Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_17
The atmosphere in the room had shifted again, this time from tension to uncertainty. Dorian leaned back, his eyes clouded with worry, while Cordelia gave him a sympathetic glance. The conversation with Arabella had clearly rattled him. As he stared at the phone, still processing her words about the tuition and the pressure of the upcoming marriage with the Ellingtons, his mind swirled with conflicting emotions.
Vivienne, however, seemed almost unaffected by the growing storm. When she spoke, her calm voice cut through the tension, offering something unexpected—hope. “Don’t worry. I can work and support you guys,” she said simply.
Dorian blinked, taken aback by her words. He let out a laugh, albeit with a trace of uncertainty. “Alright, then, I’ll rely on you,” he said, a flicker of relief in his tone.
Vivienne smiled brightly. “Okay.” Then, with the determination that only she possessed, she pulled out her phone and tapped away. “I’ll look for work on social media.”
Dorian watched her for a moment, silently grateful, but also deeply concerned. Vivienne had always been someone who kept a low profile, someone who had stayed under the radar of the family’s drama, but this was different. She was stepping up, and for the first time, Dorian saw her in a new light—a young woman ready to face the world head-on.
Vivienne’s phone beeped as soon as she hit ‘send’ on her update. She glanced at it with curiosity, then slid the phone into her pocket. She didn’t realize the avalanche of messages that was about to flood in.
Meanwhile, Cordelia looked at Dorian, concern still evident in her expression. “Do you think she’s ready to handle it? She’s been through a lot already,” she said softly.
Dorian nodded slowly. “She has more strength than we give her credit for. She’s been through things none of us will ever fully understand. I think… I think she’s ready.”
Cordelia’s lips curled into a small smile, but her eyes betrayed her worry. “Just make sure you’re there for her.”
Outside, the air felt thick with unsaid words. Vivienne sat quietly, her gaze focused on Thaddeus as he continued piecing together his puzzle. In that simple, peaceful moment, it was easy to forget the pressures that loomed over them all. But those pressures were relentless, and soon, Vivienne’s phone would show just how much the world had noticed her bold step into the public sphere.
As she stepped away to make her social media post, she had no idea that this seemingly innocent action would be the catalyst for a whole new set of challenges, ones that would force her to face the Hawthorn family in ways she never expected.
Little did she know that her innocent update, “Looking for a job. Hope someone can help me,” would soon have a ripple effect across not just her family’s world, but beyond it.
Back in the mansion, Beatrice was pacing back and forth, her mind whirling as she processed the latest developments. Thaddeus in Imperial Blossom Nursery, Dorian living in Tranquil Estates—everything was falling apart in ways she couldn’t have predicted. She couldn’t let this continue. She needed a plan, something decisive. But first, she needed to find out everything she could about Vivienne.
Beatrice had always underestimated her. Now, it seemed Vivienne was the one pulling all the strings.
