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The rest of the house was filled with pictures—family portraits, framed memories—but Olivia’s bedroom was eerily bare. No childhood photos, no graduation pictures, no smiling faces from the past. The room was a blank white canvas, like someone had splattered paint across it without any real shape or form.
It was unsettling.
"I'm so tired," a voice suddenly complained from outside.
Ellie’s heart leaped into her throat. She quickly slipped behind the door just as two maids passed by, speaking in hushed voices.
“I don’t understand what’s wrong with Ms. Olivia,” one of them said, her voice laced with sadness. “I miss the old her. She was sweet, kind—she never spoke harshly to anyone. But now, she’s changed so much that we can’t even breathe around her.”
The other maid, older and wearier, sighed. "Yesterday, she hit Sara just because the water was a little too hot. Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock were furious. They scolded her so badly."
"They've never treated us badly," the first maid said, shaking her head. "And Olivia, three years ago, was raised just like them—kind, respectful. But ever since the fire... everything changed."
"Yeah. Even when she’s here, it doesn’t feel like it’s really Miss Olivia. It’s so weird."
Their voices faded as they disappeared down the corridor.
Ellie exhaled softly, emerging from her hiding place and slipping out of the room. She cautiously made her way toward the main hall. Seeing no one around, she quickly looked through the house, studying the decorations and the framed pictures scattered across the side tables.
A large framed picture caught her attention.
It was of a sophisticated couple. The man had white hair and wore simple clothes, while the woman was dressed in expensive designer wear, adorned with high-fashion jewelry. Despite their differences in style, they looked good together.
Ellie scoffed under her breath. "Can’t believe Olivia came from them. They actually look nice."
But before she could turn away, a sudden, sharp pain stabbed through her head.
Her vision blurred. Her eyes burned with tears.
Why...?
A strange, painful throbbing took over her chest, making it hard to breathe. Her heart pounded erratically as an inexplicable sorrow filled her.
Shaking off the feeling, she turned away, but the sense of familiarity only deepened. It was as if she had been here before—like these walls, these faces, were embedded somewhere deep inside her.
Her phone suddenly rang, the loud sound making her jump.
Shit, shit, shit.
Panicking, she cut the call immediately and turned on her heel, dashing out of the hall. She had to leave. Now.
But just as she was about to reach the exit, she collided straight into someone.
The woman gasped, grabbing Ellie’s arm in a tight grip.
"Olivia?!"
Chapter 16 The Real One
Ellie froze.
The woman’s were eyes filled with tears as she pulled Ellie closer, turning her around to get a better look at her face.
A man rushed in at the sound of her cry, his voice firm yet calm. "Jessica, what are you doing?" He was the same man from the picture. Olivia’s father. "Let the girl go. She is not our daughter."
Jessica’s teary eyes remained locked on Ellie’s face, searching for something. Then, after a long moment, she blinked and stepped back, releasing her grip. “I… I’m sorry,” she stammered, her voice shaking. "I don’t know why I did that."
Ellie’s heart pounded harder, the pain in her chest intensifying.