Chapter 8

His actions spoke louder than words, making his detestation for Grace abundantly clear. Despite joining the prestigious Jefferson family, Grace soon found herself facing disapproval from her father-in-law and indifference from her husband. With a sigh, she wearily returned to her new room. The room, which was overflowing with wedding decorations, felt like a cruel joke to Grace. Giving the couch a quick tidy, she left the rest of the room in disarray. Collapsing onto the straightened cushions, she closed her eyes. Jason returned to his bedroom, finding Juniper already tucked in. He said, "Juniper, Grace needs company. Oliver gave her the cold shoulder on their wedding day. If word gets out, it'll reflect poorly on the Jeffersons." Juniper had been unhappy with their marriage from the beginning, but her initial objections had been ignored by the family. "She can't even keep her own man. Why should I go?" "Juniper, as her sister-in-law and the Jefferson family's matriarch, you should keep her company." "She actually has the audacity to marry into this family. Do you think she even deserves it?" Juniper turned off the bedside lamp and muttered, "I'm going to sleep." Oliver drove to Everglade Villa. Everglade Villa was his true home. He usually lived there alone, spending less than ten days at the Jefferson residence throughout the year. He couldn't adjust to the Jefferson residence, so he returned to his own home. As soon as he parked the car, he noticed a drunk woman sitting at the door with a bottle of wine in her hand. Her eyes were hazy as she stared at the headlights shining at her. As the headlights turned off, Oliver got out of the car. He walked to the door and asked, "What are you doing here?" Tears welled up in Maya Hart's eyes when she spotted him. "Why? Why did you marry her?" Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes and gathered at the tip of her nose. Her red, swollen eyes made it clear that she had been crying for a long time. Maya, who was wearing a red dress, was blocking the entrance to his house. She said softly, "Oliver, tell me." She had wept so fiercely that her entire body was drained of strength. Even rising to her feet felt impossible. Oliver said, "You've had too much to drink." "I haven't. Oliver, you know how I feel. I've loved you for 15 years and have been by your side the longest. I always thought that if you were going to get married, it would be to me. Why her? Is it really just because she's younger than me?" Oliver stepped onto the steps, bending down to scoop her up. Then he carried her into the Everglade Villa. Maya repeatedly said, "You're not like that. Tell me why you married her. You don't love her. You love me, right?" Oliver put her on the couch and said, "Sober up and leave." "No! Did I strike a nerve? Are you itching to get away? Oliver, if you truly loved her, you wouldn't be here alone on your wedding night. You wouldn't have chosen to marry her at the Jefferson residence instead of here. "I've waited for you for 15 years. I know you. Only a woman you truly acknowledge can live in Everglade Villa," Maya said as she cried, heartbroken. "Oliver, that woman is me, right? So, why did you marry her? Who is she? Why did she come between us?" From the moment Maya had found out that Oliver was getting married, her father had locked her up. He feared that she would make a scene at the wedding, so he had only released her in the evening. Maya couldn't accept that the man she loved had married someone else. Oliver looked at Maya, who was sobbing at his feet. He couldn't answer the questions that she had asked. In the end, he called the Hart family. "She's here with me. She's drunk. Come and pick her up."