Chapter 9

Vivienne’s POV

That afternoon, we left Ashford Manor together.

The car moved steadily through the crowded streets, but inside, the silence between us felt heavier than the traffic outside. Neither of us spoke for a long time, and the quiet tension made the space feel smaller than it was.

I kept my gaze forward, trying to organize my thoughts before finally breaking the silence.

“You saw Pop Pop’s attitude,” I said calmly. “He will not support the divorce.”

My voice remained steady, but my fingers rested tightly against my lap.

“What do you plan to do?”

Alexander did not answer immediately.

He looked out the window as if the passing scenery required his full attention. After a while, he exhaled slowly.

“We can finalize the divorce first,” he said. “Quietly.”

I lowered my eyes slightly.

“We will explain it later,” he continued. “When things settle down.”

His answer did not surprise me.

Even after everything Grandpa had said, nothing had changed.

There was no hesitation.

No reconsideration.

Only the same decision.

A dull weight pressed against my chest, making each breath feel heavier than the last. I forced myself to remain composed and nodded slowly.

“When should we go?” I asked.

He took out his phone and checked his schedule, his expression calm, as if we were arranging an ordinary meeting.

“Next Monday,” he said.

“Okay.”

The word left my lips easily.

Too easily.

For a moment, he glanced at me, as if trying to understand what I was thinking.

I turned my gaze toward the window.

I had always known that I was not unattractive.

My features were soft but balanced, and my expression could change easily depending on my mood. When I smiled, people often responded without knowing why. My appearance was something I had learned to manage naturally over the years.

My body was well maintained through discipline. I exercised regularly and practiced yoga to keep both my strength and balance.

Alexander knew all of this.

For three years, he had known every detail.

There were moments when I had felt his attention linger on me, moments when his restraint slipped and something more instinctive appeared in his eyes. Those memories had once given me hope that something real existed between us.

Now they only remained as fragments.

Beyond appearance, I had built my own value.

My academic record had always been strong, and I had earned recognition through scholarships and awards. At work, I had proven myself repeatedly. The growth of V and R was not accidental, and everyone in the company understood that.

I had never been someone who depended on others to stand firm.

Yet somehow, I had still fallen into a place where only one person could truly hurt me.

Alexander.

His voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Do you have someone you like?”

I turned toward him slightly, caught off guard.

“Yes,” I answered.

The truth rested quietly behind that single word.

For ten years, my feelings had never changed.

From the moment I entered the Ashford family, lost and uncertain after my father’s death, I had looked at him differently from everyone else. He had given me a sense of stability when I needed it most, and over time, that dependence had grown into something deeper.

Something I never spoke aloud.

“Does he like you back?” he asked.

I shook my head gently.

“No.”

“He has loved someone else for a long time.”

I kept my voice light, as if the words carried no weight.

Alexander’s expression shifted slightly.

“Then why continue?” he asked. “Why hold on to someone who does not return your feelings?”

I smiled faintly.

“There is no reason.”

And that was the truth.

Some feelings did not follow logic.

They simply existed.

But now, it no longer mattered.

I turned my gaze forward again.

It was time to let go.

The car slowed to a stop.

I left without saying anything more and went directly to the studio.

The endorsement shoot was scheduled to begin that day, and I arrived early to check everything. The set had already been prepared, and the team moved efficiently under clear instructions.

The photographer, Ariana Wells, and the makeup artist, Sophie Lancaster, arrived on time as expected. Both had worked with me for years and understood my standards without needing detailed explanations.

Everything was ready.

Except for the main subject.

Half an hour passed.

Isabella and her team had not arrived.

My assistant had already tried contacting them once, but there was no response.

Ariana sighed in frustration.

“She has too much attitude,” she said.

Sophie nodded in agreement.

“She thinks she is untouchable because the CEO supports her.”

Their words reflected what everyone already knew.

Normally, I had full authority over projects like this.

But this time, things were different.

Even if Isabella crossed boundaries, I was expected to remain patient.

I called Eliza several times.

Each call ended the same way.

Disconnected.

After repeated attempts, I understood clearly that they had no intention of arriving on time.

I turned to Ariana and Sophie.

“You can leave for now,” I said calmly. “I will inform you when to return.”

They complained briefly, but eventually agreed and left the studio.

I moved to the break room with my laptop and continued working.

Time passed quietly.

At around eleven thirty, I heard movement outside.

My assistant approached.

“They are here.”

I closed my laptop and stood up.

When I stepped out, Eliza greeted me with a polite smile.

“We had an early meeting,” she explained smoothly. “My phone was handled by an assistant, so your calls were disconnected.”

Her tone sounded practiced.

Isabella also offered an apology, but her expression remained relaxed, as if the delay carried no real consequence.

I smiled calmly.

“It’s fine,” I said.

“I was just about to leave.”

Eliza paused.

“Leave?”

“There will be no filming today,” I explained.

Her expression changed immediately.

“The photographer and makeup artist are no longer available,” I continued. “I attempted to contact you earlier, but I could not reach you.”

I met her gaze steadily.

“I stayed only to inform you personally,” I added. “So you would not arrive to an empty studio.”

The room fell into an awkward silence.

I picked up my laptop.

“Please be punctual tomorrow,” I said.

Then I turned and walked away.

Behind me, I could hear quiet complaints and frustration, but I did not stop.

Everything I had said was reasonable.

They had no ground to challenge it.

Isabella’s POV

After Vivienne left, I felt a trace of irritation.

But beneath that, there was also recognition.

“She is not easy to deal with,” I said to Eliza.

Winning Alexander’s trust was never something simple.

Eliza frowned, clearly worried about the next shoot.

I took out my phone.

“There is no need to overthink it,” I said.

“I will call Alexander.”

Vivienne’s POV

As I walked out of the building, the air outside felt lighter.

I knew my own strength.

I knew my value.

Very few people could truly affect me.

But there was one exception.

Alexander.

Even as I walked away calmly, even as I handled everything without hesitation, the truth remained unchanged.

My heart still ached.

Not because I was weak.

But because I had loved him.

Deeply.