Transferred to another life

**Chapter Forty-Six: A Seat at the Table**

The grand dining room of Darkwood Manor gleamed in the dim candlelight, the long oak table laid out with an elaborate spread. The air was thick with tension, as it often was during these family gatherings, but tonight there was something more—a quiet undercurrent of suspicion that hadn't quite surfaced yet, but everyone could feel it.

Olivia entered the dining room, her head held high, her heart pounding beneath her calm exterior. She knew she was being watched closely now, but tonight was about continuing her careful game. As she approached the table, she noticed Aunt Beatrice waving her over, an invitation that immediately raised the eyebrows of the rest of the family.

"Come, Olivia, sit with me," Beatrice said warmly, her voice carrying a gentle authority that caused a ripple of murmurs among the others.

Olivia smiled as if nothing was unusual, sliding into the seat next to her aunt, knowing full well how it must look to the others. She could already feel their eyes on her—particularly her father's, Charles, whose stern gaze never left her as he took his seat at the head of the table.

Dinner began in silence, forks clinking against plates, the only sounds that broke the tension. Clara, sitting across from Olivia, shot her a scowl while her cousins whispered behind their hands. The mood was suffocating, but Olivia remained calm, knowing the real danger was coming.

### **The Unfolding Accusation**

It was her father who finally broke the silence, his deep voice cutting through the room like a blade. "Olivia," Charles began, his eyes sharp as they flicked from her to Aunt Beatrice, "I couldn't help but notice that you've been spending quite a bit of time with your aunt lately."

Olivia met his gaze evenly, feigning innocence. "Aunt Beatrice has been very kind to me. We've been talking a lot, especially with everything going on."

Charles's gaze hardened. "Is that so? And what exactly have you two been discussing?"

Before Olivia could respond, Matthew, seated further down the table, slammed his glass down with a force that startled everyone. "Isn't it obvious, Father? Olivia's been scheming. It's no coincidence that I fell ill right after she started acting strange."

Olivia's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to remain calm, her face a mask of confusion. "Matthew, what are you talking about?"

"You poisoned me," Matthew snarled, his eyes blazing with accusation. "You've been dabbling in dark magic, just like before. You wanted to take me out of the picture, didn't you?"

Olivia froze. The room seemed to narrow in on her, the accusations echoing in her mind. Dark magic. He said it with such certainty, but how could he know that the original Olivia had once dabbled in it? That part of her life had been buried, forgotten. And yet, here Matthew was, speaking as if he knew everything.

"Dark magic?" Aunt Beatrice's voice wavered, her eyes darting between Olivia and Matthew. "Matthew, that's absurd. Olivia has been nothing but kind."

"Kind?" Matthew spat, standing up from his chair. "She's been pretending. I know what she's capable of. Ever since she recovered, she's been different—more secretive, more dangerous. And now, after weeks of sickness, I'm finally recovering, and the truth is clear: Olivia tried to kill me."

The entire room was staring at Olivia now, eyes wide with a mixture of shock and disbelief. Clara, sitting across from her, looked gleeful at the prospect of Olivia being exposed, while Charles's face darkened with rage.

"I've done nothing of the sort!" Olivia exclaimed, her voice rising in defiance. "Matthew, you're imagining things! I've been ill myself—how could I possibly have poisoned you when I've been suffering too?"

Matthew's lip curled in a sneer. "Convenient, isn't it? You and I fall ill at the same time, yet you make a miraculous recovery while I'm bedridden for weeks. I should've seen it sooner. You're not the Olivia we used to know."

Olivia's blood ran cold. He said it again. *Not the Olivia we used to know*. What did he mean by that? Could Matthew somehow be aware of what had happened to the original Olivia? How could he know she wasn't the same person?

"I think you're forgetting," Olivia said slowly, her eyes narrowing, "that you were the one who started acting strange long before any of this happened. How do we know you weren't the one dabbling in dark magic, trying to turn the family against me?"

Matthew's face flushed with anger, and Charles, who had been silent until now, slammed his fist onto the table, silencing everyone.

"Enough!" Charles roared, his voice shaking with fury. "Both of you! This family has suffered enough without these ridiculous accusations."

He turned his piercing gaze to Olivia, his expression unreadable. "Olivia, explain yourself. Why are you sitting here, cozying up to Aunt Beatrice, when only a few days ago, the entire family was questioning your loyalty? And now, Matthew is accusing you of poison and dark magic. What's going on?"

Olivia took a deep breath, her mind racing. She had to think fast. The suspicion was thick in the air, and her father was not one to be easily swayed. She met Charles's gaze, her voice steady as she spoke.

"Father, I don't know what Matthew is talking about. I've done nothing wrong. Aunt Beatrice and I have simply been spending time together because she was the only one who believed in my innocence when everyone else turned against me. I've been trying to recover from my own illness, and Matthew's accusations are nothing more than paranoia."

She turned her gaze to Matthew, her eyes narrowing. "If anything, his behavior has been far more erratic than mine. Perhaps he's the one who should be questioned."

A tense silence fell over the room as everyone exchanged uncertain glances. Aunt Beatrice, still under the subtle influence of the suggestion potion, nodded firmly. "I can vouch for Olivia," she said, her voice strong. "She's been nothing but honest and kind. Matthew, I think you're letting your illness cloud your judgment."

Matthew's face twisted with anger, but Charles held up a hand to silence him. "Enough. We will not have this family torn apart by baseless accusations."

Olivia could feel the tension in the room shift ever so slightly in her favor, but she knew this was far from over. Matthew had cast doubt on her, and now the seed of suspicion had been planted. The question remained: how did Matthew know about the original Olivia's dark magic? And more importantly, what else did he know?

As dinner continued in a strained silence, Olivia's mind raced. If Matthew was aware of her past, she would have to tread carefully. This was no longer just about regaining her place in the family—this was about survival.

And Matthew had just made himself her most dangerous enemy.