James looked at Olivia coldly. “You are now a disgrace to our family. Don’t ever show your face again.”

Olivia listened to her parents’ words with tears streaming down her face. Her heart felt like it was being torn apart, but she also felt a strange sense of liberation.

As a result of this incident, Olivia moved in with her grandparents. Her parents hardly resisted. In fact, they seemed almost relieved that Olivia was leaving the house.

At her grandparents’ home, Olivia experienced the warmth of a true family for the first time.

Olivia woke up to the smell of her grandmother’s breakfast every morning, and at night, she enjoyed philosophical conversations with her grandfather while stargazing.

“Life isn’t easy, Olivia,” her grandfather said. “But with each difficulty you overcome, you become stronger. Don’t forget, you have infinite potential.”

After graduating from high school, Olivia received a full scholarship to Columbia University. The moment Olivia stepped onto the campus, she felt a surge of emotion.

Here, she could start a new life. No one knew her past. No one saw her as Sophia’s sister, but as Olivia.

University life was full of surprises for Olivia. Her intelligence and diligence were highly regarded, and she became well known among the professors. Her friends accepted and respected her unique personality.

Olivia particularly shone in economics classes. Her sharp analytical skills and original thinking amazed the professors.

One day, a renowned professor stopped her.

“Olivia, your latest report was excellent,” he smiled. “You have great potential. Would you be interested in working on Wall Street?”

Olivia’s eyes lit up. This was the opportunity she had been waiting for.

However, occasionally, when she remembered her family, she felt a painful tightening in her chest.

Her contact with her parents was rare, mostly just a birthday card sent her way. She heard nothing from Sophia.

Sometimes, Olivia would look through her family albums. Pictures of her smiling parents and Sophia, with her standing on the edge. Each time she saw those photos, her heart filled with complex emotions.

In her sophomore year in college, Olivia met Ethan in the library. He was a law student who understood her intellect and introverted nature. They clicked and eventually became a couple.

“You’re an incredible person, Olivia,” Ethan’s words resonated with her. “I can’t believe your family misses that.”

Being with Ethan gave her a new perspective. She learned the joy of being loved and re-evaluated her own worth. It also made her deeply contemplate her relationship with her family.

“Should I forgive them?” Olivia asked Ethan one night.

He chose his words carefully.

“That’s for you to decide. But I’ve heard that forgiving isn’t for the other person. It’s for lifting the weight off your own heart.”

Olivia pondered his words for a long time. Gradually, something inside her began to change.

After graduating, Olivia joined a major investment bank on Wall Street. Her analytical skills and insights were highly valued, and she quickly climbed the ranks. By her mid-30s, she was a noted figure in the industry.

One day, Olivia was assigned a major project that could define her career. She worked through many sleepless nights to prepare the best presentation possible.

On the day of the presentation, the conference room was packed with executives. Despite her nerves, Olivia began confidently. Her analysis was sharp. Her proposals innovative.

After she finished, the room fell silent.

Then the CEO stood and started to clap. The other executives followed.

“Great job, Ms. Carter,” the CEO said with a broad smile. “Thanks to you, our company will make significant progress.”

At that moment, Olivia felt her talents were fully recognized. Tears welled up in her eyes. It was the moment all her hard work paid off.

Meanwhile, Ethan had become a successful lawyer working on human rights issues. Despite their busy lives, they supported each other and shared a strong bond.

After eight years together, Ethan proposed. He knelt in front of her favorite painting at the museum Olivia loved.

“Olivia, I want to share my life with you,” his voice trembled. “Will you marry me?”

Olivia nodded through tears. “Yes, gladly.”

That night, as they discussed their future, an inevitable topic came up. Whether to invite her family to the wedding.

Olivia called her grandparents to share the news. Their voices of joy brought tears to her eyes.

“Your happiness means everything, Olivia,” her grandmother’s warm voice said. “You deserve this.”

But reaching out to her parents and Sophia was not easy. Years of resentment slowed her hand as she tried to dial their numbers.