Chapter 47

The driver abruptly halted the car, his bewildered gaze meeting Vivienne's in the rearview mirror. "Miss Hayes?"

Vivienne adjusted her curls with casual composure. "Find a parking spot."

"Certainly," he responded, quickly maneuvering into an available space and opening her door.

"I'm taking a brief walk," she instructed. "Wait here."

The driver nodded in compliance.

Her high heels clicked rhythmically against the pavement as she strolled down the sidewalk toward Lonsong Restaurant. Though her posture remained poised, her eyes scanned her surroundings, unconsciously drawn by the hope of spotting a familiar, lean silhouette.

"Vivienne?" The startled voices of Diana and Natalie broke her thoughts. They had imagined her departure from the Mitchell family would leave her downtrodden, stripped of the radiance they envied. Yet here she was, cutting through their expectations like a blade through silk.

Vivienne wore a tailored royal blue suit that shimmered with understated opulence, the fabric itself a quiet testament to its exclusivity. The bold hue highlighted her commanding presence, an aura that seemed to challenge the very air around her. Her dark curls framed her face with effortless allure, their glossy strands softening the icy precision of her elegance.

Natalie, who had long harbored jealousy for Vivienne's striking features, felt her envy flare anew. Somehow, Vivienne had grown even more captivating, her quiet confidence overshadowing Natalie in ways she couldn't admit.

"Vivienne, what are you doing here?" Diana's voice carried the sharp sting of resentment, her eyes brimming with thinly veiled animosity. Vivienne's brows knitted slightly, her gaze cooling as it swept over them. Displeasure flickered briefly across her face like a shadow at dusk.

"Vivienne, we weren't expecting to see you here. Dining at Lonsong, are you?" Natalie's smile was polished, her tone feigning warmth, though the jealousy simmering beneath it was unmistakable. She began to approach Vivienne.