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Chapter_41
Vivienne stood at the top of the stairs, taking in the furious figure of Joseph in the hallway below. His face was contorted with rage, and his words came at her like a barrage of insults, each one more ridiculous than the last.
As he finished shouting, Vivienne’s eyes narrowed, a quiet fury simmering beneath her calm demeanor. She had been hoping for a peaceful evening, but now this? Joseph’s appearance was the last thing she wanted to deal with.
“You’re blaming me for your own mess?” she asked, her voice icy but steady. She hadn’t moved from her spot, but the way she stood—unmoved, unflinching—said it all.
Joseph, red-faced and breathing heavily, pointed an accusing finger at her. “You’re the reason everything’s falling apart! First, the media scandal, then Octavia throwing a fit over you—do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
Vivienne’s gaze flickered to Dorian, who was standing at the door, his face a mixture of concern and caution. He had already opened the door to let Joseph in, but it was clear he hadn’t expected this level of aggression.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Joseph,” Vivienne replied evenly. “But if you think I’m responsible for your problems, you’ve lost your mind.”
Joseph took a step forward, his voice rising with the volume of his frustration. “You’re always in the middle of everything, Vivienne! Whether you intend to or not, you cause chaos wherever you go! Now, look at what’s happening because of you.”
Vivienne’s patience, already thin after the day’s events, was starting to fray. She crossed her arms and took a deep breath, her sharp eyes cutting through Joseph’s tantrum.
“Joseph, you want to know what’s going on? Maybe you should start by looking at yourself. This entire situation started with your own actions,” she said, her tone cool but resolute. “The media’s going crazy because of your mess. And Octavia? Maybe she’s realizing what kind of man she’s married to.”
Joseph’s face twisted in rage. He lunged forward, but Dorian stepped in between them, his eyes wide as he held up his hands. “Joseph, calm down!” he urged. “You’re not helping anything by making this worse.”
“Stay out of this, Dorian!” Joseph spat. “This is between me and Vivienne!”
Vivienne felt her irritation rise. “I don’t need to listen to you berating me for something I didn’t cause,” she said sharply. “And if you don’t get your act together, maybe you’ll have more to worry about than the media.”
Joseph faltered, his anger giving way to confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Vivienne’s gaze hardened as she took a step closer to him, her voice low and steady. “It means that you’ve already done enough damage to your own life. Don’t drag me into your mess.”
For a moment, the room was silent except for the distant hum of the city outside. Joseph stood frozen, staring at her as if he couldn’t quite comprehend what was happening. Then, slowly, his shoulders slumped, his anger deflating like a balloon.
“Fine,” he muttered, his voice tight. “You’re right, okay? But just remember, if things go even further south for me, I’ll hold you responsible. You and your perfect little life.”
Vivienne didn’t even flinch at the threat. “You can hold whoever you want responsible, Joseph. Just don’t expect me to care.”
With that, she turned on her heel and walked back to her room, leaving Joseph standing in the doorway, speechless. Dorian watched her go, a mix of relief and disbelief crossing his face. He turned back to Joseph, his voice quiet but firm.
“You’re not helping anything, Joseph,” he said, his tone stern. “Vivienne doesn’t deserve your anger.”
Joseph shot him a glare before storming out of the house. Vivienne, however, had already closed her door behind her, shutting out the drama with a single motion.
The weight of the day finally settled on her shoulders as she sank onto the bed. The events with Charlotte, the unexpected encounter with the thugs, the dealings with David, and now Joseph—it had all been a lot to handle. But somehow, she felt a little more at peace with herself.
She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering tension. A few minutes passed before she grabbed her phone, deciding to check in with Percival. She sent him a simple text: All good. Just a bit of family drama. Don’t worry.
When she hit send, she let out a long breath and finally allowed herself to relax, closing her eyes for the night.
