Chapter 4

🥀Vivienne’s POV (Cont.)🥀

I slowly lifted my head and looked at Alexander.

His expression was calm.

Too calm.

There was no anger. No concern.

Only cold indifference.

His eyes swept over me briefly before shifting to Olivia.

“What is going on here?” he asked, his voice low but sharp.

The entire office fell silent.

No one dared to move.

“Fighting in the workplace?” he continued. “In front of employees?”

His tone grew colder.

“Is this the kind of environment you think this company should have?”

The pressure in the room became suffocating.

Everyone lowered their heads, pretending to focus on their work.

Olivia, however, showed no fear.

She straightened her posture and spoke calmly.

“I was only doing my job.”

Her gaze shifted toward me.

“She barged into my department, shouting and causing a scene. Then she slapped me.”

Her voice carried just enough grievance to sound convincing.

“I really don’t understand,” she added, “how someone like her is still qualified to be a Brand Director.”

My fingers curled into fists.

Alexander turned to me.

His gaze was cold.

Distant.

As if he was looking at a stranger.

“Apologize,” he said.

The word hit me like a weight pressing down on my chest.

I forced myself to breathe.

Slowly.

Carefully.

“She should apologize first,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.

I knew what I did was wrong.

And I was ready to face the consequences.

But I would not let Olivia twist the truth.

Olivia let out a soft, confused laugh.

“Apologize? For what?”

She turned to Alexander, her expression innocent.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“I—” I started.

“Apologize,” Alexander repeated.

His tone was firmer this time.

Final.

My chest tightened.

My pride felt like it was being crushed under his words.

I looked at him.

Hoping… even for a second…

That he would ask what really happened.

That he would give me a chance to explain.

But he didn’t.

There was no doubt in his eyes.

No hesitation.

Only command.

“Apologize.”

The word echoed again.

And this time…

Something inside me broke.

I lowered my gaze.

My nails dug into my palms as I forced the words out.

“…I’m sorry.”

Silence followed.

Then Olivia smiled.

A satisfied, victorious smile.

“Try not to repeat such behavior next time,” she said lightly.

Her tone was soft.

But full of arrogance.

I ignored her.

I wasn’t done.

“Explain the Lena Ashford situation,” I said, turning back to her.

“Why was the brand ambassador changed without informing me?”

Without missing a beat, Olivia replied—

“That was Alexander’s decision.”

My heart skipped.

I turned to him immediately.

Waiting.

Hoping.

But he said nothing.

Instead, he turned and walked away.

“Come to my office,” he said.

I stood there for a moment.

Then followed him.

Inside his office, the door closed behind us.

“Why was Lena replaced?” I asked directly.

He sat down calmly.

“As for the divorce agreement,” he said, “have you reviewed it?”

My heart sank.

He was avoiding it.

“I’ve been busy,” I replied quietly. “I’ll go through it tonight.”

“Mm.”

A short response.

Cold.

I swallowed.

Then gathered my courage.

“What if…” my voice faltered slightly, “…what if we had a child?”

The room went still.

“Would you still insist on divorce?”

For a brief moment, I thought I saw something shift in his eyes.

But it disappeared just as quickly.

“Yes,” he said.

Without hesitation.

Even that… I could accept.

But then he continued.

“I wouldn’t allow it to be born.”

Everything went silent.

I felt like I had been struck.

My ears rang.

My body turned cold.

Not allow it…

To be born?

My fingers trembled slightly.

This was his child.

Our child.

And yet…

He spoke of it as if it were nothing.

As if it didn’t deserve to exist.

The last trace of hope inside me shattered completely.

“I understand,” I said softly.

Even though my chest felt empty.

I forced myself to stand straight.

To remain calm.

“Then why was Lena replaced?” I asked again.

This time, he didn’t avoid it.

“There’s a reason,” he said.

“What reason?”

He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

“Isabella will take her place.”

My mind went blank.

“…What?”

“Isabella is returning to develop her career here,” he said calmly.

“This endorsement is important to her.”

That was all.

No discussion.

No consideration.

Just a decision.

My body felt cold from head to toe.

In that moment, I understood something clearly.

My opinions.

My work.

My position.

None of it mattered anymore.

Not to him.

I stood there in silence.

Trying to hold myself together…

As everything I once believed in slowly fell apart.