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Chapter_71
Vivienne leaned back in her seat as the car rolled through the quiet streets toward Tranquil Estates, a faint smile playing on her lips despite the intense emotions of the day. Percival’s words about getting back at the Lockwood family had piqued her interest, but there was something more satisfying about knowing she had handled the situation herself. The officials had tried to publicly humiliate her, yet she had turned the tables on them so smoothly, it almost felt like a victory for all the times she had to stay in the shadows.
As the car approached the estate, Vivienne’s thoughts drifted back to Arabella. The bitter expression on her face when Vivienne’s qualifications were revealed had been unmistakable. She could almost feel Arabella’s frustration bubbling over, knowing her carefully constructed world was beginning to crumble under the weight of Vivienne’s accomplishments. The younger woman’s resentment was obvious, but Vivienne didn’t feel threatened by it—if anything, it was a sign of weakness. Arabella’s pride had always been her greatest weapon, and now, that very pride was eating her alive.
Vivienne’s phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a message from Matthew:
“I’ve dug into Gabriel Lockwood and his connections. There’s more to his behavior than we originally thought. Be ready, Vivienne. I’m going to dig deeper.”
Vivienne felt a chill run through her at his words. She had suspected something was off with Gabriel and the Lockwood family. There was no way they had simply acted out of incompetence—someone had orchestrated this whole situation. It was time to find out who and why.
She replied with a quick acknowledgment before setting the phone down. Percival caught her eye and grinned, sensing the change in her demeanor. “Ready to make some noise, Vivienne?”
Vivienne’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. “You could say that.”
As they pulled into the driveway of Tranquil Estates, Vivienne’s mind was already planning the next steps. She would gather more information and handle the Lockwood family with the precision of a surgeon. Percival had offered to stir up trouble on her behalf, but she preferred to be the one pulling the strings. This was about much more than just defending her name. It was about taking back control of the narrative that had been so easily twisted against her.
“Go ahead, Percival,” she said with a glint in her eye. “Take care of the Lockwoods—but just know, I’m doing this my way.”
Percival chuckled, clearly enjoying the challenge. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Vivienne had never been one to shy away from challenges, and she wasn’t about to start now. As the car came to a stop, she stepped out and made her way to the front door, her resolve stronger than ever.
Arabella’s bitterness, Gabriel’s arrogance, and the entire Lockwood family’s schemes—they would all fall under her scrutiny. They had made a grave mistake by underestimating her, and now they would pay the price. Vivienne was ready to show them just how wrong they were to mess with her.
And with Percival by her side, she knew the storm she was about to unleash would be one that no one would soon forget.
