Chapter 281: No One Would Believe That
Derek braced himself for Vivienne’s reaction to the unsettling cry in the background, rehearsing his excuses. Unexpectedly, Vivienne chose silence instead, offering only a gentle reminder. “Make sure you eat regularly.”
“In the coming days, I’ll be very busy. It’s likely I won’t see your messages, but don’t worry. I’ll return home as soon as possible,” Derek explained.
“Alright.” Vivienne tightened her grip on the blanket, her eyes peeking out.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight to you too.”
Vivienne turned to lie flat on her back after the call, gazing up at the ceiling vacantly. She knew the distant cry for mercy was real, not a figment of her imagination. Despite this, she couldn’t help but rationalize that if Derek was involved in something harsh, the other person must have crossed a line.
That evening, Vivienne dreamed of a night from five years earlier, a chaotic scene filled with gunfire and panicked voices, the air heavy with the scent of blood. Amidst the chaos, she felt the comfort of a warm embrace. A voice whispered to her, “Don’t be scared…”
Surrounded by shadows, the man’s face remained elusive to Vivienne. She strained to see him clearly, but his features were just beyond her reach. Her dream was abruptly interrupted by the piercing sound of her phone.
Reaching out half-asleep, Vivienne grabbed the phone. Sienna’s urgent tone filled her ear immediately after she answered. “Vivienne, I need your help.”
Sienna’s relentless calls soon had Vivienne out of bed and on her way to a mall. With a charity event just days away, Sienna was in a frenzy to find the perfect dress for the event hosted by Calan’s wife.
“Wasn’t there one on order from Pinecrest?” Vivienne couldn’t help but yawn.
“Their delivery got held up,” Sienna replied, her eyes gleaming with a hint of intrigue as she noticed Vivienne’s exhaustion. “Sounds like you had a wild night?”
Vivienne fixed her with a stern look. “Your shenanigans had me up tweaking design drafts all night.”
Sienna dismissed her with a roll of her eyes. “Sounds like a missed opportunity for fun!”
“Lately, you’ve been surprisingly behaved,” Vivienne teased, her lips curling into a playful smirk. “Aren’t you taking any dashing young acquaintances out anymore to show them the world?”
With a pretend look of shock, Sienna responded, “Vivienne, I’m the definition of a proper lady—pure and untarnished. Please, let’s not ruin my good name.”
Vivienne’s smile widened slightly. “As if anyone would buy that.”
Their banter continued as they entered a boutique. With her arms crossed, Vivienne scrutinized the dresses displayed before her. Her attention shifted abruptly to a luxurious men’s suit. The black fabric, adorned with embroidered suns, moons, and stars, was subtly accented with obsidian, adding a striking depth to the design.
Upon seeing the suit, an image of Derek flashed across her mind. Its calm and restrained elegance suited him perfectly. Realizing she had never gifted anything to Derek, Vivienne pondered over the suit.
“Ma’am, this suit is a unique piece, a global debut here in Lyhaton,” a sales assistant said brightly.
Vivienne nodded. Perfectly unique, much like him.
“I’d like to…”
Before Vivienne could finish, a decisive voice interjected from behind her, “I’ll take this suit.”