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Olivia’s expression softened. "I knew you still loved me," she whispered. "You don’t care about Ellie, do you?"
Sawyer shook his head. "Obviously not. She was just a woman I picked up off the street. You’re the one I’ve spent my life with. How could you think I’d ever choose her over you?"
A victorious smile spread across Olivia’s lips as she turned to Jack and Jessica. "See? This is love. You two should learn from it. I’m your only daughter. How could you even think of throwing me out?"
Jack's fists clenched, but before he could explode, Sawyer gently pushed Olivia toward the door. "Go on," he urged. "Let me handle things."
"Alright then." Olivia smirked and walked out, confidence dripping from her posture.
As soon as the door shut behind her, Jessica whirled on Sawyer, fury blazing in her eyes. "You’ve disappointed me, Sawyer," she spat. "How could you even think of letting this go?"
"One minute, Mrs. Whitlock," Sawyer said quickly, holding up a hand to quiet her. He turned to the maid. "Karen."
Karen stepped forward.
"Make sure Olivia gets in her car and leaves. Then lock the doors."
Karen nodded and disappeared.
The moment they were alone, Sawyer turned back to Jessica and Jack, gripping their arms and steering them toward the couch. "We need to talk. Now."
Jessica and Jack exchanged a look, confused.
Sawyer took a steadying breath, lowering himself onto his knees in front of them. His voice was low but urgent. "Listen to me carefully—and keep an open mind."
Jessica’s heart pounded in her chest. "What’s going on?"
Sawyer didn’t waste time. He knelt on the floor in front of them, his voice grave. "That’s not Olivia."
Jessica’s breath caught. "What?"
Jack frowned. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Sawyer reached into his jacket and pulled out a file, handing it to them. "I did a DNA test. She’s not your daughter. She’s someone else. Possibly that friend Olivia had—the one who was always jealous of her. Do you remember Kelly Jones?"
Jessica’s face paled as realization dawned. Jack’s hands tightened around the file. As Sawyer explained further, Jack and Jessica’s expressions darkened, grief mixing with rage.
"Where is our Olivia then?" Jessica’s voice broke as she grabbed Sawyer’s hands in desperation. "My Olivia. Where’s my daughter?"
Sawyer’s face was pained as he swallowed hard. His voice came out hoarse.
"She… she probably died that day in the fire, Mrs. Whitlock."
The room turned deathly silent. Then—
Jessica let out a shattered cry, her body trembling as she covered her face. Jack’s breathing turned ragged, his hands shaking at his sides.
Deep down, a part of them had always known. The Olivia they had brought home had never been the same person as their daughter.
They had suspected, but never thought of confirming it, assuming Olivia was just traumatized and will recover soon. And now, with Sawyer’s words, their world came crashing down.
Jack’s hands shook as he suddenly shot to his feet. His face twisted in rage, his entire body trembling.
"I’m going to kill her," he growled. "She stole our daughter’s life—she must have had something to do with Olivia’s death! I’ll make her confess!"
He turned toward the door, ready to storm out, but Sawyer caught his arm, stopping him in his tracks.
"Jack," Sawyer said sharply. "Think. We need to do this the right way."