Chapter 7 Homecoming

Olivia's POV: I listened as the roar of the airplane echoed in my ears while Rayne and I landed safely. This was my homeland. After five years, I had returned, bringing my son along and a burning desire for revenge. To avoid being recognized at the airport, I wore an oversized pair of sunglasses. My golden curls cascaded down my back. Before boarding the plane, I had carefully chosen a simple, understated white shirt and a pair of skinny jeans. Over these five years, I had kept up with my workouts, so even after having a child, I had maintained a great figure. Through my sunglasses, I noticed several people at the airport repeatedly glancing our way. Maybe Rayne is just too strikingly handsome, I thought. I reached into my pocket, pulled out a small pair of sunglasses, and knelt down to help Rayne put them on. I whispered in his ear, "Put them on. You're too handsome and might cause a traffic jam." Rayne nodded obediently. He always took my advice to heart; he was such a well-behaved kid. I then instructed Layla, "Our company will cease all dealings with Peter's company effective immediately. Remember, no matter what anyone from Peter's side says, ignore them." This was just the first step in my quest for revenge. After hanging up the phone, I patted Rayne's head. "Sweetie, I just spent a few billion acquiring a company, so you'll have to spend your dividend wisely. Save up until next month!" Rayne, dressed in a little suit and sporting a pretty face, looked at me with a puzzled expression. "Mommy, I don't understand. I didn't buy many toys—it's mommy who bought lots and lots of big cars for the garage." Alright, even though my Rayne was young, he seemed to know a lot about things. He even knew I had bought many cars. "Many? I don't think so. I just found that sports car too beautiful, and if I hadn't bought it, I wouldn't have been able to sleep all night." Before returning to the country, I had even bought another Chevrolet Corvette. I drove with Rayne to a villa owned by my good friend Sophina for a temporary stay. When Rayne and I arrived at the villa, Sophina had already instructed the staff to clean the place and even had the chef prepare a gourmet meal for us. "Sophina, thank you," I said as I stepped forward and hugged her. She was the only friend I had kept in touch with before coming back home. "No, Olivia, don't thank me. Back then... it was my fault for not stepping in to help you," she replied, her voice trembling as tears fell from her eyes. She had always felt guilty for not being there for me five years ago. In truth, it wasn’t all Sophina’s fault. Peter and Vanessa had long set a trap for me. Back then, to prevent Sophina from helping me, they even targeted her. They bribed the servants at her villa to lace her food with allergens. The severe allergic reaction sent Sophina into shock, and she ended up having to recuperate in the hospital for over two weeks. During the fire at the mental hospital, I thought I was a goner. But after I blacked out, I unexpectedly woke up again. I believed my father in heaven had saved me—he wouldn't let me die. After regaining consciousness, I dragged a female patient who had been burned alive into my room. The fire had disfigured her beyond recognition. Fear and a surge of intense nausea churned in my chest; I would never forget the smell of a living person burning to death. In that fire, I escaped—and eventually even managed to flee the country. Now I was alive and well, with a son. "Sophina, we should celebrate properly," I said. I didn’t plan to reveal every detail of that fire to her. It was enough for her to know that I, Olivia, had survived and had returned home to take revenge on Peter and Vanessa. After our meal, Sophina left. Less than half an hour later, the doorbell rang at the villa. Rayne looked at me, his eyes silently asking if he should go answer the door. "Maybe Madam Sophina left something behind. I'll get the door," I said. The moment I opened the door, I discovered that standing there was not Sophina but several men. The man at the forefront had deep brown eyes that stared at me, making my scalp tingle with apprehension. On that dark night, five men suddenly appeared at my doorstep and rang the doorbell. I felt a surge of regret, blaming myself for being too careless. What if these are people sent by Peter? But soon I dismissed that thought—Peter and Vanessa had assumed I was dead. I steadied myself and asked, "Sir, what can I do for you?" Hey, calm down. Maybe it's just a neighbor with bodyguards visiting... No, that's a lame excuse. The man didn't answer immediately; he just stared at me, his gaze as if he could see right through me. After a moment, he slowly spoke, his voice low yet powerful, "Now, immediately bring our son with you and come with me!" At that moment, one of the bodyguards stepped forward and whispered a few words into the man's ear. The man's expression instantly turned ominously dark. He glanced at me, his eyes revealing a mix of confusion, anger, and a hint of barely perceptible panic. We did not know each other—he had no reason to regard me that way. Before I could react, a figure emerged from the shadows behind him. The person was short, his features hidden in the darkness. He moved to the man's side and whispered something. Once the man heard him, his eyes snapped towards me as if he had just heard something unbelievable. The mysterious short man leaned in even closer. This time, his voice was a bit louder. I could make out a few words, "the Lambert family... plan... is very dangerous..." Those words made my heart sink. I had heard of the Lambert family—they were involved in shady dealings. But what did they have to do with me... Could they be connected to what happened back then?