Chapter 7: Oliver’s Strange Behavior

Alison felt terrible, as if she might faint at any moment. She pinched her thigh hard to force herself to stay conscious. Cold sweat covered her face, and with a stubborn expression, she looked directly at Oliver. In a hoarse voice, she asked, "Uncle, are you satisfied now?" Ariel, having witnessed the entire spectacle, was deeply distressed. She hurried over to support the swaying Alison, worried she might collapse. After everything that had just happened, the room fell silent. No one dared to speak, but some brave souls glanced cautiously at Oliver. After all, he was the one in control of the White family, and without his say, no one dared to make a sound. Oliver hadn’t expected things to escalate this way. After a long silence, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket. Only after finishing the cigarette did he slowly shift his gaze to Alison, his expression cold. "You can leave now," he said icily. With Oliver’s permission, Alison didn’t want to stay a second longer. Ariel shot a furious glare at him, then helped Alison toward the exit, eager to leave this suffocating place. Alison, however, shook her head at Ariel, forcing herself to stand straight. Her voice calm and steady, she said, "The White family doesn’t want me here, so there’s no reason for me to stay. I’ll pack my things and leave." Alison was determined to sever all ties with everyone here. She hoped to distance herself from them as much as possible to avoid repeating the tragedies of her past life. Still, before leaving, she needed to make her intentions clear. Today’s events had been unjust, and her decision to leave was justified. The White family certainly wouldn’t ask her to stay. After stating her intentions, Ariel quickly helped Alison, and the two of them left the hall. As Oliver watched Alison’s resolute figure disappear, he let out a bitter laugh. The moment Alison stepped out of the hall, she almost collapsed to the ground. The excessive amount of birth control pills she had taken was taking its toll. Alison felt intense stomach pain, and her head was spinning. Ariel, noticing her pale face, was about to speak, but before she could, Alison fainted. Ariel panicked at the sight, but fortunately, Jane Lane noticed something was wrong and rushed over. Together, they helped the unconscious Alison back to her room. When Alison finally woke up, her head still felt heavy. She opened her eyes and saw Jane Lane sitting in a chair beside the bed. "Mom… Mom…" Alison called out weakly. Hearing her voice, Jane couldn’t hold back her tears. She cried and glared at Alison with anger. "Alison, why did you do that? There were better ways to handle this! Why did you have to take such extreme measures?" Hearing her mother’s tearful voice, Alison felt a deep sadness. She replied softly, "It’s only by being this decisive that I can truly clear my name and escape from this prison." Alison’s voice was weak, but she made her feelings and intentions clear. Jane, still heartbroken, said, "Why do you have to be so pitiful? I’ve always told you to associate with wealthier people so you could live better." Alison knew exactly what her mother meant, but she didn’t agree with Jane’s worldview. She remained silent, knowing there was no point in arguing, as neither of them would convince the other. After a few minutes of silence, Alison remembered something she had forgotten. "Has Ariel left?" she asked, her voice soft. Jane nodded. "You were unconscious for several hours. She had other things to attend to, so she left and asked that you message her when you woke up." Just then, Lucas knocked on the door. After getting permission, he walked in, holding a glass of warm milk. "Alison, you’re awake. Drink this; it’ll help settle your stomach." Alison struggled to sit up, reaching for the milk, when she noticed a long cut on Lucas’s face, still bleeding slightly. It was clear that Old White had done this. He had always disliked Lucas and Jane, viewing them as freeloaders living off the family’s wealth. "Uncle, it’s my fault you got hurt. Don’t worry, once I feel a bit better, I’ll pack up and leave." Lucas didn’t respond directly but glanced at Jane. "Alison needs to take her medicine; could you bring it in?" Jane obediently left the room. Lucas had clearly sent her away because he had something to say to Alison. Already sensing what it might be, Alison spoke first. "Uncle, you don’t need to persuade me. I’ve already made up my mind." Lucas sighed at her words, knowing she was strong-willed. Once Alison made a decision, there was no changing it. He pulled a card from his pocket and placed it on the bedside table. "Don’t refuse. You’ll need this money to live on. Today was hard on you, and you’ll need it out there. The password is your mother’s birthday. No matter what happens, remember to call us if you need help." Alison, who had been ready to refuse, couldn’t bring herself to say the words. She nodded, accepting the gesture. "I’m sorry for causing you trouble today," she said softly. Lucas shook his head with a smile. "It’s what we’re here for. But there’s something strange about Oliver’s behavior today." Alison looked at him, puzzled. "What do you mean?" Lucas explained briefly, "When you fainted at the door, Oliver’s face changed. He rushed over, as if to carry you…" He didn’t finish the sentence, but it was clear that Oliver hadn’t succeeded.