Chapter 6

🥀Vivienne’s POV (Cont.)🥀

The atmosphere in the private room grew tense after Eliza’s words.

Even my colleagues from Vanguard Global Enterprises looked uncomfortable.

Surprisingly, even Isabella’s team shifted uneasily in their seats.

Someone tugged lightly at Eliza’s sleeve under the table.

A silent warning.

But she didn’t care.

She sat upright, her chin slightly raised, as if she had said nothing wrong.

I looked at her calmly.

“So what you’re implying,” I said slowly, “is that Chairman Hawthorne values money more than relationships?”

My voice was steady.

But something inside me was already burning.

Eliza’s expression stiffened.

“That’s not what I meant,” she said quickly.

Before the tension could escalate

The door opened.

Alexander walked in.

With Isabella beside him.

They looked… perfect.

Polished.

Composed.

He carried that quiet authority that made people instinctively lower their voices.

And she

She shone.

Standing together, they drew everyone’s attention without trying.

“They really match,” someone whispered beside me.

I didn’t need to turn to know who said it.

“They might be the next power couple.”

My fingers tightened slightly.

But I smiled.

And stood up.

“Mr. Hawthorne. Miss Blackwood.”

Seats were arranged quickly.

Of course

Together.

The meal resumed.

On the surface, everything looked normal.

But inside me…

It felt like something was slowly collapsing.

Voices filled the room.

Laughter.

Compliments.

I stayed quiet.

At some point, Isabella picked up a piece of spicy beef and placed it on Alexander’s plate.

“You should try this,” she said playfully.

My heart paused.

He didn’t eat spicy food.

Everyone in the house knew that.

I almost spoke.

But before I could

He picked it up.

And ate it.

Without hesitation.

The words died in my throat.

I lowered my gaze slightly.

A faint, almost invisible smile touched my lips.

So it wasn’t that he couldn’t.

He just never did.

For me.

“Director Vivienne,” Eliza’s voice cut in again.

“I heard you’re Mr. Hawthorne’s sister?”

The room quieted slightly.

Alexander glanced at me.

Just briefly.

Then he looked away.

“I only take care of her out of respect for my grandfather,” he said calmly.

Something inside me went completely still.

So that was it.

Not family.

Not important.

Just… responsibility.

I lifted my head and smiled.

“I’m only his subordinate,” I said lightly.

“There’s nothing special.”

And for the first time

Those words didn’t hurt as much as I expected.

The dinner ended two hours later.

I returned to the office.

Worked.

Focused.

Stayed late.

Because thinking…

Was no longer necessary.

At eight, I prepared to leave.

The office was quiet.

Except for one place.

The CEO’s office.

The light was still on.

I hesitated for a moment.

Then knocked.

“Do you have plans tonight?” I asked.

“No,” he replied.

“Let’s go together.”

At home, dinner was already prepared.

I ate a little.

Not much.

He went to the library.

As always.

I sat in the living room.

A glass of warm water in my hand.

Quietly, I took out a small pill.

And swallowed it.

“Are you sick?”

His voice came from behind me.

I turned slightly.

“A little stomach discomfort.”

“Did you see a doctor?”

“Yes.”

He nodded.

“Take care of yourself.”

His tone was calm.

Polite.

Distant.

I smiled faintly.

“I will.”

But inside…

It felt like something had already ended.

The next morning

Everything exploded.

“Director Vivienne, check the trending topics!”

My assistant’s voice was panicked.

I opened my tablet.

Photos filled the screen.

Alexander.

Isabella.

Entering and leaving a restaurant together.

The headlines spread quickly.

Speculation.

Rumors.

Assumptions.

I stared at the screen for a moment.

Then spoke calmly.

“Contact Isabella’s team. No response yet.”

“We control the narrative first.”

I paused.

Then added

“Prepare photos where they appear distant. We position this as a business collaboration.”

My assistant nodded quickly.

At the office, I learned Alexander had already handed the situation to CCPR.

I didn’t react.

Until

I ran into Olivia.

“Some people really don’t know their place,” she said with a smile.

“Trying to get close to someone who already made things clear.”

I walked past her.

Without stopping.

But she followed.

“Oh, didn’t you hear?” she added casually.

“Mr. Hawthorne asked me to release information.”

My steps slowed.

“That he and Isabella were once lovers.”

Everything went silent.

I returned to my office.

Opened the screen again.

And saw it.

The narrative had changed.

Isabella

A woman backed by a powerful man.

Alexander

Her past lover.

Her present support.

Photos from their university days flooded the internet.

The “perfect couple” had returned.

And then

The final piece.

The brand ambassador change.

Everything connected.

Everything pointed to one conclusion.

This wasn’t an accident.

It was planned.

I stared at the screen.

For a long time.

And for the first time

I didn’t feel like crying.

Only one thought remained.

I needed to leave.

🌻Alexander’s POV🌻

The tension at lunch was obvious.

But irrelevant.

What mattered was control.

Stability.

Public image.

The situation online required direction.

So I gave it one.

Clear.

Simple.

Effective.

Personal matters…

Had no place in business.

♥️Isabella’s POV♥️

The rumors spread faster than I expected.

It made me uneasy.

But Alexander was calm.

And that made me feel safe.

Still…

When I thought of Vivienne

Something didn’t feel right.