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Chapter_59
Vivienne and the students of Class Eighteen made their way to a buffet, a treat Charlotte had picked with precision. She really knew how to find a good spot, especially when it came to the cakes.
Vivienne, unsurprisingly, didn’t bother with anything else. She wasn’t interested in the savory dishes—her sole focus was on the desserts. The cakes were the star of the show.
“I can’t believe this,” Charlotte huffed, shaking her head. “A buffet that costs over a hundred bucks, and you’re just eating cake? You’re wasting food! You should at least try some of the other dishes. Eating nothing but cake doesn’t even cover the cost of your meal.”
Vivienne smiled, unbothered, as she forked another bite of cake into her mouth. “As long as there’s cake, I don’t need anything else.”
Even though the buffet didn’t have her beloved strawberry cake, the assortment of others more than made up for it. She savored each bite like it was the best thing she’d ever eaten.
The meal, however, ended up costing her a bit more than expected—over five thousand for forty people. That stung a little, but it was worth the smiles and laughter that filled the air.
After the meal, the students of Class Eighteen had a chance to bond with their new teacher. They soon learned that, despite her cool exterior, Vivienne was easy to talk to and even liked to joke around. Her humor was often dry and sometimes a bit corny, but it had the effect of endearing her to the students. They quickly warmed up to her.
Later that evening, Vivienne returned to Tranquil Estates, ready to relax after the busy day. As she approached the front door, she could already hear laughter coming from inside. She opened it, and before she could step in, a small figure rushed to her, throwing themselves into her arms.
“Vivienne, you’re back! I’ve been waiting forever!” Isolde beamed, wrapping her tiny arms around Vivienne’s legs. The joy in her eyes was infectious.
Vivienne chuckled softly as she picked Isolde up, the child’s smile lighting up the room. “What are you doing here, little one?” she asked as she walked inside, noting the familiar faces around the living room.
Percival, sitting in his wheelchair, greeted her with a warm smile, Leopold and Thomas sitting beside him. Dorian was there too, pouring coffee and laughing as they conversed.
Vivienne paused for a moment, surprised to see Dorian at home. “Mr. Hawthorn, aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
Dorian looked up with a grin. “I was at work earlier today, just finished some paperwork. But there was a meeting, and they needed me to familiarize myself with some company documents. I’ll be back tomorrow for a briefing.”
Vivienne nodded, understanding. She turned her attention to the table, where a spread of cakes sat, and her eyes immediately lit up.
“Vivienne,” Dorian continued, “Mr. Ellington sent over a bunch of strawberry cakes for you. I tried one myself, and it’s fantastic. He says he’ll make sure you always have some.”
Vivienne’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of her favorite treat. “You should’ve told me earlier,” she teased, though she couldn’t hide her excitement. She walked over, holding Isolde in one arm, and picked up a slice of strawberry cake with a spoon.
As she took her first bite, her eyes sparkled. “This is amazing,” she murmured, savoring the taste. It was even better than the one she had tried the day before.
She glanced at Percival, who was watching her with an amused expression. “Mr. Ellington,” she asked, “where did you get this cake?”
Percival chuckled, clearly pleased. “I had the chef make it specially. Do you like it?”
Vivienne nodded, her smile genuine. “It’s great.”
A quiet moment passed before Vivienne realized something. Percival had called her by her first name. Vivienne? It felt… different. They weren’t exactly on a first-name basis yet, were they?
As if reading her thoughts, Percival added quickly, “Don’t eat too much though. Two pieces of cake is enough for you. Too many sweets aren’t good for you.”
Vivienne looked away, her cheeks tinged pink, but she couldn’t help the small smile playing at her lips. Two pieces a day. Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad. She hadn’t realized how much she missed little gestures like this.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, then turned her attention back to Dorian. “Mr. Hawthorn, don’t you need to get back to work?”
“Already finished for the day,” Dorian replied. “I’ve got everything done, just waiting for tomorrow’s briefing. And then, back to work.”
Vivienne nodded, accepting that there was nothing urgent for him to attend to now. Her attention drifted back to her cake. She had eaten her fill at the buffet, but with two more slices in front of her, she didn’t feel quite so full anymore.
Isolde tugged at her sleeve, pulling Vivienne’s attention back to her. “Vivienne, I have something for you.”
The little girl handed her a small gift box with a shy smile.
Vivienne raised an eyebrow as she took the box. “What’s this?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
“This is my engagement gift to you,” Isolde whispered in her ear, “I bought it with my own pocket money, not from my brother.”
Vivienne’s heart softened. Isolde had wanted to buy a gift for her brother’s fiancée when she first heard about the engagement. She had bought a pair of earrings at the time, but when Percival’s fiancée changed, she had chosen a new gift—a diamond necklace, delicate and simple, but elegant. The diamonds were small, but the thought behind it made Vivienne’s heart swell.
“It’s beautiful,” Vivienne said, smiling warmly. “Thank you, Isolde. I love it.”
Isolde’s face lit up with pride. Vivienne carefully tucked the necklace away and turned to her with a gentle smile. “I’ll get you something in return. What would you like?”
Isolde shook her head. “No need, Vivienne. You’ve already given me the best gift.” She paused, her expression turning a little more serious. “But there is something I need your help with…”
Vivienne raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”
Isolde looked at Percival, then whispered, “My brother wants to send me back to Rivenwood. But I don’t want to go. I want to stay here with you. Can you help me convince him?”
Vivienne turned to Percival, her gaze steady. “Why not let Isolde stay in Havenwood? She could be close to family and friends.”
Percival’s frown deepened. “I’ve got business to take care of, and it’s not safe for Isolde to stay here.”
Vivienne’s expression softened as she looked at Isolde’s pleading face. She could see the uncertainty in Percival’s words, and she didn’t want to push him too hard. “Isolde,” she said softly, “I think it’s better for you to go back to Rivenwood. You’ve just recovered. It might be best to stay there for now.”
Isolde’s eyes filled with tears, her small voice breaking as she spoke. “But Vivienne, no one cares about me there! I want to stay here with you. You’re the only one who understands me.”
Vivienne couldn’t resist any longer. She sighed, giving in to the pull of Isolde’s emotions. “Alright,” she said, looking back at Percival. “Let her stay. She can stay with me.”
Isolde’s eyes lit up, and she beamed. “Really? I can stay?”
Percival hesitated but then nodded reluctantly. “Fine, she can stay for now.”
Vivienne couldn’t help but feel like she had just walked into a trap set by the Ellington siblings. Both of them had played her expertly.
With a sigh, she retreated to her room. I’ll have to keep an eye on these two, she thought. They’re much more crafty than I gave them credit for.
