The Red Roses Before the Grave

Luca was momentarily stunned before grabbing his suit jacket from the sofa. "All right, I'm leaving. But remember, this was your decision. Don’t turn around and get upset with me later." Behind the dim glass door of the bathroom, Olivia let out a faint smile. "I won’t. I won’t drink anymore. My family matters most. If Giselle finds out you came to see me tonight, she won’t be happy." Slipping on his jacket, Luca frowned. "When will you stop being so difficult?" A long silence followed before Olivia finally spoke. "Luca, do you think you really know me?" Her indifferent tone instantly irked him. She was the one who got drunk and begged him to come over. Yet now, she was the one dismissing him. He knew Olivia’s temperament all too well. She always said one thing but meant another. She told him to leave, but in reality, she wanted him to stay more than anyone else. Still, something felt off about her tonight. However, Luca did not dwell on it. With Giselle’s drama wrapping up today, he had already been looking for an excuse to leave Olivia’s place. Now, she had conveniently saved him the trouble. "All right, I’m leaving. If you end up feeling upset, don’t expect me to come back and comfort you." As Luca's footsteps faded into the distance, Olivia sank into the bathtub, her silent tears spilling over. Even in the final moments of her past life, she could hardly believe that the man she had loved for nearly a decade would be the one to end her life. The Romanov Family and the Everett Family had been close for generations and she and Luca had grown up together, inseparable since childhood. The longest they had ever been apart was just three days. During her sophomore year, Luca entered the entertainment industry. Without hesitation and against her parents' wishes, Olivia dropped out of her management major, determined to become a star like him. Her love burned so fiercely that she never considered the possibility that while she had only ever loved Luca, he had never only loved her. The first time she witnessed Luca and Giselle’s affair was at his 23rd birthday party. On the polished deck of a luxury cruise ship, she saw it happen. Luca, who was tipsy from drinking, pressed a kiss to Giselle’s lips. That was the moment she learned the truth. Luca and Giselle were not biological siblings. From then on, Luca had desperately tried to suppress his feelings for Giselle. And Olivia Romanov was the perfect escape. She was beautiful, obedient and hopelessly devoted to him. Aside from her somewhat obsessive nature, she had no glaring flaws. When Luca finally confessed his feelings to her, Olivia wanted to ask why he kissed Giselle at the birthday party. However, in the end, Olivia never asked. She loved Luca so deeply that she was willing to deceive herself, afraid that uncovering the truth would only push him further away. Over and over, she convinced herself that the kiss had been nothing more than a drunken mistake, an accident that Luca would never repeat once he sobered up. But no matter how much she tried to deny it, his obvious favoritism was impossible to ignore. For three years, Olivia dedicated herself to preparing for a highly anticipated historical drama, only for Luca to ask her to relinquish the lead role for Giselle. "Olivia, she's just a little girl. If you think of it as indulging her passion for costume dramas, you wouldn’t be so petty, right?" Olivia had no desire to give up the role she had worked so hard for, but in the end, she forced a smile and said, "If she wants it, she can have it." She had hoped naively that Luca would see her reluctance, that he would understand her pain, but he only pulled her into an embrace, placed a kiss on her forehead and smiled. "I knew my Olivia was the best. When you marry me, we’ll be family." Olivia swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat and said nothing.

No one expected that after joining the production, Giselle would suffer a tragic accident. She was left permanently disabled and later died in a hospital bed. At the time, Olivia and Luca’s wedding was less than a month away. Initially, Luca showed no sadness at all. His voice was cold and detached when he said, "I never liked her. She was the daughter of the mistress my father brought into our family. I resented her from the start. If not for my father, I would have cut ties with her long ago." "She’s been clinging to me for years. I was already sick of her." Luca had no idea that years ago, Olivia had witnessed him kissing his so-called stepsister at his birthday party. She never dared to question whether there had been love between them. On their wedding night, Luca promised Olivia a surprise. Trusting him, she closed her eyes and waited, only to have a plate of mangoes placed in front of her, the very fruit she was deathly allergic to. Luca pried her mouth open and forced the mango inside. His eyes, burning red with fury, looked at her as though she were his worst enemy. "It's all because of you. My Giselle died because of you. She was the one I loved the most. And you? Who do you think you are?" Olivia's breath grew shallow, her throat tightening as an unbearable pain spread through her body. She collapsed onto the floor, gasping, pleading for mercy for the sake of the ten years they had spent together. But all she received in return was a stinging slap across her face. And then, Luca stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Thankfully, she had been given another chance. A plan for escape slowly took root in Olivia’s heart. After finishing her shower, she dried her hair and made herself a cup of coffee. Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a video call from Giselle Everett. Olivia’s heart tightened. She hesitated for a moment before finally answering. On the screen, Giselle beamed, her eyes alight with excitement. "Olivia, today is my wrap-up party. Why don’t you come?" Olivia forced a small smile. "I’m not feeling too well..." "Oh, I know!" Giselle giggled. "You must have been drinking again. My brother always comes to see you when you drink." As she spoke, she tilted the camera slightly, revealing Luca beside her. They were close, so close that their faces almost touched. Giselle leaned against him, her posture intimate. "Luca, don’t you think so?" Luca smiled indulgently, his voice carrying a helpless fondness. "You’re always causing trouble." In her previous life, Olivia would have been consumed with jealousy, desperate to make Luca stay with her through any means necessary. But this time, though a faint sting pricked her heart, the storm of emotions from her past life had faded. Their relationship had always been shrouded in secrecy, tangled in shadows. Olivia’s sensitive nature had left her feeling constantly upset. At first, Luca found her cute and was willing to soothe her emotions, but over time, his patience wore thin. Eventually, he stopped indulging her, leaving Olivia to deal with her feelings on her own. "Oh, by the way, have I shown you the gift my brother gave me?" Giselle stretched out her hand, revealing a dazzling snake-shaped ring encrusted with diamonds. Olivia recognized it instantly. It was a newly designed piece from Luca’s luxury brand, a collection so exclusive that it had not even been released to the public yet. She still remembered how much she had liked that very ring the first time she saw it and felt a special connection to its intricate design. Yet when she had mentioned it to Luca, he had casually told her that the brand had not sent him a sample yet and she would have to wait until its official release. But now, here it was on Giselle’s hand. Giselle admired the ring as if it were an afterthought, then chuckled. "Oh, my brother really doesn’t follow the rules. What if the brand finds out?" Perhaps feeling guilty, Luca avoided Olivia’s gaze and instead reassured Giselle with a casual tone, "It’s nothing. I’m the brand ambassador. What’s wrong with giving a ring to my own sister? The company won’t mind."

Giselle's smile widened into a squinting grin. "I knew my brother was the best!" With that, she tilted her head up and pressed a kiss to Luca’s cheek. For a brief moment, Luca froze. Then, snapping out of it, he quickly snatched the phone from her hand, his tone carrying a hint of reprimand. "How old are you now? You can’t just do that. People might get the wrong idea! You’re not a child anymore." Giselle pouted, her voice laced with grievance. "But we’ve always been like this since we were kids. Why can’t we now?" Luca instinctively glanced at Olivia, worried she might be upset. But her face remained unreadable as she replied calmly, "You’re siblings. You grew up together. It’s only natural to be close." Her detached response unsettled Luca. He felt as though she were speaking in that deliberately ambiguous way again. Not wanting to entertain it any further, he said flatly, "Alright, we’ll talk later. Sober up on your own." With that, he ended the call. Olivia stared at the darkened screen, then let out a quiet, self-mocking laugh before setting her phone aside and heading to the bedroom. She needed time to think about what to do. Five years of one-sided love. Four more years of chasing after a man who never truly looked at her. She had once believed that if she gave enough, Luca would one day let go of Giselle. If she had not died in her previous life, perhaps she would have still been naive enough to believe that now. Olivia never wanted to see Luca again. At midnight, the soft beep of the fingerprint lock echoed through the apartment. As Luca stepped inside, the first thing he saw was Olivia standing motionless in front of the French window. Taking a deep breath, he spoke in a low voice. "Olivia, about today…" Before he could finish, Olivia turned, her gaze meeting his directly. Avoiding her eyes, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small box. With a guilty air, he handed a ring to her, identical to the one Giselle had flaunted earlier. "The brand sent this to me a few days ago. I meant to give it to you, but I kept forgetting." Forgetting. A convenient excuse Luca had always used. But was his memory really that bad? Luca began his acting career at the age of seven. He had an exceptional ability to memorize lines that would take others weeks to learn, but he could have them down within a few days. He knew every director and screenwriter’s preferences and he could recall the exact number of times he had shot each scene. But how was it that he could not remember that Olivia loved that ring? He knew his words were hollow. Yet, he also knew Olivia loved him deeply. As long as he offered her an out, she would take it, as she always had. To his surprise, Olivia did not accept the ring. Instead, she spoke in a calm, detached tone. "Luca, you know I’ve always had a soft spot for orphans." Luca frowned, irritation creeping into his voice. "What are you talking about? It’s not like there’s only one of these rings." "I know there’s more than one, but I wasn’t the first to receive the ring you gave me." Without sparing him a glance, Olivia stood up and passed him, her movements deliberate. She made her way to the sofa, her back turned to him as she lit a thin cigarette. Luca assumed she was simply jealous and that he was at fault. He lowered his head, trying to placate her. "Alright, don't be upset. Giselle isn’t just some other woman. I know you're jealous, but you don’t say anything about it and then expect me to guess. If you keep doing this, I’ll get exhausted. Let’s not make things harder than they need to be, okay?" He sat beside Olivia, gently taking her hand in his, speaking in a soft, patient tone. "Please, don’t be angry." But Luca did not notice the coldness in Olivia’s gaze. Was Giselle really just Luca’s sister? They were not biological siblings, something everyone knew but few dared to acknowledge. Olivia did not respond. She simply finished her cigarette in silence.

Luca’s patience snapped. His voice grew cold as he said, "Olivia, what’s your game? You always do this. When you’re upset, I try to calm you, but you stay silent, acting like you’ve lost your voice. Are you pretending to be mute now?" He stood up abruptly, snatching the cigarette from her fingers with a look of disgust. "Didn't I tell you to quit smoking? It reeks!" Olivia was not a heavy smoker; she could not even finish a pack in half a year. However, Giselle was different. She was far more addicted. Every time Luca saw her smoking, he would gently remind her, "Smoking’s bad for your health. You should take care of yourself, my sister." Olivia did not react to Luca’s outburst. She simply lit another cigarette, a faint, enigmatic smile curling her lips. "Luca, what I want is an explanation, an apology and atonement. I don’t want more of your lies." She stood up, grabbing his chin firmly, forcing him to meet her eyes as she spoke, each word deliberate and piercing. "Luca, do you dare to swear you did not lie to me?" Luca’s temper flared completely. He pulled away from her grip and raised his voice in frustration. "I said I didn’t lie! You can believe whatever you want." Olivia extinguished the cigarette and asked coolly, "What’s the matter? Are you avoiding my gaze because you're afraid to look me in the eye?" Luca’s expression twisted into one of frustration. "Who’s afraid?" Olivia raised an eyebrow and smiled softly. "Then leave. I can't stand liars." Luca stood frozen, his mind momentarily blank. He thought there was something wrong with his ears. Had she really just told him to leave? During their worst arguments, no matter how heated things got, Olivia had never pushed him away like this. A sudden tightness gripped Luca’s chest. "You... you’re really asking me to leave?" Olivia nodded, her face serious as if there was no room for negotiation. "This is my home. Why shouldn’t I ask you to leave?" Without warning, Luca’s anger surged. He stormed forward, grabbed her and lifted her off the ground. "Ah!" Olivia did not expect Luca to take action all of a sudden and she was completely shocked. With fiery anger, Luca carried her toward the bedroom. He growled, his voice thick with fury, "How dare you ask me to leave?" Luca threw Olivia onto the bed and pinned her down with a force that felt almost cruel. Olivia’s stomach churned and she screamed, "Don’t touch me!" "We’ve been together for more than four years, haven’t I touched you enough?" he snapped, irritation boiling over. He hadn’t expected Olivia to react this way. Without another word, he lowered his head and kissed her fiercely. The kiss was harsh, even a little bitter. His lips were pressed against hers with an intensity that felt like punishment. For some reason, the memory of Luca and Giselle hidden away on the boat, sharing a kiss on their 23rd birthday, flooded her mind. Olivia's stomach turned as the nausea intensified. Driven by a surge of frustration, Olivia bit down hard on his lip, his lips parting as he hissed in surprise. His eyes filled with a crimson rage. "Olivia, how dare you… you weren’t like this before." Their sharps gazes met, but before anything more could be said, a rapid ringing of a phone shattered the silence. Luca glanced at his phone. The caller ID read Giselle. Her voice crackled through the speaker, thick with panic and tears. "Luca, Buffy has been vomiting. I’m so scared. I don’t know what to do, please come back." Instantly, Luca’s demeanor shifted, his concern overtaking his anger. "Don’t worry, Giselle, I’ll be there in a minute." Without sparing another glance at Olivia, he stormed out of the room, his steps echoing as he rushed toward the door.

Buffy was the kitten Giselle raised. Once upon a time, Olivia’s biggest wish was to raise a cat with Luca, but that dream had never come true since Luca was allergic to cat fur. He had always claimed he did not like small animals, yet he adored Giselle’s kitten. Just like tonight. If Buffy was truly sick, wouldn’t a vet be the best solution? Why did Giselle need him instead? This was not the first time they had fought over this. But each time, the argument ended with Olivia swallowing her pride, apologizing and admitting she had been unreasonable. But tonight, the nausea still had not faded and she did not have the energy to care about these petty matters anymore. She rushed into the bathroom, rinsing her mouth over and over before she could breathe properly again. When she finally looked up, she stared blankly at her own reflection in the mirror. Years in the industry had taken their toll. To maintain her on-screen image, she had lost so much weight that doctors warned it was dangerous. If not for her love for Luca, she would have pursued her management degree, graduated and returned home to take over her parents' company. Her phone vibrated. It was a message from her agent, Yeva. [The new drama starts filming next month. How’s your preparation going? I know you've been working hard for this role. Feeling confident it'll be a hit?] If her past life was any indication, within the next two days, Luca would ask her to give up this role. Olivia hesitated for a moment before typing a response. [Yeva, if I suddenly disappear one day, would it cause a lot of trouble?] Almost instantly, Yeva sent a string of voice messages. "What kind of nonsense are you talking about, silly girl? If you disappear, what do you think will happen to me?" "Have you been under too much stress lately? Don’t let it eat away at you." "You're still so young. You’ve already done such amazing films, won so many awards. You have a brilliant future ahead. Why would you even think about disappearing?" Olivia knew the weight of her choices. If she disappeared, a lot of people would be affected. But it was the only way she could think of to free herself from Luca. She sent a few reassuring messages to Yeva before collapsing onto her bed. For the first time in a long while, she fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. It was not until the smart home system chimed to alert her of food delivery that she finally stirred awake. She blinked awake, groggy from sleep and shuffled toward the door. The moment she opened it, a delicate little cake greeted her. Beside it lay a handwritten note. Luca’s familiar script filled the page. The message was predictable. It must be an apology for leaving in a rush last night and a promise to visit that afternoon to "discuss something important." Luca knew she had a weakness for sweets. Every time he needed to smooth things over, he sent her a cake. But this was not just an apology. It was a preemptive strike. Olivia let out a quiet, bitter laugh. Without hesitation, she picked up the cake and tossed it straight into the trash. The note was torn into irreparable pieces. She already knew why Luca had come to persuade her to give up the lead role in the new drama. That afternoon, he arrived right on time, just as she expected. In his hands was a bouquet of deep red roses. Her favorite. Olivia lay on the sofa, idly flipping through a book. Without looking up, she asked, "What is it?" Luca set the flowers on the coffee table, flashing a gentle smile. "What's wrong? Still upset?" Her voice was steady, indifferent. "No." Unbothered, he crouched beside her, closing the distance between them. With an easy familiarity, he plucked the book from her hands. "Olivia, I want to discuss something with you." Olivia gave a small nod. Luca continued, "Well, Giselle wants the lead role in your upcoming drama. Can you let her have it?" As if sensing resistance, he quickly added the real bargaining chip before she could respond. "Olivia, if you step aside and let Giselle take the role, I’ll seriously consider marrying you."

To Luca’s surprise, Olivia agreed almost instantly. "All right." His heart skipped a beat. He had been prepared for a drawn-out argument, but he had not expected her to yield so easily. "You…" Luca hesitated, his brows furrowing. "Isn’t this drama really important to you? Haven’t you been preparing for it for a long time?" Olivia scoffed inwardly. So he knew. He knew she had poured years of effort into this drama. And yet, he still had the audacity to ask her to give it up for Giselle. Love? Hate? What was the difference? Even though he had gotten the answer he wanted, a sense of unease crept into Luca’s heart. Olivia had been acting strange lately and so unlike herself. It was as if she had become an entirely different person. Seeing the doubt flickering in his eyes, she smiled and lied effortlessly. "No matter how important this drama is, isn’t our wedding more important?" Luca’s tense expression softened. Yes, that made sense. Olivia had always dreamed of marrying him since they got together, hadn’t she? "I knew you were the best." Luca raised her hand and touched Olivia's cheek, but Olivia instinctively flinched away. Luca did not seem to mind. Instead, changed the subject. "Did you like the cake?" If he had been just a bit more observant, he would have noticed it sitting in the trash. Olivia smiled again, her lips as smooth as silk. "I ate it. It was delicious." Luca nodded approvingly, his voice gentle. "Good. Then you should start setting aside time to pick out a wedding dress." Olivia narrowed her eyes and abruptly changed the subject. "When do you plan to make our relationship public?" After four years together, this question remained the biggest landmine between them. One question that always led to an argument. Luca averted his gaze, but his response was the same well-rehearsed excuse. "My career is on the rise right now. If we go public, it could affect me." He had no idea that soon, Olivia would leave the entertainment industry entirely and was never to be a burden to him again. She said nothing more, simply pushing Luca aside and murmuring, "I understand. I'm a little tired. You should go." But Luca did not move. He reached for the hem of her sleeve, his voice soft. "Are you upset? I didn’t mean to leave like that last night. It was an emergency. Giselle loves her cat. I couldn’t just ignore it." Olivia pulled her sleeve free, indifference flickering in her gaze. That was when she noticed the red rash on Luca’s neck. A telltale sign of a cat hair allergy. Luca was meticulous about his appearance, so he would never allow something like this to happen unless it was unavoidable. However, Giselle was always an exception. Olivia let out a cold chuckle. "Angry? Why would I be angry? I wanted you to leave, but you insisted on staying." Upon hearing these words, Luca’s irritation flared instantly. "Olivia, how old are you? Stop acting like a little girl throwing a tantrum." He had known Olivia for years, long enough to believe he understood her. She had always been quick to anger, but as long as he gave her an out, she would eventually back down. Yet this time, she had been distant for days. If it were not for Giselle, Luca would not have been so careful with her feelings. But instead of arguing back, Olivia simply sighed, resting her head in her hand as if she were too exhausted to care. "If that’s what you think, then so be it." Luca’s frustration only deepened. He stood up abruptly, heading for the door, but not before throwing one last warning over his shoulder. "Olivia, have you thought about what happens if you say things you can’t take back?"

Just as Luca reached the door, a sudden knock echoed through the apartment. Glancing at the video doorbell, he saw Giselle standing outside. It was the middle of winter, yet she was trembling in the hallway, clad only in a thin knit sweater. A pang of guilt twisted in Luca’s chest. Without hesitation, he rushed to open the door. "Luca, I knew you’d be here." The moment she saw him, Giselle’s eyes turned red with unshed tears. "Giselle, what are you doing here?" he asked, frowning. Giselle didn’t answer. Instead, she stepped past him and headed straight for Olivia, who remained seated in the living room. Her voice trembled as she spoke, tears welling at the corners of her eyes. "Olivia, I never meant to steal your role. It was all because of my brother... He acted on impulse." Olivia took her time, silently brewing a cup of black tea, curious to see how long Giselle would keep up the act. Before she could talk more, Luca cut in, immediately coming to Giselle’s defense. "I told you to leave this to me. Why did you come here?" Giselle’s sobs grew louder. "Luca, how could you say that? Now Olivia must think I'm shameless!" Luca's heart ached. Without thinking, he pulled Giselle into a gentle embrace and coaxed her softly. "Giselle, Olivia is older than you. There’s nothing for you to feel guilty about. It’s normal for her to look out for you." As he spoke, he shot Olivia a meaningful glance, silently urging her to say something, but she only took a slow sip of tea, deliberately feigning ignorance. Luca's patience finally snapped. His voice sharpened. "Olivia, didn’t you just agree to give Giselle the role? What’s with this attitude now? Are you going back on your word?" Before Olivia could respond, Giselle stepped forward and gently took her hand. "Olivia, I’ve admired you since we were kids. We grew up together. I know our friendship is stronger than this. You won’t hold it against me, will you?" Olivia set down the tea leaves, pressing her fingertips against her heated temples before speaking in an icy tone. "You two are unbearably loud. You're disturbing my rest." "I haven't been feeling well lately and need some peace. Can you do me a favor and give me some silence?" The moment those words left her lips, both Giselle and Luca were stunned. Luca quickly regained his composure, striding forward to seize Olivia’s wrist. "Olivia, can you stop with this attitude? Do you always have to be so sharp-tongued?" Olivia’s gaze turned ice-cold. She gritted her teeth, enunciating each word with deliberate precision. "I told you to leave." That look in her eyes struck Luca harder than he expected. There was coldness, there was impatience, but there was no love. In nearly ten years, they had known each other and never once had she looked at him like this. Like he was nothing. Like he was an enemy. Yet just moments ago, she had been speaking about marriage. About a future together. Frustration flared in Olivia’s chest. She yanked her wrist free from Luca’s grasp and raised her voice. "I already told you I wasn’t feeling well! I told you to leave! Why don’t you understand?" Giselle flinched in fear, clutching the sleeve of Luca’s coat. Her voice trembled with fear. "Luca, let’s go… Olivia is so scary." But this time, Luca did not pay her any attention. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Olivia, refusing to back down. His voice was hoarse, desperate. "Are you saying this because you're truly upset, or…" "Because I truly want peace and quiet." Olivia closed her eyes, exhaustion weighing heavily on her. She let out a weary sigh. "Luca, just go. I just want some peace. You're both too noisy."

Luca pulled Giselle along and stormed out without a second glance. But before the door shut behind him, he threw out one last parting shot. "Olivia, I’m done talking to you! Even if you come crawling back and beg for forgiveness, I won’t take you back!" As the door slammed shut, Olivia exhaled slowly and sank into the sofa, exhaustion washing over her. She kept reminding herself that all of this would be over soon. True to his word, Luca did not contact her for three whole days. To spite her, he even appeared as a special guest on a dating show. In this show, he was surrounded by trending influencers, rising internet celebrities and all sorts of glamorous women. Luca was certain that a jealous woman like Olivia would not be able to stand it. He expected her to swallow her pride and reach out within twenty-four hours. But as the second day of filming rolled by, there was no single message from Olivia. A flicker of unease crept into Luca’s mind. He wanted to walk out of the studio and go straight to her, but the show’s recording was not finished yet, so he had no choice but to stay. Then came the interactive segment. The host mischievously asked Luca to call a woman he was closest to and pretend to confess to her. The cameras were rolling. Luca hesitated for a moment before dialing Olivia’s number. This time, he told himself, just this once, he would take the initiative. Beep... Beep... The dial tone rang endlessly, but no one picked up. A confused frown settled on Luca’s face. He called again and again. Still, no answer. The host chuckled, teasing, "Come on, Luca, you should call Olivia. You two have known each other for so long, yet she still won’t pick up your call?" The other guests joined in, laughing. "Oh my god, is this what they call ‘just friends’? Are you sure?" "There were always rumors about you two being together. Any truth to them?" Luca forced a smile, his fingers tightening around the phone as he silently prayed for Olivia to pick up. But at this moment, the director called for an emergency stop and the live broadcast that was being watched by tens of thousands audience was abruptly cut off. The entire set fell silent. Then, Luca’s manager came running at full speed, face pale as a sheet. "It’s over. It’s all over! Olivia’s reputation just collapsed! And you… you just called her on live TV! We’re screwed!" Luca’s mind went blank. "What did you say?" His manager, looking like he was about to faint, shoved his phone into Luca’s hands. "See for yourself!"