Transferred to another life

**Chapter Forty-Nine: The Crumbling Facade**

The moment Matthew's outburst ended, the entire room plunged into a suffocating silence. Olivia kept her expression carefully neutral, while the rest of the family sat in varying degrees of shock, disbelief, and uncertainty. Matthew's accusation of dark magic hung in the air, an invisible poison seeping into the cracks of their family bond.

Charles, their father, was the first to speak. His voice was low and grave, betraying the tension he felt. "Matthew, what on earth are you talking about?"

Matthew's eyes darted around the table, wild and panicked, as though trying to find something—or someone—to back him up. "I've seen it, Father. She's been plotting, using her alchemy, her dark magic. I know what she's capable of."

Olivia glanced down at her plate, doing her best to look both innocent and deeply concerned. "Matthew, please," she said softly, her voice just loud enough for the family to hear, "you're not well. You've been through so much already, and I think it's affecting your mind."

Aunt Beatrice, seated next to Olivia, nodded in agreement. "I've been spending time with Olivia, and she's done nothing but try to help this family. Matthew, you must be mistaken."

The tension shifted, and Olivia could see that Beatrice's subtle support was starting to plant doubt in the minds of the others. Clara, however, was not so easily swayed. She narrowed her eyes at Olivia, suspicion burning behind her gaze.

Clara leaned forward. "This is convenient, isn't it, Olivia? You've been playing the innocent victim, but now you suddenly have Aunt Beatrice defending you at every turn? Matthew might be acting strange, but that doesn't mean he's wrong."

Olivia kept her voice calm, though her heart raced beneath her composed exterior. "Clara, I understand your concern, but Matthew has been unwell for weeks. He's recovering from a serious illness, and now he's accusing me of...dark magic? Do you hear how absurd that sounds?"

Matthew slammed his fist onto the table, his face flushed with anger. "It's not absurd! I've seen her working with her alchemy, her potions. And don't think I haven't noticed Aunt Beatrice's sudden change of heart. It's all too convenient."

Olivia suppressed the urge to smile at how perfectly her plan was working. Matthew was coming undone, just as she'd intended. His wild accusations were only making him look more unstable, and the more he ranted, the more the family would turn against him.

Charles rubbed his temples, clearly exhausted by the unfolding drama. "Enough of this," he said, his voice weary. "Matthew, if you have evidence of Olivia's wrongdoing, present it. But right now, all I see is a son who has been through a difficult illness and is lashing out in his recovery."

Matthew's hands trembled as he stared at his father, his face a mask of disbelief. "You're not listening," he whispered, though his voice was hoarse with desperation. "She's manipulating all of you. She's already gotten to Aunt Beatrice—can't you see it?"

Aunt Beatrice shook her head gently, her face full of pity. "Matthew, I'm not under any spell. Olivia has done nothing but support this family. You need to rest, dear. These wild accusations aren't helping anyone."

Matthew's eyes locked onto Beatrice, a mixture of confusion and betrayal clouding his expression. "Even you," he muttered, barely audible. "Even you've turned against me."

Olivia watched him carefully, noting the shift in his demeanor. The potion was doing its job, clouding his judgment, making him see enemies where there were none. But Matthew was still dangerous. He knew too much, and she needed to keep the family's focus on his erratic behavior before he had a chance to gather his thoughts.

### **The Manipulation Deepens**

The tension at the dinner table didn't dissipate even after the confrontation. Instead, it lingered, thick and oppressive, casting long shadows over every interaction. Olivia could sense the growing suspicion in Clara, the wavering uncertainty in Charles. Aunt Beatrice remained steadfast at her side, but Olivia knew she needed more than just one ally to fully secure her position.

Later that evening, Olivia returned to her chambers, her mind racing with the next steps of her plan. The suggestion potion had worked wonders on Aunt Beatrice, but she needed to ensure that the rest of the family didn't fall under Matthew's paranoid influence. If Clara or Charles started to believe him, her entire plan could unravel.

*It's time to escalate,* Olivia thought, her fingers tapping lightly on her desk. She would need to act quickly, especially if Matthew was starting to piece together the truth about her manipulations. He wasn't stupid—just unbalanced—and that made him even more dangerous.

Olivia stood and moved to the hidden compartment behind the fireplace once again, retrieving a different set of ingredients this time. This wasn't just about suggestions anymore. She needed something more potent, something that would tilt the balance in her favor completely.

### **A Turn of Events**

The next morning, Olivia found herself standing at the door to Charles's study. She had decided that her father was the key to this whole situation. If she could convince him of Matthew's instability, then the rest of the family would fall in line.

Knocking softly, she waited for his permission to enter. "Come in," came Charles's deep voice from behind the heavy door.

Olivia stepped inside, her expression carefully measured to show just the right amount of worry. Charles was seated behind his large oak desk, his brow furrowed as he looked over papers that were no doubt related to the family's affairs. He glanced up as Olivia entered, and for a moment, she saw a flicker of something in his eyes—doubt, or maybe even guilt.

"Father," she began, her voice soft but steady, "I wanted to talk to you about last night."

Charles sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "It's all becoming too much, Olivia. This family has enough problems without these accusations flying around."

Olivia nodded sympathetically. "I understand. That's why I came to you. I'm worried about Matthew. His behavior...it's becoming erratic. I'm scared for him, and for the family."

Charles studied her face for a moment, his gaze searching for any sign of deception. Olivia held his gaze, allowing a hint of sadness to show. Finally, he sighed again.

"I know Matthew hasn't been himself," Charles admitted. "But these accusations—dark magic, manipulation—it's madness."

Olivia stepped closer, lowering her voice. "That's exactly what I'm worried about. What if Matthew's illness did more than just affect his body? What if it's affecting his mind as well?"

Charles didn't respond immediately, but Olivia could see the gears turning in his head. She had planted the seed of doubt, and now she just needed to wait for it to grow.

"Father," she said softly, "I think it's time we considered getting Matthew some real help. For his sake. For the family's sake."

Charles looked down at his desk, his expression pained. "You might be right, Olivia. I just...I don't know how to handle this."

Olivia placed a gentle hand on his arm, offering him a small, reassuring smile. "We'll get through this. Together."

As she left his study, Olivia felt a surge of triumph. Matthew was slowly being isolated, his credibility crumbling under the weight of his own accusations. Soon, the family would see him as the real threat, and Olivia would be free to tighten her grip on the house.

But as she walked through the halls, a single thought lingered in the back of her mind: *How much longer can I keep this up before Matthew strikes back?*

For now, the game was still hers to control—but she knew better than anyone that nothing in Darkwood Manor stayed hidden for long.