Transferred to another life

**Chapter Fifty-Three: Return of the Outcast**

The next morning, Olivia stood at the gates of Darkwood Manor, the imposing structure now a battlefield for her return. The weight of betrayal still clung to her like a cloak, but she wore it proudly. She was no longer the same Olivia who had been cast out. She was sharper, stronger, and fueled by a thirst for retribution.

She smoothed her dress, the vials of suggestion potion hidden beneath the folds, and took a deep breath. Her heart raced, but not with fear. This time, it was anticipation. She would make her return memorable.

As she stepped through the front doors, a few servants glanced her way, but none dared to speak. Word had spread about her exile, and they assumed she had returned on some last-minute arrangement from her father. None of them knew the true reason she was back, and that suited Olivia perfectly.

She made her way to the dining room, where the family gathered for breakfast as usual. The tension in the air was almost tangible, but Olivia walked in with an air of calm. Clara, Charles, Matthew, and Aunt Beatrice were all seated, the latter casting Olivia a nervous glance as she entered. Olivia caught her aunt's eye briefly but said nothing. The time for words had passed.

### **The Confrontation**

Charles, at the head of the table, was the first to acknowledge her. His face was set in a stern expression, his eyes narrowing slightly at the sight of her. "Olivia," he said evenly, "I wasn't expecting you this morning."

"I'm here for breakfast, Father," Olivia replied, her voice smooth. She took a seat across from Clara, who glared at her, barely concealing her disdain.

"Is that all you're here for?" Clara asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Or do you have more tricks up your sleeve?"

Olivia smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "I'm just here to enjoy a meal with my family."

Matthew, seated to Clara's right, crossed his arms, his expression guarded. He had said little since Olivia's exile, but his presence was still one of quiet hostility. "We've already had enough of your games, Olivia," he said coldly. "Why don't you just leave while you can?"

Olivia's smile widened, but her eyes remained sharp. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere, Matthew. In fact, I think you'll find that things are about to change."

Charles frowned, his tone hardening. "Enough of this, Olivia. We've made our decision. You don't belong here anymore."

Aunt Beatrice shifted uncomfortably, but Olivia remained calm, her gaze never leaving her father's. "You may think you've made a decision, Father, but I'm not as easy to cast aside as you hoped. You've underestimated me."

Charles was about to respond, but Olivia turned her attention to Clara, her gaze piercing. "Clara," she said sweetly, "you seem awfully confident, considering how easily you've wormed your way into Father's good graces. It's almost like you're the one pulling the strings here."

Clara's smirk faltered, her eyes narrowing. "Don't try to turn this around on me, Olivia. You're the one who's dangerous. You're the one who—"

"I'm not the one who poisoned Matthew," Olivia cut in sharply, her words hanging in the air like a bomb. "But you've all conveniently forgotten to question how he got sick in the first place, haven't you?"

The room fell silent, Clara's face going pale as everyone turned to look at her. Matthew stiffened in his seat, his eyes flicking toward his sister with suspicion.

"What are you implying?" Charles asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"I'm implying that Clara has had her own agenda all along," Olivia said, her voice calm but firm. "You've trusted her blindly, Father, but isn't it odd that everything began falling apart after she started whispering in your ear?"

Clara's face twisted in anger. "You're lying!"

"Am I?" Olivia raised an eyebrow, her hand resting lightly on the edge of the table. "Or have you just been too comfortable with your role as the instigator, Clara? Too comfortable manipulating everyone around you while keeping your hands clean."

Clara shot up from her chair, her face flushed with fury. "This is ridiculous! You're trying to deflect because you know you're guilty!"

Before Charles could intervene, Aunt Beatrice spoke up, her voice trembling but determined. "Charles, wait. We need to hear Olivia out."

Clara's eyes flashed dangerously as she whirled on Beatrice. "You can't seriously believe her!"

But Olivia wasn't finished. She calmly reached into her pocket and pulled out a small vial of her potion, pretending to examine it thoughtfully. "You see, Clara," she said softly, "I've learned a lot about manipulation lately. And I've realized that sometimes, the people you trust the most are the ones you should question the hardest."

Charles's gaze darkened as he watched Olivia, but a seed of doubt had already been planted. He turned slowly to Clara, his voice tinged with suspicion. "Is there something you're not telling us, Clara?"

Clara's composure crumbled for a brief moment, panic flashing in her eyes. She glanced around the table, realizing she had lost control of the situation. But she quickly regained her confidence, fixing Olivia with a venomous glare.

"I haven't done anything," Clara snapped, her voice sharp. "But Olivia has. She's the one who's dangerous. She's the one who dabbles in dark magic."

At that, Matthew's eyes widened, his expression turning cold. "Dark magic?" he repeated, his voice low. "How do you know about that, Clara?"

Olivia's pulse quickened, her heart racing as she realized the full extent of Clara's knowledge. *How does she know?*

But instead of panicking, Olivia leaned forward, her gaze locking onto Clara's with steely determination. "It seems you know more than you've let on, Clara. How could you possibly know about dark magic unless you've been involved in something yourself?"

Clara hesitated, but the damage was done. The suspicion in the room was thick, and Olivia could see the doubt creeping into Charles's eyes. For the first time, it wasn't just her on trial.

### **The Shift in Power**

Charles finally spoke, his voice low and filled with frustration. "Enough. We'll discuss this further, but I need to think."

Clara tried to speak, but Charles cut her off with a wave of his hand. "We'll discuss it at dinner. Until then, Olivia, stay out of trouble."

Olivia nodded, standing up slowly. As she left the dining room, she felt the weight of their stares on her back. But for the first time since her exile, she felt something shift.

The balance of power was tilting in her favor.