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Vivienne’s POV

I’d loved Kael for years. Even after I learned just how cold and distant he could be. I told myself that if I loved him, I had to love all of him. And if he was already cold to me, he’d be colder to everyone else.

That I was still special.

I couldn’t be more wrong.

Luckily, the fate had given me a second chance.

Screw his cold love or distance.

After moving out, I don’t even have to talk to him from now on. My lawyer can handle everything. And the divorce terms are generous—Kael won’t lose a thing. I doubt he’ll refuse.

All that’s left is to pack my things from what used to be our home.

I hailed a cab, heading back to the house that once felt like hope and love. Now it looked like a tomb—cold, silent, heavy with loss.

…

When I stepped in, the maid froze at the sight of me. In my last life, I’d been traveling with friends at this time; she wasn’t expecting me home.

“Mrs. Throne, you’re back early. Should I inform Mr. Throne and prepare dinner for you two, like always?”

“No need,” I said quietly. “I’m leaving tonight.”

I didn’t explain. I just went to my room and started packing.

It wasn’t until I started packing that I realized just how much of myself was in this house—how many pieces of my life I’d left scattered in what used to be a home.

I worked fast. A few sets of clothes went into one bag. Then my jewelry. Some were gifts from my mother—those I’d take with me. The rest, especially the ones Kael had given me, I hesitated over.

My fingertips brushed over them, pausing on my wedding ring.

I’d cherished it so much I rarely wore it, choosing a plain band for everyday. The diamond—once brilliant—looked dull now. Had it always been like this?

I slipped it on. It was tight. Too tight. I remembered then—that was another reason I never wore it. It didn’t even fit.

But it was still my wedding ring. I wasn’t generous enough to leave it for another woman.

With a little effort—and more force than I expected—I pried the diamond from the setting. The band I tossed into the trash. The diamond went into my jewelry box.

This dream of marrying Kael and living happily ever after… I was awake from that dream now.

“You’ve done well, Vivienne,” I murmured to myself. “This time, you’re going to live well for yourself.”

…

My plan was to send my mother to stay with an old friend of mine—a wealthy heiress from England I’d met in college first.

Then, once I’d tied up every loose end here, I’d join them.

I guess fate has a twisted sense of humor.

Because on my way to grab a quick bite, I ran into Nyssa.

For a moment, I froze. Wasn’t she supposed to be with Kael right now? He was clingy with her—if she didn’t have class, he’d whisk her away somewhere. Always.

“Hey! Vivienne!” she called, smiling like we were old friends.

“Hey. Long time no see. What are you doing here?” I asked.

Her cheeks flushed. “I work here.”

“You work here? Weren’t you already busy with school and the clubs?” I was stunned.

She blushed deeper. “Actually, it’s my boyfriend’s store. I’m working here to help ease my family’s situation…”

Since when did Kael’s business extend into restaurant management?

“Your boyfriend owns a restaurant?”

“It’s his side business, I guess. His real job is managing a casino. But when I said I wanted to work, he told me I could come to this restaurant.” Nyssa blushed even more.

Maybe Kael bought this place just for Nyssa. It was his way of protecting Nyssa while making sure she didn’t feel obligated.

She glanced around, then back at me. “I just finished my shift. But if you want to eat, I can still make you something. Anything you like, it’s on me.”

I felt uneasy eating here now that I knew it was the restaurant Kael had bought for his lover.

I smiled, soft and polite. “Actually, I’m craving some spaghetti now. Maybe I’ll just go to another restaurant, instead of troubling you.”

Her face lit up instantly. “If you don’t mind, can I join you? I haven’t eaten yet, either.”

Looking at her radiant smile, I found it hard to say no. In the end, I took her to a French place I liked.

“Order whatever you like,” I said as we sat down. “The beef stew is divine.”

“Then I’ll have that,” Nyssa said, still smiling.

When the waiter left, I noticed the faint redness around her eyes. Crying. Was that why she wasn’t with Kael in the middle of the day?

“Have you been crying?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“It’s just… something with my boyfriend.”

I didn’t press, but she went on anyway. “I’m pregnant. I thought he’d be happy. He always talked about starting a family with me. But when I told him, all he said was ‘good,’ and then he left. Said he had other things to do.”

I’d thought I was ready for anything. But hearing she was pregnant knocked the air out of me.

And Kael—unhappy about her pregnancy? What was he thinking?

“Maybe he really was busy?” I lied. I knew he wasn’t. But I didn’t want to make her sadder.

“I know him. That’s not how he acts when he’s busy. In the past, no matter what, he always put me first.”

I had no words for that.

“Do you think…” she hesitated, “do you think he’s in love with someone else? Or maybe he’s hiding something from me?”

Yes, sweetheart. What he hasn’t told you is that he’s already married. And the woman sitting across from you has been his wife for years.

But I couldn’t say that.

All I could offer was, “Be patient. If you believe he loves you, don’t let doubt ruin that.”

Her eyes brightened. “Thanks, Vivienne. That means a lot.”

The rest of dinner was uneventful—until an older man wandered up to our table, reeking of whiskey.

“Are you two lovely ladies looking to spend the evening with me?” he asked, voice dripping sleaze.

I’d dealt with men like him before—half of Kael’s casino regulars were worse. I was ready to brush it off, but Nyssa moved faster. She grabbed a water bottle and dumped it over his head.

The man exploded. Shouting. Red-faced. His arm drew back, aiming for her.

The room fractured into chaos. A waiter and a guard rushed over, trying to pull him back. I stepped in and kicked him hard in the leg.

He turned on me instead, grabbed a plate off the table, and hurled it. It hit me square in the head, blood dripping down my face.

But all I could think was: I had to get Nyssa out. She was pregnant. And if she got hurt—

I cannot bear the consequences of getting Kael punishing me for that.

She was his lifeline.