The Red Roses Before the Grave

Buffy was the kitten Giselle raised. Once upon a time, Olivia’s biggest wish was to raise a cat with Luca, but that dream had never come true since Luca was allergic to cat fur.

He had always claimed he did not like small animals, yet he adored Giselle’s kitten.

Just like tonight. If Buffy was truly sick, wouldn’t a vet be the best solution? Why did Giselle need him instead?

This was not the first time they had fought over this. But each time, the argument ended with Olivia swallowing her pride, apologizing and admitting she had been unreasonable.

But tonight, the nausea still had not faded and she did not have the energy to care about these petty matters anymore.

She rushed into the bathroom, rinsing her mouth over and over before she could breathe properly again.

When she finally looked up, she stared blankly at her own reflection in the mirror.

Years in the industry had taken their toll. To maintain her on-screen image, she had lost so much weight that doctors warned it was dangerous.

If not for her love for Luca, she would have pursued her management degree, graduated and returned home to take over her parents' company.

Her phone vibrated. It was a message from her agent, Yeva.

[The new drama starts filming next month. How’s your preparation going? I know you've been working hard for this role. Feeling confident it'll be a hit?]

If her past life was any indication, within the next two days, Luca would ask her to give up this role.

Olivia hesitated for a moment before typing a response.

[Yeva, if I suddenly disappear one day, would it cause a lot of trouble?]

Almost instantly, Yeva sent a string of voice messages.

"What kind of nonsense are you talking about, silly girl? If you disappear, what do you think will happen to me?"

"Have you been under too much stress lately? Don’t let it eat away at you."

"You're still so young. You’ve already done such amazing films, won so many awards. You have a brilliant future ahead. Why would you even think about disappearing?"

Olivia knew the weight of her choices. If she disappeared, a lot of people would be affected. But it was the only way she could think of to free herself from Luca.

She sent a few reassuring messages to Yeva before collapsing onto her bed.

For the first time in a long while, she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

It was not until the smart home system chimed to alert her of food delivery that she finally stirred awake.

She blinked awake, groggy from sleep and shuffled toward the door. The moment she opened it, a delicate little cake greeted her.

Beside it lay a handwritten note.

Luca’s familiar script filled the page. The message was predictable. It must be an apology for leaving in a rush last night and a promise to visit that afternoon to "discuss something important."

Luca knew she had a weakness for sweets. Every time he needed to smooth things over, he sent her a cake.

But this was not just an apology. It was a preemptive strike.

Olivia let out a quiet, bitter laugh. Without hesitation, she picked up the cake and tossed it straight into the trash. The note was torn into irreparable pieces.

She already knew why Luca had come to persuade her to give up the lead role in the new drama.

That afternoon, he arrived right on time, just as she expected. In his hands was a bouquet of deep red roses. Her favorite.

Olivia lay on the sofa, idly flipping through a book. Without looking up, she asked, "What is it?"

Luca set the flowers on the coffee table, flashing a gentle smile.

"What's wrong? Still upset?"

Her voice was steady, indifferent. "No."

Unbothered, he crouched beside her, closing the distance between them. With an easy familiarity, he plucked the book from her hands.

"Olivia, I want to discuss something with you."

Olivia gave a small nod.

Luca continued, "Well, Giselle wants the lead role in your upcoming drama. Can you let her have it?"

As if sensing resistance, he quickly added the real bargaining chip before she could respond.

"Olivia, if you step aside and let Giselle take the role, I’ll seriously consider marrying you."