At that moment, Olivia asked if Natasha still remembered Emilia.
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What cto Natasha’s mind first was the last look before her death-a glance that, for a brief second, almost
felt like the smile in the painting.
Olivia's sharp fingernail traced lightly across Natasha's stiff cheek without leaving a mark.
She said coldly, “Why are you still alive? The Clark family only needs one daughter. Back when you weren't
around, everything was just fine.”
Olivia's voice was low, like a release of resentment, yet also like a vow. She said, “Natasha, anyone in this world
can live well-except you.”
Downstairs, the two had gone too long to get the gift, and the Clarks kept glancing toward the
staircase.
Madeline looked hesitant, asking, “Natasha has a bad temper. You don’t think they're fighting, do you?”
Andrew stayed seated, fairly composed. “Not today. She won't make a scene. Relax.”
The most impatient one, Noel, spoke with annoyance. “I'll go check.” He was about to head upstairs.
Thomas stopped him. “If something really is going on, you'll only make it worse. I'll go.”
Letting those two firecrackers be in the sroom was risky enough-Thomas feared they'd blow the roof off.
Neither of them was ever any trouble-free.
By the tThomas reached the second floor, he heard Olivia's urgent, pained voice coming from a room.
“Please! Don’t!”
Then cthe sound of something hitting the floor.
Thomas froze for a second before quickly rushing toward the noise. The others downstairs heard it too and
hurried after him.
Inside the room, Thomas opened the door to see Natasha standing across from Olivia.
On the floor lay a dagger-a army knife encrusted with small diamonds that Thomas had once given Natasha.
Back then, Natasha had been especially into fighting and self-defense, After the whole kidnapping mix-up,
Thomas, though often annoyed with her, still thought it was a good idea for a girl to have sway to protect
herself.
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Even if she hurt someone, the Clarks could handle it. Better the other person got hurt than
Natasha.
So on her birthday—though they didn’t celebrate—Thomas had secretly given her that knife.
Natasha had been genuinely thrilled, treasuring it ever since and never letting anyone touch it.
Now it was on the floor. Across from her, Olivia clutched a painting with a slash through it, tears filling her red
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇteyes.
Without thinking, Thomas strode over, stepping across the knife, and steadied the tilting painting for Olivia.
“Natasha! What the hell are you doing?”
By now, the rest of the family had arrived, all staring at the scene in confusion.
Usually soft-spoken, Olivia raised her voice for once, clearly heartbroken. “Natasha! | know you hate that Mom
and Dad gave Grandma's house to me. But if you wanted it, | could have given it to
you.
“You burned it down without saying a word. If you have a problem, take it out on me-why destroy my mom'’s
painting? She was so good to you when she was alive. Can't you show her even a little respect now that she’s
gone?”
The evidence was right there, and Olivia's sobs made her sound even more convincing. Anyone would think
Natasha had done it on purpose for revenge.
Damaging a deceased person's portrait-this teven Madeline couldn't hold back. She hit Natasha, eyes red.
“Apologize to your sister.”
Natasha's lashes lowered. “I didn't do it.”
Standing behind her to block any escape, Noel scoffed. “If it wasn’t you, then who? You two were the only ones in
here.”
Noel went on, still indignant. “Do you know how much effort Olivia put into that painting? She started with
nothing, learning from scratch, ruining draft after draft. So many times I'd cout for a drink while gaming late
at night and see her light still on, painting.
‘Aunt Emilia loved beautiful portraits. This was what she planned to bring for her today. You've already caused
her death, and now you're picking on her daughter.”
Madeline clutched her chest, raising her voice. “Apologize!”
Back when Natasha was little, Emilia had doted on her even more than on Olivia.
‘How could | face her in the afterlife now?’ Madeline thought, owing Emilia too much.
Meanwhile, Andrew and Thomas both looked at Natasha with the sunspoken judgment.
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With no cameras in the room, of course they would trust the sweet, obedient older daughter they'd
lived with for years.
Natasha pressed her lips together. Olivia, no matter what arguments they had, had always been careful when it
cto her mother.
So Natasha had never expected she’d ruin her own mother’s portrait just to frher.
That was why, when Olivia said she was going to get something to give to Emilia, Natasha hadn't thought
recording anything.
There was no proof. Even if there were, maybe it wouldn't matter.
The Clark family stood around her, just like the day she woke up and they coldly told her they'd be taking Olivia
in as her real sister from now on.
She had to give in to Olivia, respect her-because she owed her.
Emilia’s death was the shackle, built just for Natasha.
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She held her back straight, silent.
Because of this, the atmosphere during this year’s visit to Emilia’s grave was even heavier than usual.
By the tthey arrived at the cemetery, a light drizzle had started, with the rain growing heavier.
They stood under umbrellas before Emilia’s gravestone. Olivia placed a bouquet of her mother’s favorite lilies on
the grave.
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Olivia even comforted the family, saying that by then her skills would be better, and maybe her mom would be
even happier.
Her words only made the Clarks feel more guilty and even less patient with Natasha.
“Apologize, Andrew said coldly once the service ended, his eyes on the silent Natasha.
This was the woman who had died because of her Looking at the rain-washed photo of the gravestone, Natasha
didn’t resist this time.
She dropped to her knees in front of the grave and said sorry to Emilia
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Chapter 30
Soon, her knees hit the wet ground, the chill quickly soaking through.
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Andrew continued, “We're not asking
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daughter, byt ya dn Be ungrateful.
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“You don’t even have the courage to admit your mistakes. Can you face your aunt like this? Today, you'll repent
to her right here.”
The family’s accusations fell on her one after another. And the rain grew heavier, wind driving it into her face,
the umbrellas doing little to help.
It was so cold that Natasha felt like she had never left the storm of that day when she was six.
Olivia eventually persuaded the family to head back to the car. The two of them stayed-one kneeling, one
standing-before Emilia’s grave.
After a long silence, Olivia finally spoke. “You know, when | was little, | actually envied you.”
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