Chapter 1 My Dream or Nightmare
Like a strong desire to disappear from the earth, the sounds, the voices, the room, the smell,
everything felt so pulsating and unstable.
She wanted to be alone, in a ce were no one would find her, a ce without sounds, terror,
nightmares nor disappointments.
It was a Tuesday morning and summer was bidding farewell, ushering in the new season.
It was a cool morning but for some reason, Olivia was feeling particrly hot.
She was in the midst of a heated argument which must be the reason why the room felt so hot. Or
maybe it was knowing the fact that whatever decision they make today would affect her life greatly.
She didn''t move, she couldn''t, she just sat there faced down, hoping no one throws any question or
remark her way.
Her mother is seen at the end of the conference table where she normally sits as the Chairwoman of
the Luthel Enterprise, looking unnaturally calm andposed-even intimidating, in a heated argument.
But that was Judy Luthel, alwaysposed but determined to make everything go ording to her
will, even her daughter''s future.
The other people in the room were, Mr and Mrs Winfrey of the Castlehill Group with theirwyer, and
Mr Vince- Judy''s trustedwyer.
The Winfrey''s were trying to make Judy see reasons as to why they have to end the contract between
the bothpanies, but Judy doesn''t seem to like that idea at all.
Olivia can''t believe all these was happening now, when its barely less than a month since her twin
sister died.
She had always seen her mother as unfeeling, but never would she have thought that it would reach
even to this extent- at her own daughter''s expence.
Couldn''t they hold this meeting in like 4 or 5months from now?
Everything was so nauseating, and she wasn''t in the right frame of mind to handle such delicate
matters yet. She still needed more time to grief her twin sister''s death.
"You have to understand Mrs Luthel, the conditions behind us signing this contract in the first ce is
Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.
non-existent now. Having had your daughter as our daughter-inw was such great joy for us, but she''s
gone now. Wouldn''t it be wise to cut our losses put an end to both our pending precedent?
We sympathize with you, but without Sophia this contract is already void to us", Mr Winfrey stated.
Scoff..."You came to me on bended knees few years ago, begging me to help you save Castlehill. And
today you want to terminate our agreement without giving a second thought about the consequences of
your action? Isn''t that simply the most foolish thing to do?" Judy asked calmly.
If they hade to her to ask if there''s a better way to sustain the deal between the bothpanies
that was forged in a marriage union, that would have been better.
But her daughter had just died- as their daughter-inw, and all they could think about was how to
breakout from a contract they had proposed themselves back then, irrespective of the feelings of her
This made her mind go through lots of possibilities concerning the death of Sophia.
Could it be that the Winfreys had nned the assassination of her daughter so they could call an end
to the contract?
Few years ago, Castlehill Group incurred a very huge debt and investors were pulling out- taking with
them what they could. Thepany was at the brink of cosping with lots of debts to pay.
Matthew Winfrey hade to her on bended knees asking for her help, and that it doesn''t matter what
she wants in return as long as she helps him save Castlehill.
It took a serious toll on Luthel Industry after that risky save, so as a businesswoman she asked that
60% shares of Castlehill be transferred to her.
The Winfreys would be left with only 40% and this scared them, so they proposed a marriage
agreement between their son and one of Judy''s daughters.
This was the only way they could at least secure up to 15% out of the 60% shares Judy asked for.
Getting their son married to one of Judy''s daughters would automatically make her daughter''s own
shares in Castlehill their son''s, making him the highest shareholder of Castlehill with 25% shares
already making it a total of 45% shares in his name and her daughter''s.
But with Sophia dead, all 55% of the shares was now in the Winfrey''s name. She wouldn''t be surprised
if Sophia''s death ,was their doing.
"We have honoured this contract from day 1, but it doesn''t benefit either of us any longer so let''s end it
already. We know for a fact that you helped us when we asked for your help, and we are willing to let
you keep some shares in Castlehill but no longer as a major shareholder," Barbra Winfrey stated.
"Since you both have given this a lot of thought and have already made your decision, why then are
you here? Go ahead and do as you please. What''s the point in telling me all this? Isn''t Castlehill
yours?" Judy questioned sarcastically.
"We want you to sell over 25% of your shares back to us before the next board meeting. That way the
investors will be rify of the rumours of you leaving Castlehill with your shares," Barbra boldly
requested.
And with an emotionless smile, Judy stated, "And if I don''t, what will happen? I know the investors- I
called them to you and you know that the moment I leave walk out of Castlehill, they would leave with
me too- after all I still have 45% shares. Castlehill will crumble the second I turn my back against you
ungrateful twits, but I don''t want that. So I want to make a new deal, a stronger one."
If Judy goes ahead to propose what she ns, then the odds would be surely be against her-
especially if the same thing that happened to Sophia repeats itself. But on the other hand, Olivia would
be one of the major shareholders.
Olivia had only had her eyes on Markian Winfrey since her college days, but she never said anything-
not even to her sister, Sophia.
While Sophy had always been the bright and cheery one among the both of them, Livy had always
been the exact opposite- so distant and quiet.
Sophy had lots of friends and from time to time they would offer Livy a chance to hang out, but she
always turns them down.
She lived in her own world, and kept a lot of things from her sister- like the fact that she had a crush on
Markain.
Only after her mother had broken the news of Sophy''s engagement to Markian, did Sophy realised that
Livy was in love with her fiance- Markian.
Going against her mother''s wish was futile, so Livy buried her feeling as deep as she could. Even when
Sophy had confronted her about her feelings for Markian before the marriage, Livy lied and said that
she simply dislikes him so much for agreeing to an arranged marriage.
So, after Sophy''s death, Livy med herself for days. She thought that she may have subconsciously
wished ill of her twin sister, all because she was bitter about her sister''s marriage to Markian.
Livy loved her sister a lot, so when she saw how excited she was about the news of her engagement to
Minnesota''s most eligible bachelor, Livy couldn''t help but hide her feelings deeper than they already
were.
She was terrible at pretending and hated it, but she felt her sister''s happiness was more important than
her unrequited love for a man who doesn''t even know she exists.
Who was she? She was no one of importance that could catch his eyes.
Sophy on the other hand was a one-time winner of Miss Minnesota. She had the looks and body of a
supermodel and she was a social butterfly. So it was no surprise that even though it was an arranged
marriage, Sophy and Markian hit it off very fast like they were destined for each other.
Livy was more reserved, timid and low headed. Never once did she go on a date and was always
referred to as Sophy''s opposite.
People would argue that they both were sisters sometimes, let alone twins.
Sophy was the brightest star and as a result casted her shadow on Livy, which she really didn''t mind.
But sometimes Livy wished she was even a little bit bold and brave like Sophy, then she would have
been able to express her feelings to the man of her dreams- until it became toote.
After Sophy and Markian wedding, Livy became even more withdrawn from everyone especially Sophy.
Whenever the couple would visit the Luthel mansion, Livy would act as though Markian repulsed her to
the core, and as a result was totally disliked by him.
This morning, when her mother had told her that she would be attending a meeting with her, Livy never
thought in her wildest dreams that she would be listening to people insulting herte twin''s memories.
They were referring to Sophia as though she have been gone few years now, like she was just an asset
to them and nothing more till the very end.
"Another marriage proposal. I want to get my older daughter married to your widowed son," Judy
stated.
And immediately, all colour left Livy''s face. It felt like a boulder have just been ced on her, and the air
in the room had suddenly be too thin, she was suffocating.
She felt like the ground should open up and swallow her whole before anything else is said or done.
A marriage to Markian- her sister''s husband? What in the world is going through her mother''s mind at
the moment? How could such a vile thought cross her mind?- was she even thinking straight?
Of course her mother isn''t thinking straight, she must still be shock of Sophy''s death.
Livy felt like screaming, but her throat was too dry for words to form.
"What? That''s absurd, we won''t allow such, it''s madness. Why would we want to get our son remarried
to your other daughter when histe wife just died a month ago?" Matthew spoke in disbelief.
"For the very same reason you want me to sell my shares back to you. This is the only way you can
have my shares. It''s either this or I walk away with my 45% and my investors- goodluck finding new
ones before youpany folds. I think this meeting is over, and when next we meet, I hope you would
have an answer for me," Judy abstrusely dismissed them.
Standing up and heading to her exquisite ss desk, she didn''t let her face show any sign of emotion
whatsoever. She was sturdy as a tree, very elegant and graceful even though her decision just made
everyone in the room freeze for a moment.
Soon, they all stood up and left the office without saying a single word nor a happy expression on their
faces, leaving only Livy who looked like she was about to copse any moment.
"You too may leave. I have work to do, so you can ask me whatever question you wish to ask me when
we get home," Judy spoke referring to Livy without looking up from the document she was reading.
Livy who was still glued to her chair, shook her head in utter disbelief.
After a while she gathered up her strength and stood up from the chair staggering. Her feet were
weightless and her eyes were heavy filling up with tears. She was feeling light headed but she still
dragged herself to the door.
Looking back at her mother who was busy going through an important document, she wondered if this
was real or if all she just heard was just a dream.
She knew her mother so well, and for Judy to instruct that she asked whatever she wanted when they
got back from work, was just a formality.
Whenever Judy made a decision, there was no room for opposing or arguing. That is one of her many
tracts as a sessful businesswoman.
So Livy quietly left the room without saying a word. Only when she had left, did Judy raise up her eyes
from the file she held and gave out a deep sigh.
She knows how awful she must have appeared to be, but she needed Castlehill. After that save 2years
ago, Luthel Industry suffered losses too but quickly recovered after Castlehill hit the international
markets.
So, Castlehill is like a safety for Luthel Inc. If she loses her shares in Castlehill, Luthel Inc might
once again suffer a risk of huge debts and that would not be a pretty sight. But to secure her shares in
Castlehill, she needed Livy as a major shareholder of 60% shares.
It''s risky, but it''s a risk worth taking, especially if the Winfrey''s were really behind her daughter''s death.
*************************************
In her office, Livy felt very nauseous and sick she had to leave work early. She still couldn''t wrap her
head around the fact that she might be getting married to her sister''s husband, the same man she have
ever loved- the man that hates her so much.
Was this fate or coincidence? She had dreamt of marrying Markian, but 2years ago that thought and
wish had died, along with her pain and sadness of that never happening.
She was not social enough so she rarely get asked out on a date, and when asked, she makes up an
excuse and turns it down.
So she had already made up her mind to forever be alone after Markian married her sister. She
mentally convinced herself that a life of solitude was what''s best for her.
But now, seeing the turn of event, she doesn''t know exactly how to feel or react about everything.