Third person's POV
Olivia had a fake smile on her face the entire time she and Rachel were conversing. Why? Well, the answer was simple. Rachel was clutching Ethan's hand lovingly the entire time! Olivia wanted so badly to rip those hands off her man, but she couldn't afford to do anything harsh, not in front of Ethan.
"Okay, we have to get back to the party now," Rachel said after a while, still holding onto Ethan. Olivia balled her hands into tight fists behind her back. Hannah noticed it before she looked back at Rachel with a smile. "Okay, we'll just enjoy the fresh air for a little bit." Ethan gave his sister a nod before walking hand in hand with Rachel back to the party.
"What was that!" Olivia yelled, enraged, as soon as Ethan was out of sight. "I should be asking you that question, Livia. What was that? Why were you behaving like that towards Rachel? You're working together, for Christ's sake." Hannah yelled at her best friend. She had noticed the change in Olivia's mood since they had seen Rachel with Ethan.
Olivia ran her hand through her long blonde hair. "That's not what I'm annoyed about. Didn't you see how intimate they were with each other?" Hannah grimaced. Is that what she's annoyed about? "Look, Livia, she's my brother's girlfriend. How else were they supposed to act?" Olivia shook her head in disbelief. Even Hannah knew; now it all made sense. She had been surprised when Hannah insisted on tagging along for this trip. Even though her son Jake was in the film, this was the first time she was so insistent on following them. But now she knew the reason. Her brother's girlfriend was also in the show, and she wanted to introduce herself! But this was so unfair!
"Why didn't you tell me earlier that your brother already had a girlfriend?" "Why didn't you tell me earlier that you like my brother?" Hannah snapped back. Olivia blinked, trying to stop the tears that were about to fall from her eyes. "I wanted to tell you. I've had feelings for Ethan for the longest time... It's just..." It was no use; her tears flowed down from her face, making her look extremely pitiful. Hannah's expression softened, and she walked over to Olivia to comfort her, hugging her while patting her back.
"It's alright, I'm sorry too. I should have known you liked my brother; it's just... We've been friends for too long; I just didn't really expect it." Olivia sniffled before looking up at Hannah. "That's why you're here, isn't it? So you can talk to her? But why didn't you tell me she was Ethan's girlfriend? And why go through all this trouble of coming here to see her when you already know her?" Hannah sighed. "That's because I don't know her. Ethan called me and told me that a girl he liked was in the movie you were starring in, and I got curious about who she was. I only got to know who she was a few weeks ago when Ethan accidentally slipped up her name." She said, and Olivia's eyes widened, a spark of hope ignited in her.
"Does that mean that their relationship hasn't been too long, or even better... Maybe they're not official yet." Hannah rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, Livia, you saw them just now; there's no way their relationship is not official." "Okay, even if they're official, they couldn't have known each other for too long; their relationship could be less than two months." She added, separating herself from Hannah, who looked at her warily.
"I know you, Olivia; what are you planning?" "Hannah... "Olivia clutched Hannah's hands. "Now you know that I like your brother, you can get him to like me back." "Livia... "Olivia shook her head, interrupting Hannah. "Don't you see how perfect a couple Ethan and I would be? And you can help achieve that." "Olivia!" Hannah yelled, removing her hands from Olivia's. "He has a girlfriend already! How can you ask that of me?"
Olivia shook her head frantically, trying to grasp Hannah's hand again, but the latter kept it away. "You said it yourself... You don't know Rachel, but you've known me for over ten years, Hannah; Ethan and I... " "My brother and you are impossible. He likes her... Ethan really likes her. This is the first time I've ever seen my brother like someone in my life, and you're asking me to take it from him?" She asked in disbelief.
"He can like me too; I can get him to like me if you'll help me, Ann." Hannah shook her head. "I can't help you, and I advise you to stay away from them".
Olivia sighed redrawing her hands to clean the tears from her eyes.
"Do you remember when I saved you from your cheating ass of an ex-husbands? "She began and Hannah eyes widened. " I even supported you in court so you'll have custody over jake despite everything that was going on with you then, and you promised to repay the favor "
Hannah eyes reddened. She didn't expect her best friend to open up a wound of her's that she had long buried.
"Olivia, how could you..."
"I didn't want to do this, Hannah, but you leave me with no choice. If you don't help me separate your brother from Rachel, I will reveal the truth about everything that happened that night," Olivia said with a stoic expression.
Hannah couldn't believe her ears. "I told you that in confidence."
"Yes, you did..." Olivia began with a chuckle. "But can't you see I'm desperate? I'm in love with Ethan, madly in love with him, and I've been for years now, keeping it to myself, waiting for the right time to tell him. Then suddenly, someone shows up in his life, and he has feelings for her? What about me!" She yelled, beating her hand on her chest. "I've been diligently by your and your brother's side, supporting you. This was the reason I disagreed when you told me your brother was going back to America... I utterly refused because I knew girls there were desperate for handsome rich men."
"But this is not a reason for you to threaten me with something I willingly told you," Hannah said, feeling hurt, but Olivia couldn't care less.
"Do you even know this Rachel? She's been married before, Livia, and divorced in a span of three years..." Hannah's eyes widened even more. Rachel had been married?
"With that look on your face, I can bet you had no idea. Do you think your brother knows? Look, Ann Rachel is not good enough for Ethan... Nobody but me is." She leaned in and took Hannah's hand again. "Help me help your brother see me, and I promise I would never speak of that night again."
Hannah gulped. Should she agree to this? If Olivia was saying the truth, then Rachel might not be the best person for her brother. But he likes her, and that was the most important thing. But does her brother know her well enough? And Olivia, on the other hand, never makes threats, only warnings.
She's been her friend long enough to know that fact about her. She couldn't afford to let that secret come out; she would be ruined, and her son's career would be over. She had no choice. She nodded her head slowly in acceptance.