Chapter 11 Replace Your Mind with a New One

Alexander noticed Carol's conflicted expression and asked, "What's bothering you?"

She stepped forward right away and stated, "When Wendy first came to the Sinclair Villa, she mentioned her son's intellectual challenges. He previously attended a school for children with intellectual disabilities."

Carol had plenty of opportunities for private conversations with Wendy after joining the Sinclair Villa, which provided her with insight into Wendy's family situation.

Olivia asked Carol, "Do you know when her son regained his intelligence?"

Carol paused for a moment before saying, "It was about eight years ago. I remember one day, she was overjoyed, mentioning her son's progress. It most likely happened during the summer.

Olivia realized the significance and turned to Alexander, asking, "Eight years ago, was there anyone around Wendy or the Sinclair family who was originally of normal intelligence but suddenly became intellectually disabled?"

The room fell silent as Olivia's question sank in, leaving everyone stunned, including Kenneth, who had been silent up until then. "Are you suggesting..."

"If Wendy wanted to restore her son's intellect, she would have needed to transfer one level of wisdom from someone else to him. However, losing a level of wisdom would result in intellectual disability," Olivia explained.

Given Wendy's ten-year tenure as a maid at the Sinclair Villa, her question focused on people in her immediate vicinity as well as the Sinclair family. Her interactions were primarily limited to this setting, reducing the pool of potential candidates.

When Tom realized Olivia's implication, he was initially annoyed by her disregard and suddenly remembered someone. "Mr. Edwards's daughter, who became intellectually disabled!"

Several heads in the lobby turned to face Tom at the same time. Kenneth's expression became stern as he rebuked Tom, "You can't address Ms. Edwards in that manner!"

He then directed his gaze to Olivia. While he remained skeptical of her alleged abilities, Kenneth recognized the gravity of her claims. If true, it implicates Cynthia Edwards, the Edwards family's daughter, broadening the investigation beyond Wendy's actions.

The Edwards and Sinclair families had a longstanding friendship, and Cynthia had suffered a decline in cognitive function eight years before.

However...

"Ms. Edwards became mentally disabled due to an accident while learning to ride a horse, which caused her to hit her head."

Given the Edwards family's wealth, any sudden decline in Cynthia's mental abilities would have prompted them to consult a fortune teller.

Cynthia's mental disability was solely attributed to the accident by the Edwards family, with no consideration given to alternative explanations other than medical.

Olivia did not confirm or deny this, simply asking, "Did Ms. Edwards visit Sinclair Villa eight years ago?"

Alexander's demeanor changed slightly after hearing Olivia's question, and he confirmed, "Yes, she did."

As the Sinclair family's eldest grandson, it was typically his responsibility to entertain guests, so he has vivid memories of such events. Cynthia was also a charming and well-behaved guest, which added to her memorable experience.

Cynthia had an accident after visiting Sinclair Villa, which caused her mental disability. The Edwards family has since refrained from making further visits.

"Do you have a picture of her?" Olivia inquired.

Alexander didn't have a picture of Cynthia, but obtaining one was simple. He quickly dispatched someone to retrieve a picture from social media and delivered it to Olivia.

Olivia confirmed, "It's her," after taking a quick look at the photo.

Despite Olivia's assurance, the mood in the living room remained tense. The Edwards family situation was far too serious to be taken lightly.

The Edwards family had a long history and was held in high regard by generations. If the allegations were true, Cynthia would be considered indirectly harmed by the Sinclair family.

Despite the Sinclair family's ignorance of these dynamics, Wendy's actions appeared to external observers to be very similar to the Sinclair family's.

Furthermore, despite Cynthia's intellectual decline, the Edwards family continued to treat her with great affection. The Sinclair and Edwards families' long-standing friendship could be shattered by a single rash decision.

"What's with all this talk about wisdom? That sounds like nonsense. If it's so easy to change, why can't I? Tom couldn't tell if he truly disbelieved it or just wanted to argue with his new cousin, Olivia.

Tired of Tom's constant provocation, Olivia finally responded with a serious expression, "Perhaps you should consider it."

Olivia's delicate features and cherubic cheeks gave off an air of docility. Tom interpreted her earnest response as well-meaning advice.

However, on reflection, he realized she had indirectly insulted him by implying his lack of intelligence.

"How dare you insult me?" Tom's face turned red as he pointed accusingly at Olivia, appearing to be prepared for a confrontation.

George and Ethan descended the stairs, observing the rising tensions. Ethan stepped forward and delivered a quick slap to Tom's behind. "What has gotten into you? Why keep picking on Olivia?"

Ethan's slap hit Tom hard, causing him to recoil with an audible smack. "Ouch!"

Tom looked up and questioned angrily, "Why did you hit me? She insulted me first!"

"Do not be ridiculous! Why would Olivia suddenly insult you?" Ethan's expression remained stern, indicating his disbelief.

Tom became increasingly agitated and pointed emphatically at Olivia. "She insulted me! She called me stupid!"

Ethan and George consulted Olivia for clarification. Megan stood nearby and recounted the previous events, including Olivia's explanation of Cynthia's mental decline and the exchange of wisdom levels.

After hearing Megan's story, Tom's mother, Angela, gently caressed his head. "Olivia isn't wrong."

His consciousness could be swapped.

Tom looked at Angela in surprise, wondering if she was truly his biological mother.

However, in comparison to Olivia's perceived slight against him, the Sinclair family was most concerned about Wendy's burial of a magic card in their garden.

Despite their skepticism about such matters, the discovery of such an item buried in their garden made them uneasy.

Regarding Olivia, the general consensus was that she had stumbled upon the situation by chance, and there was widespread disbelief that Cynthia's sudden mental decline was the result of someone changing her mind.

"It's not a big deal for girls to like fortune telling, but let's not discuss these things at home," George said. Despite his involvement in the entertainment industry, he didn't believe in such things. He saw Olivia's actions as mere mischief, an attempt to attract the attention of the adults.

He surmised that Olivia desired visibility, particularly after being formally recognized as a member of the family.

Others present shared this sentiment to varying degrees.

Kenneth was dissatisfied with the crowd's demeanor, but reassured Olivia, "I will discuss this with the Edwards family. You shouldn't be concerned about it."

Given Olivia's recent return home, he wanted to keep her safe from becoming a target as a result of these events.

Olivia silently looked at Kenneth before nodding in agreement.

She resolved internally, 'If the Sinclair family prefers not to involve me, I will intervene clandestinely. After all, I'll have to earn this money somehow.'