It Doesn’t Matter Anymore novel Chapter 84

After all, Olivia had raised her. The moment she saw Liora, her expression told her everything

The Hughes family came looking for Liora six months after Sebastian Hunter’s death

At that time, Liora had been consumed by grief, wandering frantically in search of Seb

Everyone had seen Seb being buried with their own eyes, but Liora couldn’t accept this reality.

People thought she might not survive the loss.

Olivia believed that perhaps a change of environment, with new people around her, could help Liora move on from the sorrowe

So, she accepted the Hughes family’s money and sent Liora to the capital.

But not long after, Olivia heard about the engagement. She knew how deeply Liora had loved Sebastian, and it was clear she couldn’t accept anyone else so soon. Fearing that someone might pressure her child into this marriage for the sake of a high-society union, Olivia hurried to Ne

York.

It was there that Olivia met Lucas, just back from studying abroad.

Lucas and Sebastian, aside from their different temperaments, looked so alike they could have been cut from the same mold.

At that time, Liora seemed to grasp onto what she believed was the last lifeline, convinced that Lucas was Sebastian.

He had simply lost his memory for some reason.

Whenever Olivia mentioned Sebastian’s death, Liora would instantly deny it, her emotions spiraling out of control. But today, as she looked at hi mother with tear-filled eyes, she no longer denied the truth.

“You knew all along, didn’t you? He’s not Seb, right?” Olivia asked, her voice trembling.

Liora nodded through her tears. She knew full well that Lucas could never measure up to Sebastian. But compared to accepting Seb’s death, st would rather live in the delusion that someone who resembled him was still with her.

How could she go on without that hope?

But Lucas, to her despair, was slipping further and further away from the image of Seb. Dressed in suits day after day, the resemblance to Seb became more and more distant.

Olivia suddenly burst into tears, her heart aching. “He must be so cruel to you…”

How badly must Liora have suffered to finally put aside such deep obsession and accept Seb’s death, admitting Lucas wasn’t him?

Olivia’s heart was torn apart. The monitors beside her suddenly began to beep, signaling an emergency.

Liora panicked and rushed to call for help.

But Olivia grabbed her wrist with surprising strength. “Lori, when I die, there won’t be anyone left to tie you down. Leave those people behind… g home… live a free life…”

Liora nodded desperately, hurriedly pressing the emergency button.

Olivia seemed like a deflated balloon, her breath shallow, her gaze full of longing as she looked at Liora.

Chapter 84

She couldn’t let go

She had raised Liora like a precious gem, never allowing her to be unprotected, never imagining a world where her little girl would have to faces

alone, unable to speak.

“Lori…

Olivia clung to her final breath, grasping Liora’s hand.

“Call me… ‘Mom’…

Liora’s pupils trembled violently.

“Cali me.. ‘Mom’…” Olivia whispered, her voice barely audible.

And with those last words, Olivia lost her strength.

She collapsed into Liora’s arms, her breaths growing shorter, her gaze filled with sorrow

Liora’s vocal cords and throat were fine; she wasn’t physically mute.

The shock she had suffered before going to the orphanage had left her with a psychological trauma, resulting in selective mutism.

Olivia had taken her to many specialists, but nothing had helped.

Liora looked at Olivia, the buzzing in her ears growing louder.

She nodded repeatedly, trying to call out “Mom.”

But as her throat tightened with an overwhelming sense of urgency, no sound came out. Only a bitter, metallic taste rose in her mouth.

Suddenly, medical staff rushed into the room, pulling Liora away, shoving her to the side.

The world around her spun into chaos, the buzzing in her ears continuing until a long, steady beep pierced the silence, signaling Olivia’s passing.

The nurses covered Olivia’s body with a white sheet, concealing her twisted, pain-stricken face.

Liora had seen this scene before.

The last time was at the Crystalshore funeral home, where the director, a woman who had raised her, had cried out, hoarse, ‘Seb. Seb…”

Sebastian, you loved me so much, yet I couldn’t even give you a proper goodbye. Years have passed, and I never even visited your grave.

The headmistress raised me and just wanted to hear me call her ‘Mom’ once more.

But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do the one thing I wanted most.

Olivia had already made arrangements for her after-death matters. There was no farewell ceremony; she was cremated, and her ashes and belongings were entrusted to Liora.

When Olivia was pushed into the cremation furnace, the caregiver who had looked after her broke down in tears, collapsing onto the ground. Liora stood quietly, her lips pale, silently calling out to her “Mom.”

New York received its first snow of the season that day.

After a meeting Lucas’s secretary, Robin, quickly approached him.

“Mr. Chandler, lawyer Mr. King says she can’t get in touch with Mrs. Chandler.”

Robin spoke softly, not daring to breathe too loudly Mr. Chandler’s mood was visibly dark, and the air around him seemed to freeze within a five-meter radius.

Logically speaking, Lucas should have been in a good mood after finally regaining control over his family’s conglomerate, having/horoughly defeated his uncles. Yet, he looked anything but happy.

“I understand, Lucas muttered, furrowing his brow.

He had expected her to back out, but so soon? This made the divorce more complicated than anticipated.

As these thoughts ran through his mind, he didn’t even notice his steps had lightened.

Robin sensed the sudden change in atmosphere, as if the clouds had parted.

Back in his office, Lucas opened his computer. The screen lit up, revealing the divorce agreement he had been reviewing before the meeting,

details of Liora’s settlement.

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