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Chapter_21
Thomas nodded, understanding the unspoken command. Percival’s tone had shifted, and it was clear that he was no longer indifferent to the situation involving Vivienne. His fiancée had made quite an impression, and now it was clear that anyone who tried to mess with her would face the consequences.
As the black sedan drove off, Thomas glanced at Percival. “Understood, Mr. Ellington. I’ll make sure to have the necessary arrangements.”
At the police station, Vivienne emerged with Dorian, Cordelia, and Thaddeus by her side, all of them looking at her with concern and relief. She gave them a small smile, her usual calm demeanor now tinged with something sharper, as if she had taken full control of the situation.
“Thank you for coming,” Vivienne said, her voice soft but with an underlying strength that made it clear she wasn’t the same woman who had walked into the station earlier.
“Of course,” Dorian responded, his voice full of care. “We couldn’t just sit back and let this happen.”
“I’m just glad it’s over,” Cordelia added, though her expression suggested a simmering anger toward whoever had dared to set Vivienne up.
Thaddeus, ever the pragmatic one, stepped forward. “You handled it well. I’m impressed.”
Vivienne gave him a nod, acknowledging his compliment. “I didn’t have much of a choice.”
The group began walking toward the car, the weight of the ordeal starting to fade now that she was free. However, in the back of Vivienne’s mind, the thought of who had orchestrated this scheme kept nagging at her. Coral and Jaylan, she suspected, but there were other forces at play too. It wouldn’t be long before the true extent of the web they had woven became clear.
Meanwhile, back at the Lockwood mansion, Coral was seething with rage. The humiliation of being forced to apologize to Vivienne in front of everyone was still fresh. She had been caught in her own lie, and now the consequences were staring her in the face.
“How could you let this happen?” she snapped at Jaylan, who had been silent for the most part since their return. His stern expression remained unchanged, but his eyes were filled with frustration.
“I didn’t know,” Jaylan said, his voice tight. “I trusted you. You told me that bracelet was missing.”
Coral crossed her arms defiantly. “I didn’t expect things to blow up like this. I thought we’d handle it quickly, get Vivienne out of the way. But you had to drag this out.”
Jaylan’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve caused? You’ve put this whole family at risk.”
“Well, it’s not like I did it on my own,” Coral retorted, her voice dripping with bitterness. “You went along with it too. Don’t act like you’re blameless in all this.”
Jaylan clenched his fists. “This has nothing to do with me! You’ve made a mess of everything. Now we have to fix it.”
Coral scoffed. “Fix it? How? We’ve already lost face in front of the whole city. Vivienne’s probably enjoying watching us squirm.”
Jaylan turned away, his anger simmering beneath the surface. He had underestimated Vivienne and the Hawthorn family, but now he realized just how dangerous they could be. They were not people you could simply manipulate.
As he stormed out of the room, Coral’s frustration boiled over. “You’ll regret this,” she muttered under her breath. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Back at Tranquil Estates, Arabella watched from her window as the rain continued to pour outside. She had been so certain that Vivienne’s downfall would be the key to ending the marriage contract with the Ellington family. But now, it seemed like everything was slipping out of her control.
She had tried to play the game, to use Vivienne as a pawn, but now she wasn’t sure where she stood. The Ellington family’s power was formidable, and Percival’s growing affection for Vivienne was becoming more than just a minor complication.
“Arabella, you’re thinking too much,” Coral’s voice cut through her thoughts as she entered the room, her face still red from the slap Jaylan had delivered. “Everything will be fine. We’ll find a way to turn this situation around.”
Arabella turned slowly, her gaze cold. “I don’t know, Coral. I’m starting to think we might be in over our heads.”
Coral scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. We have control. Vivienne’s nothing more than a pawn. When this blows over, we’ll still have the upper hand.”
Arabella wasn’t so sure anymore. The pieces were moving too fast, and she wasn’t sure she could keep up.
