A Love Too Deep, A Fate Too Short

But I had forgotten—back when she was eighteen, Olivia had once loved someone with a burning intensity.

My uncle hadn’t been wrong: Olivia really had been introduced to Eric by the family.

They’d put it delicately at the time.

They said Olivia was withdrawn, had just transferred back from abroad, and might not adjust well. They wanted to find her a friend to keep her company.

No one knew her true identity.

But Eric, drawn by her beautiful face, had pursued her anyway.

Back then, Eric was the proud, arrogant eldest son of the Smith family, the star athlete of the entire high school.

He was like a blazing flame, wrapping Olivia in his heat.

And so easily, he melted through her icy shell.

The two of them fell madly in love, inseparable.

At the height of their passion, Olivia defied her family and had Eric’s name tattooed on her collarbone.

They promised each other that after graduation, they would get married.

Olivia was full of hope, even painstakingly preparing a grand proposal.

But when she went to find Eric, she discovered him with another woman in his arms.

Outraged, Olivia confronted him, only to be slapped hard across the face.

Pointing at her, Eric sneered,

“Olivia, it was just for fun. You didn’t really think it meant something, did you?”

“Look at yourself—besides being pretty, what do you have that’s special?”

“I’ve been bored of that face for a long time. If you know what’s good for you, get lost!”

Her pride as a young woman was shattered.

Her true feelings, crushed.

Olivia fell ill from the blow, murmuring his name even in her feverish dreams.

The entire Smith household dismissed the affair as nothing.

Only when the White family stormed over demanding answers did everyone realize—this delicate, beautiful girl was not just a pretty face. She was the only daughter of the White family, heir to the White Corporation.

Her family had deliberately hidden her identity, hoping she’d toughen up outside.

No one had expected her first taste of love to cause such a disaster.

My parents panicked.

They feared Eric would be implicated, so they hurriedly sent him abroad overnight—and pushed me forward in his place.

I still remember—it was my birthday.

For the first time in her life, my mother baked me a homemade birthday cake.

She smiled at me and said, “Daniel, you’re the older brother. You have to help your little brother.”

“Eric is still young. His whole life can’t be ruined because of Olivia.”

As a child, I had no power or courage to resist my family.

And so, on my birthday, I was tied with a bow like a gift and delivered to the Whites—to Olivia.

Olivia hated me. Hated the Smiths. Hated anything connected to Eric.

She called me worthless.

Threw vases at me, telling me to get out.

She mocked me as a fool, saying my eyes looked just as hateful as Eric’s.

But no matter how she treated me, I gritted my teeth and stayed by her side.

Until one day, Olivia saw Eric’s official photos online with another girl.

She was silent for a long time, then began drinking, glass after glass.

Drunk and reckless, she dragged me along for a joyride.

And as expected, it ended in a car accident.

The moment before the car exploded, I pulled Olivia out.

My own back was shredded and burned by the blast.