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Chapter_68
Dorian looked up from the chessboard, a bit taken aback by Vivienne’s sudden question. He had always known Vivienne to be straightforward, but this felt different—more personal, even vulnerable.
He set his glass down slowly, considering the question carefully. “Your mother…” he began, his voice steady, “She was strong, independent, and… complicated. She had a presence that demanded respect, but also a gentleness that not many saw. She wasn’t the type to rely on anyone, but she always looked out for those she cared about.”
Vivienne’s expression was unreadable as she listened, her eyes narrowing slightly as she absorbed Dorian’s words. She could hear the sincerity in his voice, but something about the way he spoke made her uneasy. It was too… perfect. Too diplomatic.
“You sound like you knew her well,” Vivienne remarked, though her tone wasn’t accusatory—more like she was testing the waters.
Dorian nodded, his gaze softening. “I did. We spent a lot of time together. She was a difficult person to truly understand, but I never doubted her loyalty. She… she had her reasons for doing what she did.”
Vivienne felt a small chill run down her spine. There was something about Dorian’s tone that made her think he knew more than he was letting on. Had he been privy to her mother’s secrets? Or was he just crafting the perfect image of her, one that wouldn’t make him seem suspicious in Vivienne’s eyes?
She took a step back, placing the glasses of water on the table with a soft clink, and then, without warning, her sharp gaze flicked to Percival.
He was still holding his phone, but his attention was clearly focused on her now. He wasn’t pretending to look at his screen anymore. Instead, his brow furrowed slightly, as if he was sensing the change in the atmosphere.
Vivienne’s lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. So, he had been paying attention after all. What did that mean? Was he aware of what she was investigating? Had he guessed something, or was it just a coincidence that he seemed so intrigued by her line of questioning?
The room was quiet for a moment, the only sound being the faint clatter of chess pieces and soft murmurs from the others as they continued their conversation. But for Vivienne, the tension between herself, Dorian, and Percival was thick enough to slice with a knife.
“Do you think she left anything behind? Something important?” Vivienne asked, her voice lower now, as if she was speaking more to herself than to anyone in particular.
Dorian hesitated, his gaze flicking toward the others before meeting hers again. “I’m not sure. She kept a lot of things to herself, Vivienne. If there was something, I believe she would’ve told you.”
Vivienne was silent for a moment, pondering his words. She had already known Dorian’s answer—he wasn’t going to reveal anything if he knew more. He had always been cautious around her, just as he was around everyone. But what if he did know something? What if there was more to their relationship than he was letting on?
Percival’s voice broke through her thoughts, his tone calm but inquisitive. “Vivienne, what’s this about your mother? And why ask Dorian of all people?”
She turned to him, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she had just remembered his presence. “No reason,” she said, too quickly to be convincing. “Just… curious.”
Her response only seemed to deepen Percival’s suspicion, but he didn’t press her. Instead, he set his phone down, his eyes still holding hers as if silently asking her to elaborate. But Vivienne didn’t offer him that luxury.
“Well,” Richard chimed in, clearly oblivious to the undercurrent of tension, “I’d love to hear more about this, but maybe after dinner. Right now, I’m starving!” He laughed heartily, trying to break the awkward silence.
Vivienne gave a tight-lipped smile and nodded. “Yes, we should eat.”
The moment passed, but Vivienne’s mind was still racing. Dorian’s answers hadn’t been enough to satisfy her doubts, and Percival’s quiet observation was more than just idle curiosity. He was invested in her search—whether he knew it or not.
As they all gathered around the table to eat, Vivienne’s thoughts drifted back to the potion, to her mother’s deathbed words, and to the mysterious forces that seemed to be converging around her. The pieces of the puzzle were there, but they weren’t fitting together as easily as she hoped.
And Percival… what role did he really play in all of this?
