جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 20

Viv, I came as soon as Nathan called me from your phone,” her eyes swept over me and they got glossier by the second, she flicked them away with her lashes and took a deep breath while reaching for my hands, “You look awful." There was no arguing that, I forced myself into a half sitting position. “I'm sorry, Sophie, you must be fed up. I keep getting you involved in the train wreck that is my life and-" She shook her head, nearly snapping it off with the force.“What are friends -best friends for? I know you'd do the same for me too in a heartbeat and that's why…” She paused, licking her lips like they needed the extra lubrication for the words to come out.“I paid some of your mother's bills-" I sat up, ignoring the pain that shut up my spine hot and blazing, my sight gripped on my friend.“Sophie!" Her name was the only thing I could manage to say at first, “why would you do that?" She squeezed my fingers tighter around her own, “Viv, I'm sure you haven't noticed yourself but

“Will you marry me?" No, that won't work.“It's only going to be for a year!" That still sounds off-putting.“I need to get married to access my trust fund to pay my mother's hospital bills…so if you don't have anything serious going on right now-” "Viv, take a breathe,” My friend said materializing behind me and my full body mirror. "Take my advice, I don't think this will be half as hard as you think it'll be,” She added breezily like any other woman that didn't have the shame of four rejections clinging to her like a stink.Nathan was kind, but kind enough to marry a friend because they asked-that I'll find out at our dinner this noon.Sophie had been kind enough to follow me from the hospital after I was discharged, making the night a sleepover.It was a nice distraction; watching bad TV and eating buttery popcorn. Like a dream.But as every other dream waking up to an unforgiving reality was inevitable.“Is that what you're wearing?" She asked when she saw me pulling out a si

Vivian's POV "Mom, he proposed..." I swirled the pad of my finger over the silver band watching the diamond softly catching the fluorescent hospital lights. Mom was unconscious, fully sedated to help her with the bouts of pain, pain that she would no longer have to endure once I have my hand on that trust fund. That's why when Ethan slid over that velvet box containing the ring I had already accepted my fate, if that was what it took to keep my mom breathing.Yes, that's what all of this is for-my mom. I entangled her unmoving fingers between mine, but our quiet moment was split by the sharp sound of a notification that popped up on my phone. It was from Megan's socials. A picture of her, her mother and father and behind them an aquatic themed restaurant as a backdrop.My gaze fell to the caption “spending time with family is everything”. It had me clutching the phone subconsciously and grinding my molars together. Here my mother was, fighting every moment to cling to life. And w

Vivian's POVDerek turned the diamond ring slowly between his fingers, watching the stone catch the afternoon sunlight. The tiny flashes reflected in his eyes as though he was studying something that belonged to him.A smug smile settled on his face."You know what I think?" he said at last, his gaze lifting to mine. "I think you're trying so hard to convince yourself this engagement means something.” I drew in a slow breath. "Derek, I…"A calm voice cut cleanly through the thick air."I believe that belongs to my fiancee."Every muscle in my body went rigid.The hospital entrance, the passing conversations, the traffic outside... everything seemed to disappear into the background.Slowly, I turned.Ethan Blackwell stood a few steps away.His black suit fit him with effortless precision, the sleeves ending perfectly at his wrists where an expensive silver watch caught the fading sunlight. One hand rested casually in his trouser pocket while the other hung relaxed by his side.There w

Vivian's POV The text came in just after eight in the morning. I was still half-asleep, tangled up in my sheets, when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I reached for it, squinting against the light, and there it was. Short and straight to the point: Meet me at my office by eleven o'clock. Don't be late.I stared at the screen for a long moment. My thumb hovered over the keyboard, and I thought about what to say, what I could possibly say that would make any of this feel less weird. In the end, I just typed back: Okay.Nothing warm about it. No "how are you" or "hope you're doing okay" or "looking forward to seeing you." Just business, which made sense, I guess. That's what this whole thing was. Business dressed up like something else, with a big diamond on my finger to make it look real. A deal wrapped in a pretty package, signed and sealed and ready to go.I got up, took a shower, and got dressed. Picked out a cream blouse, a navy skirt that hit just above the knee, heels that gave