Chapter 381

While Daniel and Andrew were talking upstairs, Olivia was reading and organizing work files in the study.

She sat quietly on the chair with her back straight. Her arms were placed on the desk, and she was in a standard reading and writing posture.

Olivia was lazy and casual when she was relaxed, but when she read and wrote, she always had the most standard posture and the most focused attitude.

Her eyes were bright and deep as if her entire body had been buried in a book.

The butler, Roland, came in to deliver fruits to her. When he saw the sunlight landing on her body, the golden light outlined her graceful and perfect figure. Roland was stunned by this beautiful scene.

“The once exquisite and beautiful little girl had already grown up,‘ Roland thought.

For a moment, Roland felt a lot of emotions in his heart.

After sighing slightly, Roland gently placed the fruit plate beside Olivia and gently reminded her, “Eat some fruits. These are strawberries sent over by the village. Although they look ordinary and are small, they are pure and unpolluted. They are very sweet.”

Olivia put down her pen and took out a wet towel to wipe her hands before picking up a strawberry and putting it into her mouth.

The sweet fruit fragrance exploded on the tip of her tongue. Olivia narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

Like a cute animal, she wheedled at Roland. “The strawberries sent by Roland are still the sweetest!”

A smile subconsciously appeared in Roland’s eyes. At this moment, it was as if Roland had returned to the time when Olivia was still very young. Olivia was still that soft little girl. She ran up to him in her beautiful little gown and smiled until her eyes narrowed into slits. She said in a sweet tone, “Roland is the best. Roland’s strawberries are the sweetest in the world.”

“If Miss Olivia likes it, I’ll always send you fruits,” Roland said gently.

Olivia ate two strawberries and said casually, “By the way, is your son, Quaid Gibson, about to graduate?”

“Yes, he will graduate in June next year.” Roland nodded. At the mention of his son, the expression on Roland’s face unconsciously softened. “He studied sculpture. This major is similar to other art majors.

It’s not easy to find a job. Fortunately, he has some ability and has already made several choices.”

“Quaid is very impressive,” Olivia praised. Then, she continued, “Sculpting is at hard job. In the end, it will all turn to design. The earlier the better. I know Freddy Spike. He is now planning to recruit two assistants. I wonder if Quaid is willing to give it a try?”

For a moment, Roland did not understand. His expression was a little stunned as he stared blankly at Olivia.

It took him a while to realize what Freddy’s name meant in the sculpture industry. Freddy was a top–

notch master in the country. His status in the domestic sculpture industry was similar to Mrs. Liebsig’s status in the painting industry. Roland was experienced, but when he heard the name, his hands still trembled with excitement. “Freddy… Freddy Spike! Miss Olivia, are you telling me the true Freddy Spike?”

“Of course it’s true.” Olivia smiled. “However, I’m only acting as a referral. As for whether the interview will succeed and whether Freddy will take a fancy to Quaid, it will depend on Quaid’s own ability.”

“That’s enough. It’s enough.” Roland was still excited and incoherent. He looked at Olivia with gratitude. “You are really kind. Thank you, Olivia.”

“Roland, you have been taking care of me since I was young. How could I forget your son?” Olivia softened her expression like a gentle little girl. “It’s just that I’ve suddenly encountered a drastic change and have too many things to handle. I don’t have time to chat with you. However, I’ve always taken your matters to heart.”

“Olivia…” Roland’s eyes were slightly wet, and his voice trembled.

“Alright.” Olivia tilted her head. “I can only act cute in front of you. Outside, I’m still the cold and heartless the Smith family’s head.”

Roland was amused. He turned around and wiped the tears in his eyes with his sleeve. He said in a low voice, “I’ll go to the kitchen to take a look. I’ll cook personally this noon and cook your favorite dishes.”

“It’s been a long time since I‘

eaten something personally made by you,” Olivia said with anticipation in her eyes.

Seeing this, Roland felt even more complicated. He quickly walked to the door. but stopped when he opened it.

He turned around and looked at Olivia, wanting to say something.

At this moment, Olivia had already lowered her head to read the files. When she realized that Roland had not left, she smiled and said, “Roland. Remember to make some soup. I like it.”

“Alright.” Roland nodded heavily and left.

After Roland left, Elena came out of the room inside. She was very puzzled. “Miss, you clearly know that Gillian and the others have already contacted Roland. Why are you still helping his son? In the face of the benefits Gillian and the others have proposed, Roland is clearly tempted. Aren’t you angry?”

Olivia put down her pen and turned her chair to look out of the window. Her 10:37 tone was calm. “Helping Quaid is something I’ve decided long ago. It’s for Roland’s years of loyalty to Isaac and his care for me. He deserves it. Even if he ultimately chooses Gillian, I will still help Quaid.”

Elena sat on the sofa next to her, still unable to understand. “Then aren’t you angry? Roland has wavered. Although he hasn’t made a choice and is even more inclined to you, he is still wavered after all. He even hid the fact that Gillian has contacted him.”

“Elena.” Olivia turned to her and said solemnly, “One should not be too straightforward. If you want people to work for you, it is necessary to reveal some key benefits appropriately. As long as Roland knows that the benefits are greater if he works for me, he will naturally give up on Gillian and the others.”

“But…” Elena was still in a dilemma. “What about the Smith family’s other people? Why don’t you give them more benefits and let them know that it’s better to work for you?

“Because I have double standards. I want Roland, so I want to show him the benefits. I don’t want to care about the Smith family’s people, so I hid my identity to test them.” Olivia’s tone was calm as she naturally explained her selfishness. “Elena, you have to know that the relationship between me and the relatives is different. I’m a human, not a machine. I have my own emotions and my own biases.

“Roland had taken care of me for many years. Not to mention that he was just hesitating and did not betray me, even if he really chose Gillian, I would still have a way to let him come back. I would even find an excuse for him, thinking that he joined Gillian for his children.

“Elena, this is emotional bias, because Roland has my childhood memories. I have emotional dependence, so I will unconsciously favor him and find excuses for him.

“However, other Smith family’s people are strangers to me. Why should I take care of such a group of strangers? Why should I give them benefits? They didn’t do anything for me. Why should I treat them well?”

At this point, Olivia paused and lowered her tone. “Elena, you have to admit your selfish weakness and understand that you will be influenced by emotions when you make decisions. Only if you understand all of this can you control them.” Elena knew a little, but she didn’t understand them all. She was very confused. Seeing this, Olivia said, “Let me give you an example. If you are a member of the Smith family and you have never seen me before, let alone understood me, will you trust me, respect me, and obey me?”

Elena shook her head. “No.”

Olivia continued, “Let me give you another example. A distant relative of your family suddenly comes over and gives you two hundred thousand dollars. The one asks you to work for him and promises to treat you very well. Do you dare to accept it?”

“Of course not.” Elena was terrified. “How can I accept it so casually? He is a stranger after all! He suddenly comes out and treats me well. He must have some ulterior motives. I definitely won’t believe him. I have to avoid any contact with him.”

“That’s right.” Olivia’s tone was indifferent. “I’m not familiar with these people from the Smith family. We don’t have any interactions, nor have we experienced anything together. There’s no way to build a sense of trust between us in a short period of time. I don’t trust them, and they don’t trust me either.

“Actually, if I take it slow, they might acknowledge me in eight or ten years, but I don’t have time to wait.

I need to gather the Smith family’s power in the shortest time possible, then I need a huge betrayal.”

“Betrayal?” Elena looked up in shock.

“That’s right.” Olivia’s tone was calm. “Those who betray me are easily tempted by small profits.

There’s no need to care about them. The people who stay behind will build a closer relationship with me. They consciously supported me and did not betray me. That means they’re in cahoots with me.

Therefore, when I give them benefits and profits, they won’t think that I have some ulterior motives.

“Instead, they’ll think that it’s natural. Because they don’t think they betrayed me, so they deserve my benefits.

“More importantly, there’s a comparison after this. People won’t cherish what they’re used to. Only when they’ve lost it, or almost lost it, or when they see others lose it, will they cherish it even more.

“The worse the life of the person who betrays me, the more glad the person who follows me will be.

Then, they will establish a closer relationship with me.

“Only with such a close relationship can I be considered the real head of the Smith family. Only then will all of them listen to my orders.”

Elena was completely stunned.