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Chapter_38
The tension in the Hawthorn family only grew as the scandal continued to unfold. Octavia was devastated, her heart shattered by the betrayal she believed Joseph had inflicted upon her. The accusations were relentless, and the thought of her once-solid marriage crumbling under the weight of lies and secrets was too much to bear. Every fiber of her being wanted to confront Joseph, to demand an explanation, but deep down, she knew she needed more than just emotional reactions. She needed answers, real, undeniable answers.
Meanwhile, Dorian was left to pick up the pieces of his fractured family. The damage done by Beatrice’s actions was far-reaching, and now his brother Joseph was tangled in a web of scandal. He had always thought of his family as unshakable, a pillar of high society, but everything was falling apart. His thoughts were clouded with worry for his niece Vivienne, who had already been dragged into this mess despite her innocence. He knew he had to protect her, no matter the cost.
Felicity, ever the strategist, moved quickly to put things in motion. She arranged for a discreet investigation into Joseph’s supposed affair, starting with the DNA test. If the rumors were true, there would be no hiding the truth. Octavia was right—solid proof was needed, and Felicity would make sure they got it.
Back at the Hawthorn estate, Beatrice seethed in silence. Her pride was wounded, and her mind was consumed with one burning thought: revenge. Vivienne had outsmarted her, humiliated her in front of everyone, and now she had no way to reclaim her dignity. Every time she thought about the engagement gifts being redirected to Dorian, her blood boiled. She had spent so much time orchestrating plans for Arabella to marry Percival, and now it was all for nothing. To make matters worse, Vivienne had openly mocked her authority and walked away unscathed. How dare she?
Beatrice wasn’t done yet. She couldn’t let Vivienne get away with this. There was still much to be done, many threads to pull. Even though she had lost the battle, the war was far from over.
Arabella, too, was reeling. She hadn’t expected Vivienne to turn the tables so completely. The woman had always been a mystery to her, but now, she was a formidable opponent. Arabella couldn’t help but wonder how Vivienne had managed to keep everything under control while making everyone else look like fools. Her own feelings of humiliation began to turn into a quiet, simmering rage. She was no longer just mad at Vivienne for ruining her chances with Percival; she was angry at herself for being so easily manipulated. And now, with the engagement looming, she had no choice but to sit on the sidelines and watch as Vivienne took center stage.
As the night wore on and the scandal continued to spread across the internet, the Hawthorn family’s once-pristine reputation was shredded. The tabloids were merciless, picking apart every aspect of their private lives. Every whisper, every secret, was laid bare for the world to see. The more Beatrice tried to control the situation, the worse it became.
Vivienne, on the other hand, had achieved what she set out to do—she had taken back control of her life and had done so in a way that left no room for doubt. The people who once looked down on her now had to reckon with the reality of her strength. As she left the Hawthorn estate, arm in arm with Dorian, a sense of quiet victory washed over her. She had won, but more importantly, she had proven that she would never again be at the mercy of the Hawthorn family or anyone else who thought they could manipulate her.
She had set the terms, and they would follow, whether they liked it or not.
And as for Percival? His loyalty to her had become more clear with each passing day. Despite the scandal, despite the chaos, he stood by her side, unflinching. Vivienne couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude. In a world filled with deceit and betrayal, he had been a constant. And that, in itself, was worth more than any engagement gift or public approval.
As the storm raged on, the pieces were falling into place. Vivienne wasn’t just a survivor—she was now a force to be reckoned with. The tables had turned, and for once, it was the Hawthorn family who were left in the dust.
