For Olivia, the morning went great, as usual — at least she didn't miss the "great devil's" class. She had breakfast with her friends, excluding Tommie, because she had a class. It didn't take long for 2 p.m. to arrive, and by that time, Olivia was already at the entrance of the mansion.
She could already see people moving things in and out of the mansion. The couches had been changed, the curtains removed — the whole mansion looked brand new.
Looks like the preparation has really started, Olivia thought as she entered the mansion. She saw her mother-in-law sitting with someone wearing white overalls.
"Good afternoon, madam," Olivia greeted Skyler after entering.
"You're back. Drop your bag in the room and get back downstairs," Skyler instructed, as she continued talking with the man who looked like a doctor.
After receiving the instructions, Olivia made her way upstairs, wondering why she hadn't seen Vivian with her mother-in-law. Without much ado, she dropped her bag, freshened up, and made her way downstairs.
"This is Mr. Benson. He's here to take your blood sample," Skyler said, after spotting Olivia coming down the stairs.
My blood sample — is this part of the preparation? Olivia wondered, walking to the front of the doctor.
"You can have a seat, ma'am," the doctor said. "Please stretch out your arm — I'm going to draw your blood now," he continued.
After drawing her blood, the doctor said a few things to Skyler and walked out of the house. Still wondering why her blood needed to be drawn, Olivia heard her mother-in-law's voice.
"Clear your schedule. You'll follow me to an IQ expert tomorrow morning. Also, Vivian will pick you up in the next ten minutes, and you'll go clothes shopping with her."
At the end of her words, Skyler made her way out of the house, a maid following behind her.
Looks like my mother-in-law isn't happy with the way I dress. But what's with the IQ expert? Olivia asked herself.
At exactly ten minutes, Vivian walked into the mansion.
"Mother said I should take you shopping," she said, looking at Olivia with disgust.
"Hmm," Olivia nodded.
"I can't believe I have to take a grown adult shopping… umphhh… what a country bumpkin," Vivian said, moving toward the door.
Olivia had known Vivian didn't like her from the first day they met, but what was with the "country bumpkin"? I was born in the city, once part of wealthy society — maybe not as wealthy as the Bradfords, but still reputable in society, Olivia mused, though she couldn't say this out loud.
She made her way outside with Vivian and got into the car.
"Who do you think you are, sitting with me in the back seat? Do you really think you're the second young miss?" Vivian said to Olivia, who was making her way to the back seat of the car.
"Don't be delusional — the second Bradford can't like you. He can only like my sister… you'd better get that straight," Vivian said, contempt in her voice.
So that's the issue. I'll be glad if the so-called second Bradford likes your sister and frees me from this marriage, Olivia reflected as she made her way to the front seat, next to the driver.
The car drove for about an hour before it stopped in front of a large and private shopping mall. As soon as it stopped, a row of attendants lined up on both sides of the entrance.
"Welcome to Mallios Mall, Mrs. Bradford," they said in unison, heads bowed, as soon as Vivian got out of the car.
Vivian stepped out with so much happiness on her face, as if she really were Mrs. Bradford.
I thought she was fighting for her sister, Olivia thought wryly as she got out of the car. She wasn't surprised the attendants assumed a Bradford was inside — the car used today was one exclusively reserved for Bradford family members, the only type of its kind in the whole of Country Z.
Once Vivian was out, she strutted into the mall with her shoulders held high, like a peacock, ignoring the real Mrs. Bradford — the actual reason the car had been sent.
Olivia followed behind her without much concern, mostly wanting to get the day's shopping over with.
"Give me all the latest clothes you have in your collection," Vivian said as soon as she was seated in the mall.
Immediately, all the attendants got busy piling up clothes in front of Vivian.
"You — go try them on and let me see," Vivian said to Olivia in an authoritative tone.
"I don't need to try them on. Just give me the smallest size you have," Olivia said to the attendant, picking some clothes up.
"I told you to try them on. Mother said I'm in charge of your shopping today… are you trying to disobey her?!" Vivian shouted at Olivia.
"Alright, I'll try them on," Olivia responded, standing up from the chair and making her way into the dressing room with the clothes.
After a while, she came out wearing a beautiful backless black gown with a slit up to the knee. The gown accentuated her figure beautifully, giving her a glow of nobility and elegance. It also let her flaunt her long, pale legs with ease. Her red hair made everything better too, complementing her milky white skin.
"Wow," all the attendants exclaimed.
"Does this look nice?" Olivia asked Vivian, her voice serious.
"No, it doesn't. Remove anything backless. Also remove anything tight-fitting," Vivian said to the attendant, her voice sharp with anger. "Lastly, make sure everything is long and has no slit," she finished in one breath.
"Are you sure you're not doing too much?" Olivia asked her seriously. She didn't want to cross paths with anyone, but she wasn't going to just sit there while some random woman controlled her life and her wardrobe. Besides, she didn't even see herself as her sister's rival, since she had no interest in the marriage or in the second Bradford.
"I'm in charge here. So keep quiet." At this point, Vivian had lost her cool and shouted at the top of her voice.
"Oh, dear Vivian, what's wrong?" Suddenly, a deep and soothing male voice sounded behind Olivia.