Rain pattered softly on the roof of the adventurers' temporary shelter. The wind howled fiercely, rattling the paper window with a crackling sound. Inside the shabby room, a beautiful blue-haired woman curled up by the fireplace, cradling a little girl. Her gaze lingered on the shimmering silver ring on her left ring finger.
Suddenly, a fierce gust tore through the fragile paper window. Biting cold wind rushed into the fireplace, making the flames flicker and nearly die. The woman sprang up, trying to shield the fire with her body, but it was useless.
With a whoosh, the room plunged into darkness, leaving only charred firewood. The bone-chilling wind made the blue-haired loli in her arms burst into loud wails.
"Baby, don't cry. Baby, don't cry. Mommy will relight the fire soon. Oh, right—fix the window first, fix the window first..."
The woman muttered frantically, but her hands froze in panic. She let go of Olivia in her arms...
With a thud, the blue-haired loli hit the ground. Fufu let out a panicked scream. When she bent down, she saw her daughter squeeze out two tears, then look up with a pout, as if worriedly asking:
"Mommy, where did Daddy go? Daddy..."
Hearing this, the young woman froze. Tears streamed down her face. She bent down, gently pulling Olivia into a tight hug, and whispered tremulously:
"Baby... *sob* Daddy... he won't be back for a long time. A long time..."
...
That was Olivia's most vivid memory. And for her, who had transmigrated, it was the first scene she recalled when merging her memories.
Indeed, three years after Olivia's parents married, an unexpected tragedy shattered their happy life. Her father, Baron Lolos the adventurer, suddenly died during a journey. It was said he perished in a demon cave expedition that wasn't supposed to be dangerous.
Mother Fufu became a widow, raising two-year-old Olivia in displacement. Olivia remembered those days well. Daddy never saved money, so they had no income. They were always hungry, living in ruined temples and temporary shelters, often driven out. They survived on Mom's meager wages from odd jobs. When harvests failed, little Olivia had to clutch a bowl, squeeze through crowds to a table taller than herself, and beg for charity porridge to fill her stomach.
Fortunately, this didn't last long. Months later, the younger twin brother—Olivia's uncle, who'd made a fortune in the Imperial Capital—heard the news. He couldn't bear his elder brother's wife and daughter suffering, so he brought them to his Imperial Capital home. Thus, mother and daughter began living under someone else's roof again.
Well, actually... at first, Olivia's life there was quite good. Uncle and Auntie had been married for years but had a strained relationship and no children. Uncle treated her, his elder brother's orphan, as his own. He gave her a princess-like life, enrolled her in the Imperial Capital Magic Academy, bought her exquisite gifts and clothes for holidays, and took her to fun places.
That doting care made Uncle the father figure in Olivia's heart.
After moving in, Mother also helped Uncle greatly in business—managing accounts, researching markets, finding channels. She handled most tasks. Once, when his business faced a major crisis, it was Mom who exhausted herself to save it. After that, with her help, his business flourished.
Life should have continued smoothly. But fate seemed unkind. All the misfortunes perhaps stemmed from Olivia's overweight aunt, Vinos.
Aunt Vinos's family supplied Uncle's business. Their marriage was purely for business. Uncle disliked her but couldn't afford to offend her family, so he stayed submissive. Auntie, however, embraced her role as a wicked matriarch, meddling in everything. She'd always disapproved of Uncle bringing home his dead brother's widow and child. After a year or two together, perhaps jealous of Fufu's beauty, she grew to hate them. She began tormenting mother and daughter in every way at home.
But in memory, Mom endured Auntie's bullying silently, perhaps due to their humble position. Uncle argued with Auntie several times to protect Mom. Yet the more he did, the more Auntie suspected a relationship between them.
Olivia knew Uncle was gentle to Mom, but Mom kept her distance. Still, as they say, a widow's door attracts gossip. She often heard neighbors whispering.
Moreover, men always fawned over Mom. Her eternally youthful beauty drew constant attention. But Fufu gave a subtle impression: she charmed men into doing favors, then repeatedly rejected them. With Uncle's protection, her suitors eventually gave up.
Eventually, Mom couldn't stand Auntie's disdain and urged Uncle and Auntie to have a child. Auntie agreed happily. But... Olivia remembered that night. Afterward, she got up at midnight to use the toilet and saw Uncle alone in the living room, lighting cigarette after cigarette with a blank stare.
No one knew how deep that wound ran. Then... another accident happened. One day, on a business trip, Uncle's cargo convoy was ambushed. Both men and goods were lost.
Uncle died. Auntie seized all assets and gave birth to his posthumous son, George. From then on, she ruled the household.
After that? No need to guess. The business plummeted. Auntie barred Mom from any duties, treating them like servants, constantly bullying them. Years passed, and she seemed far from tired of it.
And Mom? Perhaps... afraid they'd again live displaced, she endured silently until now.
...
Olivia took a deep breath. A nameless fury rose within her.
Indeed, this was the original owner's memory. But... wasn't it also hers? After all, now... she was Olivia!
The blue-haired loli released her grip. The little brat George immediately dashed out like his life depended on it, shouting as he ran, "Mom, Olivia is bullying me—"
Olivia let out a cold laugh. Then, with arrogant strides, she walked toward her home's door...
