CHAPTER 294: CHAPTER 294: UGLY TRUTH

But Olivia just shook her head and said, "That’s okay. My dad is picking me up."

Just then, a sleek black BMW pulled up in front of the school gates. The car looked brand new, shining in the sunlight.

Mateo stared at it, his mouth falling slightly open. That’s a luxury car...

The door opened, and a tall, middle-aged man stepped out. He was wearing a suit and waved at Olivia with a big smile.

"Liv! Over here!" the man called.

Olivia smiled back and walked toward him. "Hey, Dad."

Then she hugged him and got into the car.

Mateo watched with wide eyes, stunned. His thoughts raced.

His face turned red, but not from blushing this time; it was from embarrassment and anger. He had thought that maybe Olivia was dating some rich old man.

A mistress?! That idea made him sick with jealousy.

He clenched his fists and walked straight to the front of the car, standing tall like he was about to stop a villain in a movie.

The sleek black BMW came to a halt, and Olivia’s dad, Adam, had to get out of the car.

"What’s going on here?" Adam asked, looking at Mateo with confused eyes.

Mateo didn’t even glance at him. Instead, he pointed straight at Olivia and asked in a loud voice, "Is this what you wanted all along?"

Olivia blinked, surprised. "What are you talking about?"

Mateo pointed at Adam like he had found some horrible secret. "If you wanted a rich old man, you could’ve just said so! I wouldn’t have wasted my time chasing you!"

The small crowd that had gathered around gasped. Some students even took out their phones to record.

Olivia’s eyebrows knitted together. "He’s my dad," she said flatly, clearly not impressed.

But Mateo was too lost in his own thoughts. "No! You played me! I can’t believe you became someone’s mistress just for money!"

SLAP!

Olivia walked right up to him and slapped him across the face. The sound was loud, sharp, and echoed in the silent crowd. Some people gasped again, while others looked shocked, not knowing what to say.

"Are you awake now?" Olivia asked calmly.

Mateo touched his cheek. His face was red with anger and embarrassment.

"Yeah, I’m awake now! I finally see the real you! You’re just a gold digger who wears a pretty face and acts like a princess!"

Olivia let out a small chuckle and nodded.

"You’re right. I am a gold digger. And you know why?" She looked him right in the eye.

"Because I will never settle for someone who only knows how to crack lame jokes and can’t even bring anything to the table, not grades, not money, not future."

Everyone stared. Olivia’s voice was calm but strong, each word hitting hard.

"Tell me, Mateo," she continued, pointing at him, "what do you have that makes you worth loving?"

Mateo opened his mouth, tried to speak, but all he could say was, "You... you..."

Olivia cut him off.

"Exactly. Nothing. A man’s or a woman’s worth isn’t just about their looks or charm. It’s about what value they add to others’ lives. You may think that sounds harsh, but that’s how the world works. I love luxury. I want comfort. And I work hard to earn it."

She pointed toward Adam, who was now standing beside the car, arms crossed.

"That’s my dad. The man who used to be a simple mechanic but still fulfilled every dream my mom ever had. Now he’s a CEO who makes more than a million dollars a year, but he still massages her feet when she’s tired.

He still travels to other cities just to bring her favorite snack. He listens to her silly stories and makes her smile every day."

She turned back to Mateo. "Can you do that? For me?"

Mateo was silent.

"You can’t," Olivia said.

"Because instead of becoming someone worthy of love, you just chased after me like a kid begging for candy. And now, just because I’m not interested, you call me a gold digger."

Her voice got louder.

"Well, guess what? You liked me because of my face and the image you made of me, too. So don’t pretend you were some innocent angel."

Then Olivia turned to the crowd.

"Tell me, what did I do wrong? I’m not cheating anyone. I’m not asking anyone for favors. I work hard, I study, and I take care of myself.

Is it wrong for me to want a partner who supports me, who’s strong, stable, and can give me peace of mind?"

The crowd went quiet. Nobody laughed. Nobody joked. In fact, a few people slowly nodded. Someone in the back even muttered, "She’s right."

Olivia looked at Mateo one last time and said calmly, "There’s nothing more to say. I’m leaving now."

She turned toward the car, but just as she opened the door, Mateo suddenly shouted, "Wait! I’m rich too!"

Everyone turned to look at him.

Olivia paused, then slowly looked over her shoulder. A small chuckle escaped her lips. "It doesn’t matter," she said. "Even if you’re rich, it won’t change anything now."

Mateo’s eyes widened. He stepped forward, his voice desperate. "No, seriously! I’m a rich heir! My family owns several businesses!"

But Olivia rolled her eyes.

"Even if that’s true, you hid it. What were you trying to do? Judge me? Test if I’m a gold digger by pretending to be someone you’re not?"

She shook her head, laughing quietly to herself.

"That’s messed up, Mateo. What if we got married and one day, you suddenly decided to act poor again just to see if I’d stay? What if you made me deliver food or beg strangers for help, just to prove my love?"

She stared at him, eyes sharp. "I don’t want to live with someone who lies like that. If you can lie once, what’s stopping you from lying again?"

With that, she got into the car and shut the door.

Adam stood outside for a moment, his eyes locked on Mateo. He walked up to him slowly and looked him straight in the face. His voice was calm but cold.

"If you ever lay a single finger on my daughter again," he said,

"I’ll make sure you get kicked out of this school. Or I’ll teach you a lesson myself. I don’t like boys like you anywhere near her."

Then, without waiting for a reply, Adam got into the driver’s seat, started the car, and drove off.

Mateo stood there frozen, his face pale. For the first time in his life, he truly felt like a fool.

Why did he hide who he really was? Just to find out who liked him for himself?

But now, he realized how stupid that plan had been.

From the side, Eleanor had watched the whole thing. She didn’t say anything. But in her heart, she couldn’t help but agree with what Olivia had said.

Mateo really wasn’t the best choice for a love story.

Looking back at everything he’d done, the lies, the games, the way he had treated both Olivia and herself, it all seemed... wrong.

How could someone love a girl and still keep another one on the side?

How could someone rescue her from danger but still make her sign a contract like she owed him something?

The way Mateo had behaved in the story—they all thought he was the hero. But maybe he was just pretending to be one.

Inside the BMW, the mood was much lighter. Adam drove calmly through the city streets, a quiet smile on his face.

He glanced at Olivia. "Out of all my kids," he said proudly, "you’re the one I worry about the least. You always handle things so well. That boy didn’t even know what hit him."

Olivia smiled gently. "Thanks, Dad."

He chuckled.

"You know, if you’re trying to find a man like me, you might be looking for a long time. But don’t give up. One day, you’ll find someone mature, stable, and smart enough to stand beside you."

Olivia nodded. "I’m sure I will. I will find a stable, mature, and reliable person."

But somewhere in the future, if Future Olivia had been there to hear that, she might have laughed and said, "You are dreaming."

Soon, they reached the apartment building. Adam parked the car, and Olivia reached down to unbuckle her seatbelt. It was stuck.

As she tugged at it, she saw a figure rushing toward them.

It was Jean.

Jean stopped in front of Adam with a big, fake smile. "Oh! Adam! What are you doing here?"

Adam gave her a polite but tight smile. "Just dropping off my daughter. We’re heading home."

Jean looked around, making sure no one was nearby. Then she suddenly stepped closer and reached out to grab his hand.

But Adam quickly pulled away, stepping back.

"Jean," he said firmly. "Don’t do this. It’s not right."

Jean tilted her head and smiled sweetly. "Why not give it a try? What if you end up liking me?" she whispered.