Chapter 244

Gillian stood there silently for a while. Then, she returned to her room and sat in her chair in a daze.

She suddenly remembered an incident from her youth.

At that time. Olivia had just arrived in the Smith family.

When Olivia wanted to learn how to play the violin, Grandpa arranged a teacher for her. Gillian was envious and requested to learn how to play the violin too.

The two of them learned under the same teacher together, but only Olivia was praised for her efforts.

At that time, Gillian thought that Olivia was playing better than her because Olivia had learned the basics before.

Therefore, Gillian doubled her efforts and practiced the violin twice, thrice, or four times more than Olivia did a day.

Initially, she was very optimistic. She believed that if she worked hard, she would definitely surpass Olivia.

However, the reality was harsh.

Gillian and Olivia were their teacher’s only two students. Therefore, Gillian naively believed she would soon surpass Olivia because she only compared herself to the latter.

However, when they went to participate in competitions, Gillian soon realized how huge the gap between her and Olivia was.

Olivia was like the most lustrous pearl, blooming with dazzling light.

Olivia got first place every time they competed, with her scores far ahead of those in second place. She would receive praise from all the judges.

On the other hand, Gillian could not even get third place.

Gillian had always thought that she would soon surpass Olivia. However, as she participated in more competitions and encountered more violinists, she realized that the difference between her and Olivia was like night and day.

Gillian had to surpass those in third place first, then second place, and countless other violinists better than her before she could compete with Olivia.

Gillian worked even harder. Her violin practice time was ten times that of Olivia’s. She did not even sleep.

or rest.

After all her hard work, she finally surpassed third place and reached second place. She was ranked just behind Olivia.

Unfortunately, that was where she hit a wall.

She would never be able to compare to Olivia.

During that period, Gillian felt despair. She felt powerless. Why were there geniuses in this world? They were like a vast mountain that she could not conquer before her.

This feeling was so terrifying that Gillian had nightmares every night.

She wanted Olivia to experience this feeling as well. She wanted the latter to share her past obsession and despair.

Therefore, Gillian inserted Doris Taylor, a sister who was outstanding in everything she did, into Olivia’s life.

Doris was beautiful, intelligent, and excelled in her studies. She studied at Maple Hills University and played the violin well. She also knew how to draw.

As for Olivia, she had only graduated from junior high school. Although she liked the violin, she was not as talented as her sister in playing the violin and was not as good at drawing. She was clumsy in 15.491 everything she did and was inferior to her sister in every way.

Gillian wanted to see how Olivia would face such inferiority.

The Taylor family was having dinner.

The entire family was there. Even Olivia’s brother and sister–in–law in town had returned to welcome their younger sister, Doris.

All of them praised Doris and ignored Olivia.

Their mother, Megan Taylor, said jokingly, “Back then, the two of them went to the teacher in town to learn the violin together. Doris played very well, but Olivia’s playing sounded like she was sawing wood.

It was so funny to watch.”

Their father, Julian Taylor, nodded in agreement. “Olivia is clumsy and untalented. She can’t hold a candle to Doris.”

Their older brother, Derek Taylor, chimed in, saying, “That’s right. Olivia and Doris are like polar opposites. Doris is good at everything, be it her studies, playing the violin, or drawing. As for Olivia, let alone playing the violin, she can’t even read well. She failed to get into high school. The difference between them is like night and day.”

Olivia listened as her family chatted while eating her favorite beef stew. She smiled innocently, without any sign of disappointment or jealousy.

Over the next few days, regardless of how much Olivia’s family belittled her and claimed that she was inferior to her sister, Olivia wore a bright smile on her face. She showed no trace of anger.

She worked diligently. Occasionally, she would study how to cook new dishes in her free time. She stayed in the kitchen all day long. She was covered in dust.

Gillian could not stand it anymore and pulled Olivia into her bedroom.

Gillian asked in disbelief, “What are you doing? Why aren’t you angry?”

Olivia was holding a sandwich she had freshly made in her hand. The sandwich looked appetizing.

Hearing Gillian’s question, Olivia was very puzzled. Her eyes widened as she asked, “Why should I be angry?”

Gillian stomped her feet in frustration. “They’re bad–mouthing about you. They’re belittling you all day long. They’re saying that you’re inferior to your sister and that you’re clumsy.”

Olivia blinked, her eyes clear and bright. She instructed, “Gillian, have a seat.”

She carefully placed the sandwich on the table and guided Gillian to sit on the bed. In a serious tone, Olivia said, “What control do I have over what others say? Their mouths are their own.”

Her eyes twinkled as she said this. She exuded a confident aura.

Even though she was dressed in rags and her face was dirty and covered in dust, she was still as dazzling as the sun.

Gillian was stunned and subconsciously took two steps back.

Then, she heard Olivia continue saying, “The only thing I can control is my own emotions.”

After saying this, Olivia beamed with joy.

“They can say whatever they want. I don’t care.”

Gillian shook her head in confusion. She questioned Olivia, saying, “Why don’t you study, learn the violin, and learn how to draw? You have to prove to them that you are capable!”

Olivia picked up the sandwich and showed it to Gillian. She said, “I make better sandwiches than them.

I want to make the best sandwich in the world.”

“What’s so good about making sandwiches?” Gillian angrily slapped away the sandwich in Olivia’s hand. Furious, she shouted, “All you talk about is sandwiches. You’ve already made hundreds of sandwiches. Haven’t you made enough? Doris is a university student. She knows how to play the violin and draw. As for you, you only know how to make sandwiches. Who would think highly of you?”

Olivia squatted down and picked up up at Gillian.

Olivia’s gaze was calm. She explained, “Gillian, what’s wrong with making sandwiches? I don’t think it’s a lowly profession. No one will look down on your profession if you do things masterfully. Why must I play the violin? Why must I draw? Those are what Doris likes. It’s what she’s good at, not me.

“Why should I be like her? I like making sandwiches, and I’ll continue to do so. Other people can say whatever they want. They can look down on me for all I care. I’ll do what I want.

“My resolve is as firm as boulders and mountains. It won’t waver. Other people just like to gossip. I don’t take what they say seriously at all.”

With that, Olivia pushed the door open and left.

After washing her hands, she continued to make more sandwiches.

Gillian was left alone in the room. She sat on the bed with a stunned expression.

Olivia’s powerful words echoed in her ears. “My resolve is as firm as boulders and mountains. It won’t waver.”

When Gillian heard Olivia say this, she could not help but tremble.

How could this be? Why didn’t Olivia care what others say about her?

Gillian returned to her room next door in a daze.

Ernesto was on the phone. When he turned around and saw Gillian, he hung up and said, “Something happened in Fesmuowana. I have to go over and will only return in about two weeks. Do you want to stay here?”

Gillian pondered for a moment and shook her head. “I’m going back to Mala.”

Ernesto raised his eyebrows quizzically.

Gillian explained, “Olivia has only been here for a short while. She has yet to experience the power of favoritism. Let her stay with her biased parents for a while first. Gradually, she will crumble under the weight of the bias she faces.”

Olivia was almost done making sandwiches.

She had suggested to her parents that she wanted to start a business in town.

Megan rejected her suggestion immediately. “Don’t you need capital to start a business? You don’t have any capital. We have used all our money to support Doris‘ studies. Doris will take her graduate entry test next year. We have to set aside money for that.”

After being rejected by her mother, Olivia was not angry. Instead, she explained gently, “Mom, I don’t need a lot of capital. Isn’t Derek running a barbecue business in the town? I can stay at Derek’s place and use his kitchen. After making sandwiches, I can sell them on a food truck.”

As Olivia said this, she held Megan’s hand.

Megan felt a little uncomfortable when her hand was suddenly held. She subconsciously wanted to pull her hand back.

Olivia’s hands were warm and slightly calloused. Her grip on Megan’s hand was gentle and delicate, as if she was caressing some precious treasure.

Megan could even sense that Olivia relied on her and respected her.

Megan’s heart softened.

She looked away but did not pull back her hand.

Olivia tilted her head and carefully sized up Megan’s slightly white sideburns. Her eyes glistened as she said, “Mom, I did some calculations. Doris‘ fee for graduate studies is affordable, but she’s playing the violin and taking drawing lessons. These are not insignificant expenses. It is too heavy a financial burden for you and Dad. I can run a small business to supplement our income.”

Megan still refused. “I don’t need your money. What if your business fails?”

“Mom.” Olivia’s gaze was gentle. Her fingertips caressed Megan’s thick and red knuckles. She said sadly, “I don’t want you to burden yourself anymore. Yesterday, when you returned from the fields, you couldn’t straighten your back. Also, you can’t straighten your fingers.”

Megan was stunned. She subconsciously lowered her head and looked at her own hands.

Although Ernesto hired her to play the role of Olivia’s mother, she was a real farmer. Derek and Doris were indeed her children. It was just that she had to pretend that Olivia was also her child now.

Every day, Megan still had to work in the fields.

To her surprise, something that even her children had overlooked was noticed by this pretend daughter of hers.

Megan was touched. She did not know how to reject Olivia’s kindness.

In the end, Julian ended their conversation by saying, “I’ll discuss it with your mother and tell you our decision tomorrow.”

After Olivia left, Julian immediately contacted Stefan next door to report this.

15:49 Stefan said, “It’s alright. Let her do as she wants.”

Julian bowed and acknowledged. “Understood.”

After Julian hung up the phone, Megan frowned and asked, “What are the true intentions of these people? Will they hurt Olivia?”

Julian glanced at her. “What’s wrong? Have you actually accepted Olivia as our own daughter?”

Megan sighed. “Haven’t you noticed how adorable Olivia is and how nice she is to the two of us? She wakes up early daily to make breakfast and drinks for us to take to the fields. She makes sure to keep our meals fresh.”

Honestly, even her real daughter did not dote on her so much.

Julian and Megan had to go to the fields early before the sun rose. Usually, they went to the fields at three in the morning. They didn’t have time to make breakfast at all. They ate whatever they had from the previous night to keep themselves full.

Julian puffed his cigarette and said helplessly, “We can’t get too involved with Olivia. We can only try our best to protect her from a distance.”

“I know.” Megan felt terrible.

After getting Julian’s and Megan’s approval, Olivia brought the recipes she had developed and headed into town.

In the morning, the business in the barbecue restaurant was slow. Derek and his wife, Stella, were preparing the day’s ingredients together.

Stella was unhappy. “What are your parents thinking? Why did they send Olivia over to us?”

Derek muttered as he diced the vegetables, “Olivia wanted to come on her own accord.”

Stella slammed the onion in her hand onto the chopping board, complaining, “It’s weird enough to bring Olivia to the farm. Now, you guys even brought her to town. Other people might suspect us of human trafficking. In my opinion, your parents have gone too far. How could they do such a thing? They’re conspiring with others to deceive Olivia. They do not have a conscience!”

Derek frowned. “Stop talking. If we didn’t take this job, others would have done so. At least they’re paying us well. Doris is taking drawing lessons. She needs a lot of money to buy art supplies.”

Stella was curious. “I wonder what those people are scheming.”

“Stop speculating.” Derek placed the chopped ingredients in a box. “Olivia will be here soon.”

“What nonsense is this girl getting herself into?” Stella pouted. “She actually plans to sell sandwiches.

Are you kidding me? When Olivia first came to us, she couldn’t even make toast. It’s only been a few days, but she plans to sell sandwiches. Let’s pray that she doesn’t lose money from this.”

“Why do you care?” Derek frowned. “We’re not the ones paying for this anyway.”

When Olivia arrived, it was almost noon. Many customers were eating in the restaurant.

Olivia put down her things and began to help around the restaurant.

Stella looked at her while handling the cashier.

She thought to herself, “This girl is quite capable. She’s not a bad person.”

After lunch, Olivia went to buy ingredients for making sandwiches. She also took a walk around town.

After getting everything she needed, she returned to the restaurant and organized them nicely. Stella pursed her lips and muttered to Derek, “She got all the equipment she needs, but I doubt she’ll be able to sell her sandwiches. It’s summer now, and schools are on break. Let’s see who she sells the sandwiches to.”

Olivia’s cutting skills were not bad. After deciding on what to sell, she streamlined her workflow to make sandwiches efficiently.

She was at the stage where she could make sandwiches nice and fast without much difficulty.

Olivia woke up at three in the morning and finished her preparations by six.

By the time she was preparing to leave, Stella and Derek had just woken up.

When Stella saw Olivia moving things onto her food truck, she pretended to ask, “Do you need any help?”

Olivia shook her head. “Thank you, Stella. I’ve already loaded everything. There’s a plate of sandwiches in the kitchen. You and Derek can have them for breakfast.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to do so. Although Stella said that, she headed straight into the kitchen.

She picked up a meat sandwich.

She took a bite and swallowed it. It was so delicious that she almost devoured her tongue.

She thought, “Oh my god! What kind of godly sandwich is this? It is so delicious.”

The bread was soft and tender. The texture was just right.

The filling was even better. The juices from the meat seeped into the bread. There was not much meat, but it was incredibly fresh, tender, and tasty.

Stella ate five bite–sized sandwiches in one go and burped.

She would have eaten the remaining three sandwiches if not for her tiny stomach.

When Derek woke up, he saw his wife sitting on a stool, staring at the sandwiches in a daze.

“What are you looking at?” he asked.

Stella slowly raised her head. “Could it be that Olivia used to be the King of Sandwiches?” Derek was speechless.

What nonsense was Stella spouting so early in the morning?

3:3