Alle Kapitel von The Heiress Who Sold Her Heart: Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 8

The ballroom of the Laurent Atelier sparkled like the perfect housewife's home without a single trace of disaster.Crystal chandeliers spilled gold over marble tiles. Cameras blinked behind velvet ropes. Models in silk and diamonds glided past crowds in gowns that were each unique to the Laurent collection.Vivienne Laurent stood beneath the largest of the ballroom's many chandeliers and tried not to feel like an intruding guest at her family's celebration." Smile , " her stepmother murmured beside her.Celeste's hand rested lightly on her arm, but to Vivienne, it was a threat. The camera flashes flared, snapping pictures of her as the newest addition to the Laurent family."This will be a good night for you, " Celeste continued, her scarlet lips barely opening as she spoke. " Make sure it is not made difficult. "Vivienne's smile grew tighter."I will do that. ""Good, " Celeste said, trailing her gaze over Vivienne's black satin dress. The silver embroidery at its cuffs made Celest

The syringe captured the faint light from the dashboard.Vivienne's whole body tensed.The man next to the driver was dressed in a dark suit, not a police uniform, and that was more alarming than necessary. He was an unremarkable face, the sort that could pass unnoticed through a crowd. That frightened her more than anything.He smiled."Ms. Laurent."The car whirled through the night.Vivienne's shoulders flattened against the door as her cuffed wrists pressed against her chest, fingers tapping against the cold metal. Her pulse pounded louder with every heartbeat."You're trying to find someone," she said. "I'm a distraction."The man raised the syringe just enough for her to see the tip."Somebody who wants to make things simple."The driver didn't look back.Vivienne's phone was still clutched in her palm, the screen dark but her fingers certain of the glass and metal rectangle. A useless thing, unless she could think of something to do with it.Her mind raced through every possibi

Adrien's voice slid through the darkness like a knife."Vivienne, sweetheart...you should've signed."Vivienne gasped.The hallway stretched away in blackness, save the faint red glow from an emergency exit light. Somewhere in the distance, a pipe dripped steadily.Silas's hand closed around hers, unyielding, firm."Behind me," he muttered.Vivienne struggled. "Adrien is here."Silas didn't correct her."I know.""You suspected he was following us, and you didn't consider that I need to know?""Is this not the ideal time?""It is always an inconvenient time for you, isn't it?"A soft chuckle sounded from the darkness."There she is, always defending herself, even from the people who claim they want to help her." Adrien's voice rang out, smooth and maddeningly familiar.Vivienne's stomach twisted.This voice was supposed to make her feel safe, was supposed to lull her into a warm sense of belonging.Now, it made her skin crawl."Care to come out and tell me what you were doing, followi

Chapter 7: V Is BornFor a long time, Vivienne could not stop staring at the black banner on the television screen.IN MEMORY OF VIVIENNE LAURENT.Her name looked wrong surrounded by white lilies and camera flashes.It looked clean.Final.As if she had been folded into a coffin before anyone had bothered to ask whether she was breathing.Silas’s arm was still around her waist.Vivienne stepped away from him.Not because she did not need the support.Because she did.And needing anything from another person suddenly felt dangerous.“They will hold a funeral,” she said.Mara muted the television again. “Probably.”“My father will speak.”“Yes.”“Celeste will cry.”Mara’s mouth tightened. “Most likely.”“Adrien will stand beside them and let everyone call him heartbroken.”Silas watched her carefully.Vivienne looked back at the screen.The news footage had changed to a photograph from her childhood. She was eight years old, standing between Lucien and her mother at a summer charity gal