ВойтиVivienne POV~•~I woke up early.Earlier than Liam, earlier than the staff, earlier than whatever time Elena usually appeared in the kitchen looking effortlessly put together. I laid still for a few minutes staring at the ceiling and then I got up, went to the bathroom, and stood under the shower until the water ran lukewarm.I dried off and stood in front of the small mirror and looked at myself for a moment before I opened my bag and took out the soft green dress I had packed on impulse two weeks ago and never worn. I put it on. I let my hair down instead of pulling it back. I put on the small gold earrings I usually saved for work events.Then I went downstairs.The kitchen smelled like coffee and something warm from the oven. One of the staff had already set the table. I poured myself a cup and sat down and picked up my phone and started scrolling through my emails like I had not spent half the night sitting in the dark making quiet decisions about my own life.Elena came in abou
Vivienne POV~•~I forgot my phone.That was the only reason I turned back. I had already walked halfway down the hall, my mind still buzzing from the warmth of Damon's hand brushing mine on the desk, the weight of what almost happened between us in that study. I was almost at the stairs when I remembered. I had left my phone on the side table near the door.So I turned around.The study door was not fully closed so I heard voices before I reached it.Two low voices really close together.I slowed without deciding to slow down. My feet just stopped carrying me at the same pace, like some part of me already knew.I did not push the door. I just looked through the gap.Elena had both hands in his collar and her mouth was on his.Damon's hands were on her arms, not pulling her in, but not pushing her back either. Just resting there, like he had not decided yet what to do with them. Like the decision was somewhere in transit between his head and his body and had not arrived.I stood there
Vivienne POV~•~I closed the door to my room and leaned back against it, my heart still racing.Damon’s lips had felt warm and sure, soft but with that quiet insistence that made my stomach flip.Morning light slipped through the curtains so I got up before Liam stirred, splashed water on my face, and pulled on jeans and a simple sweater. When he woke, he yawned big and asked for breakfast right away.“Pancakes again?” I asked, helping him into his shirt.“With chocolate chips,” he said, grinning.We headed downstairs. The smell of coffee and fresh pastries hit me as soon as we stepped into the kitchen. Elena was already there, arranging a tray with sliced fruit and croissants. Her smile was bright, but her eyes looked tired, like she hadn’t slept much either.“Good morning,” she said, setting a plate down. “I thought we could all eat together.”Damon walked in a minute later, his hair still damp from a shower. He looked at me first, gave a small smile, and brushed his hand against m
Damon’s POV~•~I helped Vivienne gather the towels and her cover-up. That small touch sent another jolt through me, sharp and hungry.That kiss had cracked open a door I’d kept locked tight, and now I couldn’t pretend it wasn’t there. But Elena’s face at the upstairs window earlier still stuck in my head.I excused myself and headed to the study. I sat at the same spot from last night, and stared at the files scattered across the wood. I could still feel the softness of Vivienne’s lips and the way her hands gripped my shoulders, pulling me in like she needed it as much as I did. I poured a glass of water from the pitcher on the side table. The coolness did nothing for the heat still moving under my skin. As I opened my laptop, I pulled up the latest emails on the inheritance case, trying to focus. My eyes scanned the screen, but my mind kept drifting back to the two women who had somehow ended up filling every corner of my thoughts.The door opened without a knock only for Elena t
Vivienne POV~•~I woke up early. For a second I just laid there, letting the warmth settle over me. My skin still remembered Damon’s hand on my cheek last night, the way his thumb had traced my jaw, the way his eyes had locked on mine like he was about to say something we both needed to hear. My stomach flipped thinking about it.Then I remembered the knock and a sharp twist of jealousy hit me.I slipped out of bed carefully so I wouldn’t wake Liam, and then I padded my way to the bathroom. The mirror showed me messy hair and tired eyes. I splashed cold water on my face until my skin tingled, then brushed my teeth and pulled my hair into a loose bun before choosing a soft white blouse and fitted jean. When I woke Liam, he rubbed his eyes and grinned.“Morning, Mommy.”“Morning, champ.” I kissed his forehead. “Ready for pancakes?”His eyes lit up. “With syrup?”“Lots of syrup.”We walked downstairs hand in hand. Liam chattered the whole way about how he wanted extra chocolate chips.
Damon’s POV~•~The door clicked shut behind Vivienne, and the sound hit me harder than it should have. I stood there staring at the empty space where she had been, my hand still warm from where hers had rested moments ago. The air felt heavier now, thick with the whiskey on my breath and the faint citrus of her shampoo that lingered like she had never really left. The soft jazz kept playing from the speakers, but it sounded wrong, too gentle for the knot twisting in my chest.Elena set the coffee tray on the corner of the desk with that careful slowness of hers, like nothing had happened. She didn’t look rattled. She never did. She poured herself a cup, added two spoons of sugar, and stirred slowly, the spoon clinking against the porcelain.“Everything all right?” she asked, her voice calm, almost too calm.I nodded once, picked up my glass again, and took a slow sip. The burn helped ground me. “Yeah. Just… late.”She leaned against the edge of the desk, robe tied loose enough that







