chapter 3

🥀Vivienne’s POV🥀

A bitter heaviness spread through my chest as I sat inside the car, watching Alexander and Isabella together.

My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes.

For three years… I had never seen him like that.

That soft expression. That quiet patience. That warmth.

With me, he had always been calm. Distant. Controlled.

I had told myself countless times that it was just the way he was.

That he simply did not know how to love.

But now I understood.

He did know how.

He just never chose me.

They walked past my car without even glancing in my direction.

Of course they wouldn’t notice.

Why would they?

To him, I was already someone he had decided to let go.

I stayed there long after they disappeared from sight.

Then I drove home.

Slowly.

Numbly.

“Madam, what would you like for dinner?” Maggie asked gently the moment I stepped inside.

She paused when she saw my face.

I did not answer.

I walked straight to the bedroom and closed the door behind me.

The moment I was alone, everything collapsed.

My back pressed against the door as my legs weakened.

Tears fell uncontrollably, one after another, until I could no longer hold myself together.

My chest hurt so much it felt like I could not breathe.

Fragments of my childhood flashed through my mind.

A broken home.

Endless arguments.

The cold silence after my parents’ divorce.

The loneliness that followed me for years.

I clenched my fists tightly.

I did not want my child to go through that.

I wanted my baby to grow up in a warm home.

With love.

With security.

But now…

I did not even know if I could give that anymore.

A soft knock came from the door.

“Madam, dinner is ready,” Maggie said carefully.

“I’ll come,” I replied, my voice barely steady.

After washing my face, I suddenly remembered something.

The gift Alexander mentioned.

I walked to the closet and opened his suitcase.

Inside, I found a signed album.

From my favorite singer.

Avery Rose.

My fingers trembled slightly as I picked it up.

It was not expensive.

But it meant something.

To me.

I held it close to my chest.

For a brief moment, warmth spread through the emptiness inside me.

At least… he remembered.

At least, somewhere in his mind, I still existed.

That night, I fell asleep with that small, fragile thought.

The next morning, I woke up alone again.

The empty space beside me felt colder than usual.

I sat there quietly, staring ahead.

He probably spent the night with her.

The thought hurt more than I expected.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Alexander walked in.

For a moment, I froze.

A strange sense of relief rose in my chest before I could stop it.

“You don’t look well,” he said, frowning slightly.

He walked closer and sat beside me.

“Are you sick?”

I stood up immediately and stepped away.

“I’m fine.”

He looked at me, not convinced.

“What’s wrong? Talk to me.”

My heart trembled.

There were so many things I wanted to say.

I did not want the divorce.

I loved him.

I was pregnant with his child.

And that gift…

Did it mean something?

Did he still care, even a little?

I opened my mouth.

But before I could speak

“Even after the divorce,” he said calmly, “you will still be my sister.”

“You can rely on me like family.”

My throat tightened instantly.

All the words I had been holding back disappeared.

“I’m fine,” I said softly, forcing a weak smile.

“I’ll come downstairs after washing up.”

He studied me for a moment.

“Are you planning to stay distant from me even before the divorce is finalized?”

I shook my head slightly.

But I said nothing.

A faint trace of displeasure crossed his face.

“I won’t force you,” he said.

Then he turned and left.

The door closed.

And the silence returned.

My smile disappeared immediately.

Why did he look annoyed?

Was it because Isabella was back?

Because he wanted to end everything faster?

I tried to smile again.

But it felt heavy.

Painful.

At Vanguard Global Enterprises, my assistant rushed into my office.

“Director Vivienne, Lena Ashford’s agent is on the line.”

I frowned slightly.

Lena was our brand ambassador.

Everything had already been finalized.

I picked up the call.

The moment I spoke, the agent’s angry voice exploded through the phone.

“You replaced Lena without informing us? Do you know how disrespectful this is?”

I remained calm.

“There must be a misunderstanding. Lena is still our ambassador.”

“That’s not what we were told,” the agent snapped.

“Someone from your company already confirmed her replacement.”

The call ended abruptly.

My expression darkened.

I already knew who this was.

Olivia Reynolds.

I walked straight to the Corporate Communications department and pushed the door open.

“What did you do to Lena Ashford’s contract?” I demanded.

Olivia looked up lazily, a mocking smile on her lips.

“So you finally found out.”

“That project was approved by Alexander,” I said coldly. “You had no right to interfere.”

She laughed softly.

“Oh please. Do you really think you got that position because of your ability?”

My hands clenched.

“Watch your words.”

“Or what?” she sneered.

“Everyone knows how you climbed your way up. Using your face. Using your body.”

I stayed still.

Barely holding myself together.

But then she spoke again.

And this time

She mentioned my father.

Something inside me snapped.

Before I realized it, my hand moved.

Slap.

The sound echoed sharply across the office.

Everyone froze.

Olivia’s head turned to the side.

She slowly touched her cheek, eyes wide with disbelief.

“You!” she shouted, her voice trembling with rage.

Then she laughed coldly.

“Just like your father. No class at all.”

That was it.

I raised my hand again.

But before it could fall—

Someone grabbed my wrist.

The grip was firm.

Unyielding.

My body stiffened.

I turned around.

And met Alexander’s eyes.

The entire office fell into silence.