Only if you know (Book 1)

Chapter 24

Olivia marched straight up to Caleb, snatched the nearest cushion, and smacked him across the head.

      “What the hell, Olivia?” Caleb exploded, stunned and irritated.

      She didn’t stop. She kept hitting him. Once, twice, harder, completely ignoring the way Eliana and William stared at her in shock from across the room.

      “Why the hell are you hitting me?” Caleb barked again, his eyes narrowing into daggers.

      “So, what are you expecting me to do?” Olivia shot back, her voice trembling with fury. “You are the biggest knucklehead on the planet. How can you abandon your brother like that? Without even listening to his side of the story?”

      The second she mentioned Carson, Caleb’s expression twisted into something ugly.

      “Stay out of this, Olivia,” he warned, anger slithering dangerously into his tone.

      “No,” she snapped. “I won’t. I’m not going to stand by and watch your rage rip your family apart. Carson clearly loves all of you, and he deserves a second chance.”

      “Oh, I see.” Caleb let out a bitter laugh. “I’m assuming my dear big brother told you everything. Wonderful. You two will make great friends, if not a couple. You’re both addicts who think the world owes you something.”

      Olivia froze. Her face was drained of color. Her breath hitched. “Do you even hear yourself?” she whispered, then erupted. “Do you even understand how lucky you are to have a brother?”

      “Lucky?” Caleb sneered. “Please. I’m the unluckiest person alive to be associated with someone like him. And drop the tough act, Olivia. Everyone knows you’re the most fragile person in the room, dying for someone to love you. Last night in the park proved that, and I know why you want to fix things between Carson and me. It’s because if you had a brother, he’d probably be dead too, just to avoid being connected to someone like you. After all, you’re an orphan.”

      “CALEB!” William barked, shock and warning rolling through his voice.

      Even Eliana gasped.

      Olivia stood frozen. Shattered. Humiliated. Breathless.

      “Even for you,” she said quietly, “that was a low blow.” She turned to leave, to run, to get away, but stopped. Something in her snapped.

      She spun back around. “Mr. Caleb Knight, since you’re so eager to judge, let me enlighten you. Your brother—yes, the one you treat like trash is engaged to the woman who helped him get his life together after he nearly died from a drug overdose.” Her voice shook, but she stayed strong. “He went to rehab for a year. He’s studying psychology. He left this house because he couldn’t bear the shame of hitting you. He almost killed himself because he hated what he’d become. And all he wanted was to come back and be someone worthy of you.”

      She stepped closer, her eyes burning. “But you didn’t even try. You didn’t bother to ask. You didn’t care. And honestly? I feel sorry for him. Because no matter how hard he fought to be better, he still has a brother who doesn’t appreciate him.”

      Olivia threw the cushion aside and walked out of the room.

      Caleb stood there, stunned—every word hitting him like a blow. His parents looked shaken, devastated. Silence swallowed the house whole.

It had been a long night for everyone in the Knights' house.

      Olivia lay awake, her mind tearing through memories and traumas she’d fought so hard to bury. Caleb replayed his own cruel words over and over, each one poisoning him with guilt. Eliana and William whispered apologies to the quiet walls, ashamed they hadn’t done more for Carson when he needed them most.

      Sunday passed in a heavy, suffocating quiet.

      Olivia emerged from her room just long enough to eat. Caleb wanted to apologize desperately, but every time he saw her blank face, the words died in his throat. Eliana and William barely spoke, drowning themselves in chores and unanswered regret.

Caleb was waiting for Olivia for school when his mother told him that she had already left. Her car was still parked in the garage, so he assumed she had walked. He didn't feel well enough to drive, so he walked as well.

      He saw her at school—stone-faced, emotionless, walking past him as if he didn’t exist. He’d never seen her like that. Olivia was always something—angry, sarcastic, vulnerable, stubborn. But numb?

      That terrified him.

      Even Sia and Mason couldn’t get her to talk. Olivia stayed glued to Zack, Stella, and Gaby, avoiding him completely.

      By Tuesday, nothing had changed. By Wednesday, it only got worse.

      Students from various schools had arrived for a workshop. The corridors buzzed with excitement as members of Fire and Ice, the reigning band champions, were also present.

      Olivia walked in during lunch, looking exhausted.

      “What’s with all the chaos today?” she asked, sliding into the only open seat—which happened to be beside Caleb.

      He was surprised to see her at their table next to him, but she had no choice because Stella and Zack had sat with them as there were fewer seats available today.

      “People from other schools are here for workshops,” Mason explained.

      Olivia’s eyes widened. “Why are people from my old school here?” she whispered in panic.

      “That’s beside the point,” Zack interjected. “Jenna is going to lose her mind when she finds out we’re representing the school in the competition.”

      “I know,” Olivia sighed. “She’s going to create a scene.”

      “Wait—you’re participating?” Sia squealed.

      “Yes, Sia,” Stella replied. “We were supposed to compete years ago. So, we’re finally taking that chance.” Her voice softened. “He would have wanted it.”

      “He definitely would have,” Zack agreed softly.

      Caleb blinked. The same he again. The one Olivia refused to talk about. Before he could ask, someone behind them spoke.

      “Olivia?” A voice—soft, familiar, uncertain.

      Olivia turned. Her breath left her body. “Ryan,” she whispered. 

      She hadn’t expected him to show up. She knew their paths would cross one day, but she didn’t expect it to be this soon.