An Alliance Of Hate

Liora’s POV

‘What…why are you here?’

I moved towards Camille as if in a daze. I knew for sure she didn’t come to see me.

But Vivienne?

‘How rude!’ Vivienne scoffed.

I recollected my composure and sighed. ‘How’s my father? Is he in the hospital?’

‘He’s fine,’ Camille responded. ‘We’re all fine without you meddling.’

That wasn’t the answer I was expecting, but I didn’t probe anymore.

‘That’s a very lovely necklace, wife,’ Vivienne said to me. ‘Who gave it to you? Because I know you can’t afford something that expensive…’

I wasn’t in the mood to banter words with them, so I left, fingering my necklace. I could feel their cold stares boring into my back, but it didn’t matter. Being out of their way was more important.

At breakfast the next morning, Vivienne chatted nonstop about some photo shoots she had to do, and journaling. Sebastian merely replied with the usual “Oohhhs” and “hmms”. I, on the other hand, remained silent.

When it was time to leave, she gave him a deep kiss with a broad smile. I couldn’t look, it hurt to look so I just ambled to the car alone.

Sebastian finally caught up with me and held me back before I could enter the car.

His grip wasn’t tight, but it was firm enough to stop me. When I turned his expression had softened, as he had just noticed something off about me.

‘Hey,’ he said quietly. ‘Are you all right?’

‘I’m fine,’ I lied, because it was easier than explaining how watching Vivienne kiss him felt like swallowing glass.

He studied me for a moment, then he nodded, as if he had decided not to push further.

‘About yesterday,’ he said, lowering his voice. ‘What I told you… It stays with you. Only you.’

‘I know,’ my chest tightened. ‘I’d never tell anyone, Sebastian. Never.’

‘I know you wouldn’t,’ he replied. ‘That’s why I trusted you in the first place.’

The words warmed something inside me. His gaze settled on the necklace, then he squeezed my hand once before letting go and opening the car door for me.

Inside the car, the silence stretched for a while as we drove.

‘Boy am I hungry,’ Sebastian muttered.

‘You were just poking at your breakfast,’ I reminded him.

‘Yeah,’ he chuckled. ‘I felt like eating something else.’

‘What?’

He huffed a small laugh. ‘When I was a kid, my mom used to buy this cereal every Saturday- Chocolumps. It was chocolate-coated with ridiculous amounts of sugar. My father hated it, but I couldn’t get enough of it.’

I smiled faintly. ‘Did that stop her from buying it?’

‘No,’ he shook his head. ‘She said childhood was short and most rules could wait.’

‘Do you miss it?’ I asked.

He looked at me then shrugged. ‘I guess I do. Sometimes. I haven’t had it since I was thirteen; the day my father decided I was “too old” to stop liking childish things.’

Our conversation drifted off to other trivial topics, but the thought stayed with me.

The next day was a Saturday, and I spent the whole morning scouting supermarkets and malls I knew for Chocolumps.

I arrived home without any luck. It seemed it was such an ancient cereal that it had run out of the market.

‘Good day ma’am,’ Giselle greeted me as I stood outside the lawn. ‘You look burnt out.’

She was nice, and I was already drawn to her nice nature so I told her of how I had run around the whole of LA looking for a cereal.

‘Haven’t you heard?’ She asked laughing.

‘What?’

‘The Grand Central market is open today. If you’d like, we could go there and find your cereal. I’m one hundred and one percent sure you’d find it there.’

‘Okay,’ I agreed immediately, and we set the time to go in the late afternoon.

The market was open and bustling with excitement. I knew there would be a crowd of tourists and locals, but I wasn’t expecting this much crowd.

‘I know exactly where to get the cereal,’ Giselle had to raise her voice above the noise so I could hear her.

She led me through the thick throng of people to a stall and sure enough, Chocolumps lay all stacked. I bought two packs and we began to leave. The chaos was much, so we had to maneuver our way back.

Suddenly there was a crowd stampede, and I clutched the bag of cereals in one hand, and Giselle’s hand in the other. Bodies collided roughly with each other but it was over within seconds.

My thoughts flew to my necklace and I had to touch my neck to make sure it was still there.

It was gone!

‘My necklace!’ I almost screamed as my eyes scanned the ground. ‘I-I can’t find it.’

‘Calm down…’ Giselle held my hand.

‘It must have fallen…’ I was almost frantic. ‘I need to find it…’

‘Don’t worry,’ Giselle remained calm. ‘I’ll call my friend. He runs a lost and found here in the market. Let’s go meet him.’

I could already picture the look of disappointment on Sebastian’s face if he found out I lost something he had bought specially for me.

At first, I was adamant on finding it myself, bending and looking every inch of the floor, and after realizing the necklace was actually missing, I followed her to meet her friend.

He was nice once she introduced me to him, and gave me full assurance that I would get my necklace back.

‘Nothing gets past us,’ he gave a toothy grin. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll find your necklace and have it boxed and shipped to you as safely as possible.’

I showed him a picture I had taken with the necklace, and after several reassurances from him, we left.

My mind wasn’t settled, and I tried avoiding Sebastian so he wouldn’t notice the missing necklace. But Giselle kept reassuring me that her friend would find it. It wasn’t the first time things like this have happened.

With that in mind, I relaxed a little. The next morning, I made sure the maids served Sebastian the cereal.

His expression lit up as he saw it, making me smile. We both looked at each other, and he understood.

‘Where’s your necklace?’ The question made my heart skip a beat.

‘I- I forgot to put it on today,’ I lied. ‘It’s in my room.’

Vivienne didn’t utter a single word at the table, but I could feel the death stare she gave me.

While I was sitting on the patio that afternoon, she walked up to me.

‘He’s never going to love you,’ she spat in anger. ‘And I’m going to make sure of it.’

She glanced at my neck, before her lips curled into a tight smile.

‘Just wait and see,’ she hissed before walking out.

I didn’t know why, but something about the way she smiled made me feel more uncomfortable.

And for the first time since I met Vivienne, I understood this wasn’t just jealousy.

It was a warning.