A Love Too Deep, A Fate Too Short

At the engagement banquet, Mrs. Smith placed my favorite sweet and sour ribs in front of my younger brother.

She gave him a meaningful smile and said, “Eric, you’ve always had this habit, haven’t you? From childhood to now, you’ve liked to get ahead of your brother in everything.”

“But why is it that when it comes to something as big as marriage, you’re willing to come second?”

Eric Smith picked up the last rib and, with a provocative look, dropped it into my fiancée’s bowl.

“We’re not married yet, are we? Who knows who’ll end up first.”

Several uncles and aunts joined in with my father, talking and laughing.

They said Olivia White had originally been introduced to Eric by the family.

That I was shameless, that I had schemed to steal my brother’s girlfriend.

I was about to explode in anger when the woman at my side suddenly pressed down on my hand.

The next second, the entire table was overturned.

Soup and sauces splashed everywhere, covering the room.

The private dining room fell into a stunned silence.

Everyone stared at Olivia White in shock, unable to utter a word.

Only Eric slammed his chopsticks on the table and glared at her furiously.

“Olivia, what the hell do you mean by this?”

Olivia kept her face cold, stepping directly in front of me to shield me.

“It doesn’t mean anything. I’m just standing up for the man I love.”

“All these years, I’ve seen what kind of life Daniel has had in the Smith family.”

“I’ve never cared to associate with people like you, and I only came here today out of respect for him.”

“But if you dare bully my fiancé like this, don’t blame me for being rude!”

The White family was wealthy and powerful, and Olivia herself had immense resources.

These people dared to point fingers at me, calling me shameless.

But none of them dared to offend Olivia or the White family behind her.

My mother quickly calmed Eric, then hurried over with a forced smile to smooth things over.

“That’s not what we meant. We’re all family—eating together, joking around. It was just a joke, don’t take it to heart…”

Just as the atmosphere was starting to ease, Eric suddenly stood up and strode toward Olivia.

With a cold laugh, he splashed red wine across her face.

Then he yanked open her blouse and ran his finger across the faded tattoo on her collarbone.

His eyes gleamed with the mockery of someone convinced of his superiority.

“Say whatever you like, but the truth is, the only reason you’re with Daniel is to get back at me for dumping you.”

“Let me tell you, I’m not falling for it. Ten years ago, I didn’t want you. Ten years later, I still don’t!”

“You think parading around with this loser will scare me? Keep dreaming!”

With that, Eric shot me a scornful glare and stormed out of the room.

When his sneering voice faded away, only Olivia’s heavy, angry breathing filled the silence.

Everyone else held their breath, too afraid to move.

I didn’t hesitate any longer—I grabbed Olivia’s hand and led her outside.

In the dim light of the parking lot, Olivia suddenly lifted her head, her eyes unreadable in the shadows.

“Daniel, do you also think I’m only with you out of spite, just to get back at Eric?”

“Of course not.” I answered without hesitation.

Ten years.

Countless days and nights spent side by side.

So many moments of hardship and joy shared together.

How could I doubt Olivia’s sincerity because of a few poisonous words from Eric?

And yet, when I saw her absentmindedly rubbing at her wound, my heart still trembled.

Ten years had made me used to this quiet, reserved Olivia.