Mag-log inI left and went home.For the next two days, Soren appeared at the gates of my villa every morning.On the third morning, Dad had had enough. He walked outside with a gun. "Soren, you know exactly what position your father is in. If you don't want the Collier organization wiped out, leave now."Soren looked at my father, then dropped to his knees. "Please forgive me. Please ask Vivian to forgive me. Could you spare my father? He's already...""No. Unless you can bring my wife back to life."Soren remained on his knees, shaking violently as tears streamed down his face.He must have been drowning in regret.But time couldn't be undone, and I would never wait for him again.After that day, I never saw Soren again.Once I knew the truth, something inside me suddenly let go.My mood lifted and my energy returned. I officially took control of all my father's Las Vegas operations.Six months later, Dad brought me news of Soren. The Collier organization had collapsed.While Soren's father was
Soren pulled out his phone with shaking hands and played a recording."Daisy, a Sicilian crime family took my dad. Mom doesn't know. I'm too scared to tell her.""They're forcing me to marry one of them. If I refuse, they'll come after all of us, the entire Wellman family. I'm terrified.""Whatever you do, don't tell Soren. I'm afraid he'll do something reckless and go after them. That would get him killed."It was my voice in the recording, but anyone paying attention could tell it was AI-generated.I took a sip of coffee. The bitterness spread across my tongue, and I didn't know what to say.Soren pounded the table. "I was terrified they'd force you into that marriage or kill your father. I searched for months, but I couldn't find a single lead on the Sicilian family or where they were holding him.""Daisy claimed she had intel on them, but she wouldn't hand it over unless I married her first."At that, I finally let out a laugh. "And you agreed?""Yes." Soren bowed his head and claw
When I landed in Las Vegas, I went straight to my father. The moment I saw him, I threw myself into his arms and sobbed until I couldn't breathe.All the pain and sorrow of those days finally had somewhere to go.My father had always been ruthless and decisive, but even he wept when he learned his wife was dead.Then he made his decision. He ended every narcotics deal with the Colliers and cut off their access to his gun-running network.The Colliers looked untouchable, but their empire existed almost entirely in the shadows. They'd never built a real foothold in legitimate business.Without my father's backing, their survival would be an uphill battle.My father's ties to powerful New York crews made matters worse. A few phone calls were enough to cripple what remained of the Collier organization.After that brief reunion with Dad, grief for Mom swallowed me again.During the day I was listless and couldn't eat. I'd barely make it through to nighttime, only to be jolted awake by night
Soren chased after Daisy, but halfway there it hit him that I was still standing where he'd left me. He stopped, instinct telling him to go back.Ahead of him, Daisy was running straight toward the road with her face buried in her hands.At the same time, he saw me walking away without looking back.He figured I was truly furious this time, that I wouldn't listen to any explanation right now. Better to let me cool down.Daisy, though, might actually get hurt.He ran faster, caught Daisy at the curb, and yanked her out of the path of an oncoming car. "Enough, Daisy. Stop!"By the time they returned to the venue, almost everyone had left.When Soren and Daisy returned, his parents were waiting, both furious. His father slammed a fist onto the table."Soren, you owe Vivian an explanation! She's the Wellman heiress, and her father is not someone even I can afford to cross!"Soren slumped in his chair, hands clawing at his hair, his eyes bloodshot.The video I'd played on the big screen was
On the screen, I was in Soren's arms."Vivian, I'm so happy you said yes. Once my career is stable, we'll get married!"Soren slid a ring onto my finger and kissed my hand. "Vivian, when we get married, I'll buy you the most beautiful diamond ring in the world."I glanced at Daisy. Her eyes were huge, and she looked ready to collapse.The diamond ring on her finger sparkled under the lights.I smirked. The ring that should have been mine was on her hand.Soren strode over, his face dark, keeping his voice as low as he could. "Vivian, what are you doing?""Giving you a wedding present, of course. Do you like it?"Before she could respond, the video cut to more footage. Both sets of parents were watching with expressions ranging from shock to fury.Seven full years. Every moment Soren and I had shared played out on that screen for everyone to see.There was footage of his confession, of him feeding me breakfast, of him waiting in the rain late into the night just to be the first person t
Soren and Daisy came to the funeral.I hurled their flowers away. "Get out! Get the hell out of here!"Daisy put on a sorrowful face. "Vivian, we're here to pay our respects.""We don't want your sympathy!" I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face."Daisy, you spread the lie that I was the homewrecker just to infuriate my mother. She's dead because of you. And now you come here with your crocodile tears? Do you want her to have no peace even in death?"I lunged at her again, but Soren grabbed me and flung me aside.I lost my balance and cracked my head against Mom's headstone. Blood spread across the stone."Vivian, calm down! This isn't Daisy's fault! Everything she did was for you...""Soren!" Daisy cut him off. "Vivian has every right to be angry with me. I don't blame her."Then she looked at me. "Vivian, you're my only maid of honor. Please don't miss my wedding."I collapsed to the ground and clung to Mom's headstone, wailing.In just two days, I had lost Soren, my b







