Chapter One

Vivienne 

My name is Vivienne Duval, adopted heiress to the Duval Fashion Industries and I had never felt more pathetic in my entire life than I did now.

I sat restless on the hospital bed as my mind raced with thoughts, thoughts that wouldn't let me sleep at night. 

The faint hum of the IV drip I was hooked on to and the distant murmur of the nurses were the only things that broke the deafening silence of the private room I was in.

I had ended up at the hospital because I overworked myself—again. I didn't know why I always had to prove a damn point.

My body felt weak from the treatment but it was the weight of my emotional turmoil that was harder to bear.

I looked around and I was alone.

Like always.

My mind drifted, almost as if on autopilot, to my fiancé, Alias. He was supposed to be here today like he promised but of course he wasn't! My heart throbbed, reminiscing his words.

“You know, I'd be there if I could Vivi, work is relentless right now.”

Whether I liked it or not I had to come to terms with the fact that something was up, he'd been weird lately but I hadn't a single idea.

I folded my legs up against my chest and wrapped my arms around them to stop the fidgeting. 

I was more than troubled, our wedding I was looking forward to was right around the corner and I didn't want anything to ruin it.

Alias was not only my fiancé but my first love, it was ‘love at first sight’ to be more  precise. The moment I laid my eyes on him after coming home from the orphanage all those years ago, I just knew he was the one for me.

Our families had close links in the fashion world so they thought it wouldn't be such a bad idea if we kept the gig going. 

But look at us now, hardly ever together. Alias had been acting cold and distant for months now and not knowing why was driving me insane. He'd been making all kinds of flimsy excuses for not being able to make it to any of my appointments.

I didn't know if I had done something wrong or if I just wasn't enough anymore. 

I even took some time out of work to prepare a surprise just for him. I decorated our bedroom with red roses, lighting some scented candles and playing his favorite music. 

I placed a bunch of gifts on the bed and a huge bucket of chocolate ice cream knowing  he was a sweet tooth even if he pretended otherwise. 

But, on his arrival he didn't even look twice at what I did for him. He gave a stupid half smile, uttered a “thank you,” then proceeded in quickly changing his clothes. 

I didn't understand what he was going on about, saying things like he ‘had to take care of something’ and wouldn't be back that night. And just like that, he swiftly left like what I did for him was nothing.

My gaze dropped to the thin needle piercing my arm, I couldn't help but wonder if I was maybe overreacting. 

I should trust him, shouldn't I?

“Miss Vivienne?” I heard a voice that broke me out of my thoughts and it was the nurse, I didn't even hear when she came in.

“Yes?” I responded.

“I called your name multiple times, are you alright?” She looked concerned and I forced a smile, not wanting her to worry.

“I'm just a bit dizzy, are we done for today?” I asked.

She nodded and came over to remove the needle that hooked me to the drip, my arm felt numb. She told me to get a little more rest and left the room.

I let out a deep sigh as I reached over for my phone. I alerted my personal driver that I was done, he'd be at the hospital in the next twenty minutes.

I idly scrolled through my feed to keep myself busy suddenly stopping at a new post my mother made. I narrowed my eyes, reading the contents of the post. My family was gathered for a ‘Duval Legacy Celebration’ at the flagship shop.

I winced, no one informed me about that and the last time I checked, I was part of the family.

My hands tightened around my phone as I read the caption aloud,

 “Our family reunited at last! So proud of Amélie’s seamless return to the Duval legacy.”

Amélie Duval was my parents long lost biological daughter who was suddenly found some months ago.

She went missing a while before I was adopted, besides my creative talent I knew for a long time I was just a placeholder that couldn't meet up to the real thing.

Now, Amélie was back.

My heart dropped to my stomach as I zoomed into the picture and spotted Alias in the background of the photo. He was smiling, his arm wrapped tight around Amélie's waist.

“He said he was busy…Too busy for me and not too busy for her?” I muttered in a defeated voice. I had to admit that they were becoming close lately but I assumed it was just because they were childhood friends.

I stared at the image for what seemed like eternity, my blood boiling at the way Alias leaned into Amélie, any stranger would think they were intimate.

And just like that, it finally clicked in me.

My chest tightened from rage and the taste of betrayal, how had this been happening right under my nose?

I dialed Alias's number, my fingers trembling, I didn't want it to be true. His line rang and rang before going to voicemail. I tried again, then again but nothing! It made me more furious.

“I deserve a damn explanation!” I said to myself flustered, “He wouldn't do this to me, would he? Maybe there's an explanation? Maybe it's not what it looks like?”

I put my phone down, but the image was seared into my mind. My hands curled into balls. Seven years of loyalty, seven years putting him first, seven years of ignoring all the red flags just because I believed in him.

My driver still hadn't arrived so I went ahead on my own. I needed answers and I needed them now.

Back home, my hands trembled as I searched through Alias's walk in closet. I looked through some of his recent suits hoping to find reassurance and that my doubts might be wrong.

Instead, my fingers closed around something and I pulled it out – a pair of diamond earrings and an open condom packet. I froze in place, my heart sinking further when I recognized the earrings as Amélie's.

I dropped to the floor, breathless as the tears started rolling down.

Seven years for what?