Chapter 98
Vivian couldn't suppress the sharp pang of jealousy twisting in her chest. If she had the opportunity to stand beside someone like Dominic, she'd cling to him like ivy on a stone wall. Despite her privileged upbringing, she'd never experienced the warmth of a genuine relationship.
Damien merely arched an eyebrow, his voice laced with quiet amusement. "Have I ever taken a single penny from the Blackwood fortune for personal gain?"
Bianca faltered. The truth burned her tongue, yet pride sealed her lips. She launched her counterattack instead. "Are you seriously claiming you don't love Adrian anymore?"
Vivian's features turned to ice, her words precise as surgical steel. "Love is for those who can afford it. And he's not worth the price."
Adrian approached, expecting to find Bianca harassing Vivian. Instead, he witnessed Vivian declaring her emotional emancipation with chilling clarity. The realization cut deeper than any blade.
The woman before him had transformed into a panther - all coiled tension and unsheathed claws.
Silent suffering no longer existed in her vocabulary.
Adrian's calm facade cracked, revealing molten fury beneath. "Vivian, bad behavior comes naturally to you while virtues require effort. You've accomplished nothing, yet speak with such arrogance. Marriage isn't about fleeting passion - it's about duty."
Damien stepped between them, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "Mr. Blackwood, this is a public venue. Mind your language. If any unflattering photos of my leading lady surface because of your outburst, I'll hold you personally responsible." His gaze hardened. "Besides, publicly berating a woman reflects poorly on your character."
Adrian's eyes darkened as he moved to claim his territory beside Vivian. "I'm speaking to my wife. This doesn't concern you."
Damien ignored the challenge, offering Vivian his arm instead. "Let me make up for tonight's unpleasantness. Allow me to escort you home."
Just as Vivian seemed inclined to accept, Adrian's fingers closed like manacles around her wrist. "You're coming with me."
Vivian's gaze flickered between the two men.
When she finally met Adrian's eyes, her voice could have frozen hell itself. "Mr. Blackwood, remember your position and act accordingly."
Once, her eyes had held galaxies of devotion for him - entire constellations of unspoken adoration. Now they reflected only glacial emptiness, as if every trace of love had been surgically removed.
Adrian stood paralyzed, the sensation of something precious slipping through his fingers like sand.
Seizing the moment, Vivian extracted her wrist with deliberate grace. Without sparing Adrian another glance, she departed with Damien, her retreating figure radiating finality.
Margaret descended upon Adrian, her frustration palpable. "He's jeopardized the Blackwood reputation for Vivian's sake, and you still question their relationship? Must you catch them in flagrante to believe it? My patience with you has evaporated," she snapped, each word a stinging rebuke.
Adrian remained silent, his gaze fixed on the empty doorway where Vivian had vanished. A single question echoed through his mind like a death knell: Was there truly something between Vivian and Damien?
When Adrian failed to respond, Margaret exhaled sharply and turned to Bianca. "Come, Bianca. We're leaving."