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Novel Catalog
Chapter_5
Vivienne stood motionless, her gaze unwavering as Beatrice’s fury filled the room. The tension was palpable, as the elderly woman’s words hung heavy in the air. Vivienne’s expression remained as cold as the chill that had taken root in the room.
“Vivienne!” Beatrice’s voice cracked with anger, her eyes flashing with contempt. “You irresponsible girl! How dare you break off the engagement with the Ellington family? Who do you think you are? Ungrateful child! Do you even care about me anymore?”
Beatrice’s words were venomous, and she couldn’t contain her disbelief. The audacity of Vivienne to unilaterally cancel the engagement with the powerful Ellington family—it was a blow to her plans, a blow to the family’s image. If Vivienne had just followed the path set for her, the family would have received the financial boost it desperately needed. Instead, Vivienne had gone behind everyone’s back, doing something no one had expected, causing a ripple effect that threatened everything Beatrice had worked for.
Vivienne remained still, her posture rigid and unyielding. She said nothing at first, her icy gaze fixed on Beatrice. The room seemed to grow colder as Vivienne’s silence stretched on, and the Hawthorn family waited for her response.
Finally, Vivienne broke the silence, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “It was me who called off the engagement.” Dorian stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Vivienne. His face was stern, his eyes firm with resolve. “If you have a problem with that, take it up with me.”
The words barely left Dorian’s lips when Beatrice’s fury reached its peak. She slapped him hard across the face, the sound echoing through the small room. “You traitor! Do you even realize what this marriage meant to our family? What it could have done for the Hawthorn family?” She glared at him, her eyes filled with disdain. “This wasn’t just about the engagement—it was our chance for survival, for financial stability.”
Dorian’s face reddened with anger, but he didn’t back down. “What does it really mean, Beatrice? Is it just about your pride? The way you’ve treated Vivienne, willing to sacrifice her for your own gains—it’s unforgivable.”
Vivienne stood behind Dorian, her expression unchanging. Her voice, when it finally came, was steady, laced with contempt. “You’re right, Father,” she said softly. “I’ve never been anything but a tool in this family’s scheme. But no more. I won’t be used.”
Beatrice’s glare intensified, but before she could respond, Michael, Dorian’s older brother, spoke up. “How can you say that about our mother?” His voice trembled with frustration, but there was an underlying sense of justification. “She’s doing what’s best for the family! You don’t understand what this means.”
Dorian’s second brother, Joseph, joined in, his words dripping with condescension. “Vivienne, what do you expect? Look at you—you’re uneducated, you grew up in the countryside. Your only option is to marry Percival. He might have his limitations, but he comes from wealth, from a family with power. You can’t look down on that. What else do you have?”
Vivienne’s lips curled into a cold smile, her hands resting casually in her pockets. “Let me ask you something, Joseph,” she said, her voice sharp. “When was the last time any of you did anything for me? You want me to marry Percival, a man who’s crippled, just for the sake of your family’s pride? What have I ever received from you except manipulation and control?”
The room fell into an uneasy silence as Vivienne’s words settled in the air. Beatrice, unable to mask her anger, snapped, “What’s wrong with that? We’re a family, Vivienne. You owe us. You should be doing your part.”
Vivienne raised an eyebrow. “My part? The only thing I owe you is nothing. You’ve never been a family to me. I didn’t even ask to be born into this mess.” Her voice was full of bitterness, her eyes cold as ice.
The tension in the room escalated. Michael’s face turned red with anger, his fists clenching as he shouted, “You can’t talk to your grandmother like that! She’s an elder, you should respect her!”
Vivienne’s expression didn’t change. “Respect?” she scoffed. “Respect is earned, Michael. And none of you have earned it. My mother—she’s the one who taught me what real respect is. And she’s gone now, leaving me to deal with all this. But I won’t let your greed control my life any longer.”
Michael’s face contorted with rage, but before he could retort, Beatrice raised her hand. “Enough!” she commanded. “Vivienne, you don’t get to make demands here. This marriage was arranged by your mother. She would never want this kind of trouble. Richard even called, asking that you keep the engagement. Do you really want to dishonor her memory?”
Vivienne tilted her head, the faintest of smiles playing at the corners of her lips. “Dishonor her memory?” she repeated, the words dripping with sarcasm. “Let me make one thing clear—my mother didn’t want any of this. She did what she had to do to protect me, even if it meant sacrificing herself. She wouldn’t want me to be a pawn in this game.”
Beatrice narrowed her eyes, her expression hardening. “I want to remind you, Vivienne, that the apartment you’re living in was provided by me. If you don’t marry Percival, I’ll take it back. And as for your father—he’ll never find another job in this city. I’ll make sure of it.”
Vivienne’s gaze remained unwavering. “I don’t need your apartment, Beatrice. And as for my father—he’ll find his way. We don’t need your charity.”
Dorian stepped forward, his tone calm but firm. “If you want the apartment, then take it. I’m not afraid to start over. I don’t believe I can’t support my family.”
Beatrice’s face twisted with fury, and she clenched her teeth, trying to restrain herself. “You have guts, Dorian. I’ll give you that. But you won’t last long. Let’s see how long you can hold on before everything falls apart.”
Her voice dropped to a chilling tone. “I’m giving you one hour. Move out immediately.”
