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Chapter_42
Joseph recoiled as if struck, his face draining of color. The weight of Vivienne’s words hung in the air like a heavy cloud. His mind was racing, trying to process the gravity of her accusation. For a moment, it felt like time had frozen, and he couldn’t escape the chilling truth she had just revealed.
Dorian, still processing what he had heard, staggered back in disbelief. “Vivienne, is that… is that really true?” His voice was filled with a mix of concern and confusion. He had no idea that such an event had occurred—especially not with his own brother.
Vivienne didn’t hesitate, her voice as cold as ice. “It’s true. You never knew, did you? That day when I was five, I was just a kid, but I knew exactly what was going on. My mom knew too, and if Octavia hadn’t intervened, Joseph, you wouldn’t be standing here right now.”
Her words were sharp, cutting through the tension like a knife. Joseph, whose earlier bravado had completely evaporated, was left speechless, unable to form a coherent thought. The memory of that day, something he had buried deep in his mind, had been dragged out into the open with ruthless precision.
Vivienne’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. Instead, it was a predatory grin, the kind that hinted at a darker side—one that had been forged through years of pain and suffering. “Do you remember now? You were lucky back then, but now… now, you’ll face the consequences.”
Joseph’s hands trembled as he tried to steady himself. His lips parted in an attempt to speak, but no words came out. He couldn’t deny it. He had done horrible things, and Vivienne had been there—silent, watching, remembering.
“What do you want from me?” Joseph finally managed to croak, his voice hoarse with a mixture of fear and regret.
Vivienne leaned closer, her gaze unwavering. “Nothing from you. You’ve already ruined your own life. But you’re not going to ruin mine, Joseph. You’re not going to bring any more chaos into my world.”
As Joseph sat there, still reeling from the revelation, Dorian couldn’t help but look at Vivienne with a new kind of respect. He had always known she was strong, but now he saw a depth to her strength that went beyond what he had imagined. She wasn’t just a victim—she was someone who had learned how to wield her pain as a weapon.
Cordelia, who had been standing quietly in the background, finally spoke, her voice calm but firm. “Dorian, maybe we should call Octavia. If Joseph’s in this much of a mess, she needs to know what’s going on.”
Dorian nodded, still trying to process everything. “Yeah, I think you’re right. But Joseph,” he said, his tone suddenly hardening, “you better stay out of Vivienne’s life from now on. If you come near her again, I won’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to protect her.”
Joseph didn’t respond. He couldn’t. He knew he had no ground to stand on, no defense to offer. All he could do was sit there in silence, his face a mixture of shame and anger.
Vivienne, satisfied with the turn of events, straightened up and turned toward Dorian. “I’ll leave you to deal with him. I have a class to get to.”
Dorian watched her walk away, his mind still grappling with the revelation. He wasn’t sure what the future held, but one thing was certain—Vivienne had proven herself to be far more capable than anyone had given her credit for.
As Vivienne exited the house, the air around her felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She wasn’t a little girl anymore, helpless and alone. She was a woman who had learned to stand up for herself, no matter the cost.
She walked down the hallway with a sense of purpose, knowing that whatever came next, she was ready. The scars of the past no longer controlled her; they had shaped her, yes, but they didn’t define her.
And as she stepped into the fresh air outside, she sent a quick message to Percival, letting him know she was on her way to class. She needed to focus on the future—on building her own life, on her own terms. And if anyone got in her way, they’d learn just how dangerous she could be.
The world had a way of testing people, but Vivienne was no longer just a victim. She was a force to be reckoned with.
