Disgraced Heiress: Now They Want Me Back

It's been five years since my fiance, Isaac Goodwin, and my own brother, Wade Cafferty, banished me to the slums. Now, they've found me again and asked if I've learned my lesson. "Yes," I reply numbly with a nod. Back then, convinced I'd framed their first love, Renee Sablich, they joined forces to drive me away. They'd forgotten that I was Isaac's fiancee and Wade's sister. Now, I've learned my lesson. I've given up fighting back and chosen to obey them. Yet when I finally give in, Wade suddenly smashes his teacup. "You were never like this before!" he cries. Even Isaac, who once despised me, has tears in his eyes. "Please…" he begs. "I want the old you back, Olivia. The one who used to cry and throw tantrums." Chapter 1 Five years after Isaac Goodwin and Wade Cafferty banished me to the slums, they finally came looking for me. I was crouching beside a public faucet in a narrow alley, scrubbing an old bedsheet when a pair of polished dress shoes stepped into a puddle and stopped in front of me. I looked up and recognized the face immediately. It was my older brother, Wade Cafferty. Five years had done little to change his appearance, though his features looked sharper now. "Have you learned your lesson?" I lowered my head and looked at my red, swollen fingers. "Yes," I said softly. "I have." The knot between his brows eased, and the corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly. "Come home with me." I nodded and started gathering my things. As I turned, another figure emerged from the shadows around the corner. It was my fiance, Isaac Goodwin. So he had come, too. I hadn't seen him in five years. He seemed a little taller now, his features more defined and his jawline sharper. His gaze settled on my face. "Olivia, since you've admitted your mistake, you'll remain my fiancee from now on," he said, a complicated look in his eyes. "Our engagement still stands." I watched his lips move as his words slowly sank in. What he said sounded like something from another lifetime, but I simply nodded. "Okay." After all, there was nothing else I could say. After five years in the slums, I'd lost track of time. During the day, I wandered through the noisy, filthy streets, taking whatever odd jobs I could find in exchange for a meal. At night, I curled up in a drafty shack, listening to rats scurrying in the corners and drunkards howling in the distance. More often than not, I lay awake until dawn. Every last bit of life had been drained out of me, and whatever sharp edges I'd once had had long since been worn smooth. Wade's Rolls-Royce was parked at the entrance to the alley, its glossy black exterior gleaming in the light. Once we were on our way, the dilapidated houses and the stench of rotting garbage that seemed to hang in the air quickly faded into the distance. Outside the window, the scenery grew greener and more orderly as we left the slums behind. Eventually, the car stopped in front of the mansion I'd left five years ago. The iron gates swung open, revealing a lawn trimmed as neatly as a carpet. Almost everything looked just as I remembered it, yet somehow, nothing felt quite the same. When we entered the living room, the crystal chandelier bathed everything in brilliant light, and a faint floral fragrance lingered in the air. We'd barely stepped inside when a maid hurried over to greet us. "Sir, dinner is ready. Would you like it served now?" Wade nodded. Then, as though something had just occurred to him, he turned to me. "Olivia, we made all your favorite dishes tonight." He'd said it so casually, as if the past five years had been nothing more than a short walk around the block. One dish after another was brought to the table, each arranged so beautifully it looked like a work of art. Lobster, steak, truffles, caviar, and other delicacies filled the table. They reminded me of the food advertisements I'd occasionally come across near the garbage dumps during my five years in the slums. Even then, such luxuries had seemed to belong to a world I could never be part of. I sat down in silence. Isaac took the seat beside me. He picked up a napkin and spread it neatly across my lap, the gesture as familiar and effortless as it had once been. "Thank you," I sputtered, overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness. "Thank you so much." Then I hastily reached for the fork he offered me. The moment our fingertips touched, memories of the past came rushing back. When was the last time someone had placed a napkin on my lap and handed me my cutlery like this? Was it five years ago, or even longer? I fell into a daze, and the fork slipped from my hand. It hit the floor with a sharp clatter and rolled twice before stopping beside Wade's polished shoes. The room fell silent. I froze. Then, almost instinctively, I crouched down to retrieve it as quickly as possible. In my haste, my knee struck the table leg with a dull thud, but I barely noticed the pain. All I felt was panic. I was terrified they'd send me back to the slums again. "I'm sorry," I mumbled, picking up the fork and clutching it tightly. "I didn't mean to." Both Wade and Isaac were staring at me. Their gazes lingered on my tightly clenched hand for several seconds, then Isaac finally spoke. "It's fine," he said, his voice giving nothing away. A maid silently brought me another fork. Throughout dinner, Isaac occasionally cut food into smaller pieces and placed them on my plate, just as easily and naturally as before. Each time, I quietly thanked him and did my best to finish everything on my plate. Chapter 2 Wade and I had grown up together in an orphanage before we were adopted by different families. He had been taken in by the wealthy Cafferty family. The couple who adopted me, however, had only wanted a free maid. I'd worked my hardest in school, earned a place at a prestigious university, and eventually landed a job at Cafferty Group after graduation. Back then, I'd been so naive. I genuinely believed that hard work could change everything. It was at Cafferty Group that I found the older brother I'd lost touch with years ago. The day our DNA test confirmed we were siblings, Wade pulled me into his arms and told me he'd finally found me. I cried, believing I'd finally found a family of my own. Later, I met Isaac, and we got engaged. For the first time, I thought all the hardship I'd endured was finally behind me. Then Renee Sablich came into our lives. She was the woman Wade had always cherished and the one Isaac could never forget. I discovered that she was stringing both men along, so I decided to teach her a lesson. Instead, she set me up. I was accused of leaking confidential business information and received a suspended sentence. A black sedan had taken me to the slums and dumped me there. Before driving away, the driver delivered one final message. "Mr. Cafferty says he doesn't have a heartless, ruthless sister like you. Don't ever come back." At first, I did try to start over. But with a criminal record, I couldn't even get an interview at a reputable company. My only option was a job at a factory in the middle of nowhere, where I was assigned the most exhausting work. One day, a machine on the assembly line malfunctioned, and the new worker beside it froze in panic. I rushed over to shut off the power. A moment later, searing pain shot through my hand. Two fingers were gone from my left hand. The factory claimed that I was only a temporary worker and wasn't covered by insurance. Then they fired me because my injury would affect my productivity. After that, all I could do was take whatever odd jobs I could find. Washing dishes, sweeping floors—I did anything that would pay. I had to stay alive, after all. "Olivia?" Isaac's voice pulled me back to the present. I looked up, realizing that both he and Wade were staring at me. At some point, I'd unconsciously clenched my left fist. "What happened to your hand?" Wade asked, his gaze piercing. I slipped my hand completely beneath the table and shook my head. "It's nothing." Isaac, however, suddenly reached across and gently took hold of my wrist. His hand was warm, while mine was cold. "Let me see," he whispered. I tried to pull away, but he wouldn't let go. Wade stood up and came around to my side of the table, then Isaac drew my hand into the light. It was painfully thin, with prominent knuckles and a layer of calluses across the skin. My left index and middle fingers were both missing, leaving behind uneven, deformed stumps. Silence enveloped the room. Isaac's hand trembled, and Wade's breathing grew ragged. Slowly, I pulled my hand free and tucked it beneath the table again. "It happened at a factory," I said evenly. "It was a long time ago." Neither of them said a word. "Why didn't you tell us?" Wade finally asked in a hoarse voice. "It's fine," I said, looking at him with a faint smile. "It's not a big deal. It doesn't stop me from working." I meant what I said. Losing two fingers made washing dishes a little slower, but I could still do it. Sweeping was more difficult, but I could manage that, too. In the slums, as long as you were still capable of surviving, nothing could really be considered a serious problem. Both men remained silent for a long time. In the end, neither of them said anything more. They simply turned and returned to their seats. … When I got back to my room, the maid had already drawn me a bath. The bathtub was enormous. Steam rose from the hot water as fresh flower petals floated across the surface. The moment I stepped in, the warmth enveloped me. I couldn't help letting out a long, relieved sigh. It felt wonderful to be warm and safe again. Over the past five years, I'd often shivered as I washed myself with icy water in filthy public restrooms. Compared to that, this felt like heaven. When it came to survival, dignity and pride meant nothing. Now, I finally understood. As long as I had clean water, a soft bed, and the security of knowing I wouldn't have to go hungry the next day, what did it matter if I had to admit I was wrong? What did it matter if I had to kneel and beg? The Olivia who would once rather die than give in was long gone. All that remained was someone who wanted to stay alive. After my bath, I walked to the window and pulled the curtains open just a little. The garden below was illuminated by the soft glow of the landscape lights, and Isaac's car was still parked where it had been. He stood beside it, a cigarette between his fingers. The tip glowed faintly in the darkness, brightening and dimming with each drag. I'd always hated the smell of cigarettes. Even a whiff was enough to make me cough. Whenever Isaac smoked, I'd pout, snatch the cigarette from his fingers, and stub it out. He would laugh, pinch my cheek, and say, "You really do love telling me what to do." Isaac kept looking up at my window. The moment he saw me part the curtains, he froze. Then, looking almost flustered, he quickly tossed his cigarette away. My phone rang, and I answered. "I'm sorry, Olivia," he said, his hesitant voice coming through the phone. "I won't smoke again." "It's fine," I said sincerely. "You can smoke if you want to." There were a few seconds of silence on the other end. "Didn't you used to hate it when I smoked?" he asked softly. My grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles turned pale. My mind raced as I wondered why he asked that question. Was he testing me? Or was he unhappy with how I'd reacted? "Back then…" I paused, softening my voice as I tried to appease him. "I was immature." Chapter 3 Silence stretched on the other end of the line. I licked my dry lips and continued, "I won't do it again, I promise. You can smoke whenever you want. Don't worry about me." As I spoke, my heart raced with fear. I was terrified of saying the wrong thing or reacting in a way that displeased them. What if they decided I still hadn't learned my lesson? What if they thought I was still the same person I'd been before? Then that black sedan would show up again, and I'd be dumped back in that alley that reeked of rotting garbage and mildew. There was no way I was going back there. "I really have learned my lesson," I added quickly. "Isaac, I promise I'll behave." Isaac's breathing grew noticeably heavier on the other end of the line. "Olivia…" He said my name, but the words that were supposed to follow seemed to catch in his throat. I waited a few seconds, yet he didn't say anything else. "I'm sleepy," I whispered. "Can I go to bed now?" "Go ahead," he finally said. I hung up, drew the curtains, and climbed back into bed. The mattress was incredibly soft, and the blanket felt light against my skin. I lay there with my eyes open, staring at the magnificent crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Everything here felt almost too good to be true. … When I woke up the next day, the sun was already shining brightly. I could hear faint voices coming from downstairs. As I descended the stairs, I caught a glimpse of the living room through the gaps in the railing. Wade was seated on the couch, facing a woman with curly hair and delicate features. She was wearing a long dress. It was Renee. My breath caught. Isaac was there, too. He sat on a separate couch nearby, his expression somewhat distant. Renee noticed me first. She set her cup down and smiled. "Olivia? Wade told me you were back. Welcome home!" she said, walking over to me. "It's been so many years, Olivia. You've lost so much weight." I met her gaze. Her beautiful eyes were filled with sympathy, as though she were looking at a stray kitten. "I'm fine," I replied. "Things will get better now," she said gently. "You're home again, and you'll have Wade and Isaac to look after you." Isaac set down his coffee cup and looked at me, his expression complicated. "Now that Olivia's back," he began quietly, silencing the entire room. "I think we should proceed with our wedding as soon as possible." "Isn't that a little soon?" Wade asked with a frown. "Yes, but Olivia has suffered so much over the past few years," Isaac said gently, his gaze settling on me. "I want to make it up to her as soon as I can." Wade fell silent for a moment. He looked at me, then at Renee, before letting out a sigh. "All right," he finally conceded. "I just hate to see Olivia leave me again." "This is wonderful news!" Renee exclaimed, her smile unwavering. "Olivia and Isaac have been engaged for ages. They've put the wedding off for long enough, and it's about time they got married. Wade, you should be happy for your sister." Wade merely hummed in acknowledgement. I stood there like an outsider, listening as they discussed my wedding as though I weren't even part of the conversation. "How about the 15th of next month?" Isaac suggested. "Isn't that a little rushed?" Renee asked softly. "There's so much to prepare for a wedding." "We have enough time," he replied firmly. They continued discussing the arrangements, from the engagement gifts and guest list to the venue. I heard what they said, but none of it really registered. "Olivia," Isaac suddenly called. "Do you have any preferences?" I turned to look at him. "Not really. You can all decide." Just then, Wade's gaze settled on the dress I was wearing. It was an old design from five years ago. "Why don't I take you shopping later?" he offered warmly. "I haven't bought you any new clothes in years." I tensed immediately. "There's no need," I said, waving him off. "I have enough clothes." Wade frowned. "Didn't you used to love shopping? You were always pestering me to take you, and we'd end up spending the whole day at the mall." I hesitated for a moment. "I was wrong back then," I said quietly. "I was immature and spent money carelessly." The living room fell silent. "Why don't we have the stores send everything over instead?" Isaac suggested. I looked up, unsure what he meant. "We can ask the sales associates at a few of your favorite boutiques to bring their latest collections over for you to choose from," Isaac explained casually. "That works, too," Wade agreed, nodding. "Pick out a few outfits, and look at some jewelry while you're at it." He reached out to ruffle my hair, just as he used to, but I recoiled before I even realized what I was doing. Chapter 4 Wade's hand froze midair, and the warmth in his expression vanished. "Olivia, are you still angry with me?" he asked, his voice turning cold. My heart skipped a beat. Fear took over, and I immediately lowered my head. "I'm sorry," I sputtered. "It's all my fault." Wade's voice sharpened. "Why won't you look at me when I'm talking to you?" "I…" I opened my mouth, struggling to find the right words. "I didn't mean to," I finally said. "I just…" To put it simply, I was used to it. In the slums, any sudden movement toward me could mean danger. The shoves from drunkards, the slaps from factory supervisors, and the unwelcome hands that crept toward me, testing how far they could go… "I'm sorry, Wade." I looked up at him and forced a smile, though I knew it must've looked awful. "I'm just not used to this yet. It won't happen again." Wade stared at me, his gaze unreadable. "Wade, you're scaring Olivia," Renee said gently, speaking up at just the right moment. "She's only just come home. She needs time to adjust." Isaac also rose from his seat and walked over to me. He didn't touch me but simply stood there, positioning himself between Wade and me. "Take it slowly," he said quietly. The tension in the room eased. Wade glanced at Isaac, then at me. "It's my fault for rushing things," he said at last. "Olivia, I'm not blaming you." "I know," I replied quickly. "I'm sorry." … Since coming home, I'd spent most of my time in my room and rarely went out. One day, a maid knocked on my door. "Ms. Nelisse, Ms. Sablich called. She'd like to meet you for coffee this afternoon." I immediately felt uneasy. My first instinct was to refuse, but I was afraid of upsetting Renee. I didn't want them to think I was ungrateful or had forgotten my place. We were meeting at a quiet cafe. The moment I walked in, I knew I shouldn't have come. Renee wasn't alone on the couch. Laura Quimby sat beside her, dressed in the latest designer clothes, her makeup flawless. She raised an eyebrow when she saw me enter, but she said nothing. "Olivia, you're here!" Renee exclaimed, smiling as she waved me over. "Come sit down. Laura happened to be nearby, so I invited her to join us." I took the single seat opposite them, trying to make myself as small as possible. Everyone in our social circle knew Laura had always been interested in Isaac. Five years ago, she'd gone out of her way to make things difficult for me more times than I could count. "I heard you're getting married to Isaac," Laura said bluntly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Olivia, you really know how to play your cards. You couldn't make it in the slums, so now you've come crawling back to cling to Isaac again?" I kept my head down and said nothing. "Laura, don't say that," Renee chided. "It's not like I'm wrong." Laura scoffed. "Everyone knows what happened back then. She was the one who did something shady, and then she turned around and accused you of it. Olivia, you've got some nerve showing your face around here again." I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "Oh, right!" Laura suddenly exclaimed, as though she'd just remembered something. "I heard your hand was ruined. You lost two fingers, didn't you?" she asked, clicking her tongue. "I guess that's karma." I jerked my head up. Laura was staring at me, her eyes full of disdain and smug satisfaction. Beside her, Renee sipped her coffee with effortless elegance, saying nothing. Suddenly, I felt utterly exhausted. I had spent five years hiding, afraid, and barely scraping by. Ever since I'd returned, every day had felt like walking a tightrope. I had to think carefully about every word before I dared to speak. I began to wonder if I'd endured all those years of suffering just to come back here and let them humiliate me, treating me as though I were worthless. Slowly, I unclenched my fists and looked at the two women before me. "Ms. Quimby, Ms. Sablich," I began, my voice so calm that it surprised even me. "I know neither of you wants me around." Laura paused, caught off guard by my bluntness. Renee set down her coffee cup and looked at me. "How about we make a deal?" I asked. "A deal?" Laura echoed, letting out a derisive laugh. "Yes." I nodded. "I'll sell the two of them to you." "What did you just say?" Laura demanded, as if she hadn't heard me correctly. "Wade and Isaac," I replied. "Ms. Quimby, you want Isaac, and Ms. Sablich, you want to be Mrs. Cafferty, don't you? I'll step aside, disappear completely, and never show my face again." Both women stared at me in disbelief. "It's a bargain, isn't it?" I continued with a smile. "2.5 million dollars each. Five million dollars in total. That's nothing to either of you, but it's enough for me to start over somewhere else. So, what do you say?" The moment the words left my mouth, the private room's door swung open. Wade and Isaac stood in the doorway, their faces drained of color. Shock and hurt were written all over their faces. A heavy silence fell over the room as I met their gazes. Neither of us said a word. "Olivia." Isaac finally spoke, his voice painfully hoarse. "What did you just say?"