Chapter 13
<Chase’s POV>
I fell for Vivienne at first sight.]
That day, out of boredom, I arrived early at Griffin Hale’s wedding venue.[]
There were so many people bustling around, moving props and equipment.[]
But I immediately spotted Vivienne sitting cross–legged on the grass.[]
She had what I could only describe as a perfect profile–porcelain skin and delicate limbs.[]
Her head was bent down as she studied some papers in her hands intently.[]
She dressed simply, her hair even a bit disheveled.[]
But she absolutely captivated me.[]
I assumed she was someone from the bride’s side.[]
But the person next to me responded with surprise: “You don’t know who she is? That’s Vivienne Alcott, chief designer at ArtGreen. Leonard Bell’s only apprentice. She’s huge in New York.“[]
I was taken aback.
Since I had no plans to marry, I naturally knew nothing about who was prominent in that industry.[]
But I did have a strong impression of Leonard Bell.[]
He’d been a fairly famous artist early on, then transitioned into the wedding industry, which had caused quite a stir at the time.[]
“Doesn’t Leonard Bell refuse to take female apprentices?“]
“Yeah, but Vivienne’s talent and determination won him over. She persisted until the old ter agreed to mentor her.“||
My curiosity was completely piqued.
I was about to approach her when Vivienne disappeared from my
line of sight.
When I looked again, I caught a glimpse of her falling into the fountain.]]]
I instinctively rushed over, jumped into the water, and pulled her out.[]
Vivienne was completely soaked.
She felt as light as a feather in my arms.]
Water rolled down her cheeks, and her entire beautiful face came alive in an instant.[]
She stared at me intently.
My Fiancé Practice
I could see myself reflected in her eyes.[]
In that moment, I heard my own heartbeat–rhythmic, intense, like a drum.[]
I got Vivienne’s contact information.[]
After Griffin’s wedding ended, I asked her out to dinner several times.]
She agreed to the first few dates, then returned my invitations.[]
After that, she kept declining.
It was strange.
All those socialites and heiresses were circling me like wolves, eyeing the
Yet she was frantically pushing me away.
Having navigated the dating scene for years, I could sense that she liked me.
empty space on my marriage certificate.]
AN
།
I thought Vivienne was different from those women who threw themselves at me.
- me.
She needed to be pursued genuinely.
4
H
But during that pursuit, I completely fell for her.[]
God knows how terrified I was during those three hours when she went to visit her parents‘ graves and I lost contact with her.
I was terrified she’d passed out from low blood sugar in some remote area, been taken by strangers, or attacked by wild animals.
I couldn’t lose her.
And that day, she became mine.]
Once we made it official, all the love I’d had nowhere to channel finally had someone
to pour
into–Vivienne.]
I spoiled her beyond measure.[]
But gradually, I came back to earth.[]
Sometimes when we looked in mirrors together, I felt happy but also fractured.[]
It was as if the perfect person in the mirror wasn’t really me.
It seemed like in becoming what Vivienne needed, I’d gradually lost myself.[]
When friends in our circle called me a hopeless romantic, I used to accept it gladly. Now I felt like they were mocking
So when Sienna tested me, I went with the flow and revealed my true nature.[]
She used it to blackmail me.
I found it laughable–she clearly harbored inappropriate feelings for me too.
I pulled her into the water, dragged her down with me into the mire of betraying Vivienne.
T
- me.
My Flaned Donation
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Chapter 13
Gradually, I found balance between loving Vivienne and maintaining my sense of self.[]
I never expected Vivienne to find out about my affair.]
I especially never anticipated that she’d humiliate and get revenge on me at such a grand wedding, in front of so many people.[]
I felt furious.
After she left for a few days and came back to pack her things, I felt panic.
That’s when I realized Vivienne was truly going to leave me.]
And I couldn’t lose her.
Under the influence of alcohol, I said very hurtful things.
None of those words reflected my true intentions–I wanted to reason with her properly.[]
I wanted her to give me a chance.[]
I would guarantee absolute faithfulness to her from then on.[]
As long as she forgave me, as long as we got past this obstacle, we would definitely be happy together.
But she was so resolute, so final–as if she’d never loved me at
I was so angry that I did terrible things to her.
all.
Fortunately, Griffin appeared and interrupted me, preventing me from committing an even more heinous crime.]
I found out about Vivienne’s travel plans and my parents‘ intention to retaliate against her.
That’s how wealthy families operate–they can’t tolerate anyone disgracing them.]
THE
I endured a family punishment to deflect the revenge that shouldn’t have fallen on Vivienne.]]
Coming out of the ancestral hall, I dragged myself to see Vivienne.[]
I found her at her parents gravesite.
She looked haggard, with dark circles under her eyes.[]
I wanted to have a proper conversation with her.[]
But she was so angry.
In that moment, I felt like something was blocking my throat.[]
I distracted myself by burning incense paper.
A gust of wind from nowhere lifted the burning paper, and my hand got severely burned!
In that moment, I felt an invisible rejection.[]
Vivienne’s parents didn’t welcome me.
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Chapter 13
Even Vivienne said so.]]
I felt so helpless.
The wounds on my back hurt, but my heart hurt even more.
Was there truly no way to win Vivienne back?]
On the drive home, that question consumed my thoughts.
Just because of one affair, one betrayal, she never wanted to see me again?
I deliberately crashed my car into the tunnel wall.[]
Then I called 911 and had the paramedics call Griffin.[]
I was using my life as collateral, hoping to earn a concerned look from Vivienne.]
But she wouldn’t even comfort me over the phone.[]
In that moment, I truly wanted to die.[]
Griffin beat me senseless.
He said if I kept refusing treatment, he’d go find Vivienne and make her pay.
I was hospitalized for over a month.
Vivienne never called me once, never sent me a single mèssage.[]
One night, I couldn’t bear the longing anymore and called her.[]
All I heard was the cold electronic voice.
Vivienne had blocked me…]
So cruel.
So hateful!
After being discharged, I got blackout drunk and burned down the Meridian Hotel.]
Out of spite, I picked up all my old bad habits.
It was perfect that Vivienne wasn’t with me.]
This way I could let myself run wild.
One day while drinking at a bar, someone mentioned that Vivienne had returned.]
But she never came to see me once.
I drank even harder. When Griffin tried to intervene, I punched him.[]
After that, he never came looking for me again.
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7
Chapter 13
When there’s no light, even shadows disappear–let alone people.[]
That day, I was on the balcony when I heard Vivienne’s voice drifting from the living room.[]
e.l
It turned out my parents had kidnapped her to make her talk sense into me.
I stood in the doorway with clenched fists, holding my breath as I listened to Vivienne’s response.[]
I thought even if she just gave me some perfunctory advice out of sympathy, I would pull myself together.[]
But she said she wouldn’t mind driving me completely insane.]
It seemed like she had no feelings left for me whatsoever.
I was truly going crazy![]
I burst in there screaming at them.]
Vivienne avoided me
and walked toward the exit.[]
Just when I’d lost all hope, I heard her call my name.
She told me not to yell at my mother.[]
She told me to live well.[]
She seemed to have truly let go…]
But what about me?]]
I was still trapped in the past.]
I couldn’t forget her.
I only loved Vivienne—I always had.[]
I pulled myself together again, became a dutiful son, and took over the family business.
As time went on, my mother arranged more and more blind dates.[]
I turned them all down.
One day, my mother asked me with tears in her eyes if I was still waiting for Vivienne.
Yes, she was the only woman I ever wanted to
I was waiting for her.
I didn’t know how long I’d wait.]
marry.
Maybe until she got married, maybe until I gave up.
Maybe…
until the day I died.
