ask you instead of forcing you by asking your sister first, Olivia. Trust me, with my name and wealth, no one would ever look down on you. What do you say? Shall we go somewhere private and discuss this matter further?" The man grinned at her, sounding kind, as if all his actions were for her benefit. Olivia felt nauseated. But she knew that he would not let her go this easily. She needed an excuse. And a good excuse at that. Olivia struggled with her hands when she felt someone standing behind her. She froze at once because she knew this familiar smell of wet wood and soil. Damon! "Excuse me, my lord. My mother is calling for her sister."