Chapter 5 Crush

A few minutes later, Butler Sid informed them that dinner had been served. Hiram led the family to the lavishly decorated dining room.

The dining room was enveloped in a comforting, rich aroma promising warmth and delicious food.

A sumptuous array of dishes covered the dining table. It highlighted the family’s wealth and the occasion's importance.

Vivica was moved to tears when she saw her favourite food. Her mother squeezed her hand, gently smiling.

When everyone was enjoying mouthwatering food, Hiram looked at Ziva and said, “Congratulations are in order, Miss James. I heard that you have a brand-new sister-in-law.”

Ziva’s cutlery froze in mid-air when she heard that her eldest brother, Preston, had been married.

She stared at Hiram in disbelief, her voice trembling, and she stammered, “W—what? H—How is that possible?

Vivica was so shocked that a wine glass slipped from her fingers and shattered on the floor, leaving a deep red stain on her stunning white gown.

Upon hearing that her ex-boyfriend got married just three months after their split, Vivica fled to her bedroom sobbing.

When her mother made a move to follow, Hiram caught her eye and shook his head, knowing his sister needed space to process the shock.

Ziva excused herself, then she went to Vivica’s bedroom to comfort her.

Grandpa Cartwright looked at his eldest grandson and asked, “What is going on, my precious grandson?”

Hiram looked at his grandfather with pure astonishment in his eyes and replied, “I am so confused by my sister’s behaviour, Grandpa. I asked her this morning if she was dating anyone, but she told me that she was still too young to date.”

Then Hiram turned to his mother and asked, “Do you think my sister has been harbouring a crush on Ziva’s brother, Mom?”

His mother shook her head and replied, “I honestly have no idea. Your sister has never breathed a word about him to me.”

The once harmonious atmosphere dissolved into a thick, palpable awkwardness the moment the birthday girl fled the dining room in tears.

In Vivica’s bedroom, she was sitting on the bed sobbing. She wiped her tears and dialled Preston’s number.

At that moment, Preston was driving his car to the Cartwright estate to bring Vivica her birthday gift. He smiled broadly and said, “Happy birthday, my beautiful Viv.”

Vivica felt betrayed and asked, sobbing, “How could you do this to me, Preston? How could you marry someone three months after we broke up? Were you cheating on me, Preston?”

Preston was so shocked that he slammed on the brakes, narrowly avoiding a collision with the car in front and asked, “How on earth did you find out that I am married, Viv?”

Then Preston pulled the car to the side of the road and killed the engine. His hands were trembling so violently that it had become impossible to drive. Preston’s mind was in turmoil. Did Brooklyn tell Vivica about their sham of a marriage?

Vivica had desperately hoped her eldest brother was mistaken, but hearing the confession from her ex-boyfriend’s own lips turned her world upside down. She felt the colour drain from her face as the brutal reality sank in.

Before Vivica could respond, there was a knock on her bedroom door. She quickly wiped tears on her face, then she hung up the phone and said hoarsely, “Please come in.” She thought it was her mother coming to comfort her.

Ziva walked into Vivica’s bedroom, her eyes were full of concern, and she said, “I think there has been a misunderstanding, Viv.

There is no way that my brother has married a random woman. Besides, he didn't leave the family mansion today; he was busy playing chess with my grandfather.”

Vivica looked at her best friend with tears in her eyes and replied, “My brother was telling the truth, Ziva. Your brother has confessed that he was already married. How could he do this to me, Ziva?”

Ziva was dumbfounded. She opened her mouth, but nothing came forth.

Although Ziva had planned to spend the night at the Cartwright family estate, she abruptly changed her mind.

Ziva pulled her best friend into a tight embrace, then she took her designer handbag and left her friend’s bedroom. She was devastated.

How could her family hide her brother’s marriage from her? She was determined to confront her brother about the betrayal.

Ziva felt a deep-seated hatred towards a random woman who came between her brother and her best friend.

Ziva’s retreat was cut short when she encountered Vivica's eldest brother in the living room. His presence was a sudden hurdle in her path to confrontation.

Hiram’s gaze was icy cold as if he was looking at the enemy and asked, “Ziva, what is the relationship between my sister and your brother? Don't even think about lying to me.

A cold shiver ran down Ziva's spine, and she stammered, “V... V has a crush on my brother.” She couldn't bring herself to confess that his beloved sister had been dating her brother for years.

Ziva bolted for the door, her heart hammering against her ribs. She was desperate to escape Hiram’s simmering wrath. However, his thunderous voice pinned her to the spot, “Did I give you permission to leave?”

At that moment, Hiram’s second brother, Patrice, walked into the living room. He had a meeting with his client that he couldn’t postpone. He looked at his eldest brother with questioning eyes.

Hiram looked at Ziva coldly, his silence more terrifying than his roar, then he uttered a single word, “Leave.”

It felt like Ziva was given an amnesty. She bolted through the door, disappearing into the night like a startled deer.

Her fingers fumbled as she pulled out her phone from her designer handbag, intending to call her brother to pick her up. Her heart sank when the screen remained stubbornly black.

Unbeknownst to her, Hiram had instructed the family driver to take her home. The car stopped beside her, then the driver said, “Please get in, Miss James.” Ziva got in the car and thanked the driver profusely.

Elsewhere, Preston tried calling Vivica several times, but it went straight to voicemail. The shock on his face quickly curdled into smouldering anger as he cursed his nominal wife in his heart for having the audacity to flaunt their marriage in public.

The urge to confront her burned in his chest, but he had no idea where she lived. He sent a sharp text message, “Address.”

Preston watched the screen for a reply that never came. Unbeknownst to him, his wife’s phone was completely switched off. He decided to drive to the Cartwright Private Hospital to look for his wife.