"What’s the fuss? It’s just kneeling; it won’t kill you!"

Vivienne gritted her teeth, feeling the sharp throb of her jaw from the pressure of clenching it so tightly.

"Vivienne, are you seriously refusing to kneel and apologize to Freya?"

Sensing the growing danger, Vivienne backed away, trying to escape the escalating situation. "I won’t."

"I already said I’d do my best to make up for it! What else do you want?!"

Freya’s crying intensified and she whimpered to Cassian, her voice cracking. "A proposal… it only happens once…"

Cassian’s expression turned stormy, his patience slipping. He gently comforted Freya before giving the command, "Fine! Grab her!"

Cassian’s bodyguards, followed by the venue’s security, rushed forward in unison.

Despite her frantic struggles, Vivienne was no match for the men’s combined strength and soon found herself restrained.

With a mocking smile, Freya watched as Cassian yanked a fistful of Vivienne’s hair, forcing her to look him in the eyes.

The pain surged through her scalp and tears streamed down her face, leaving her completely humiliated.

When Vivienne thought her scalp might tear, Cassian finally released her with a sharp tug.

Breathless, she thought it was over until his cold voice sliced through the air. "Strip her wedding dress off.”

"What kind of person dares to act out in front of me?"

At Cassian’s command, the bodyguards moved in without hesitation.

Vivienne screamed, her body thrashing as she kicked and punched, trying to break free. But her struggles were in vain.

With a loud tear, the delicate lace of her wedding dress was ripped apart, exposing her skin to the cold night air.

As the fabric fell away, Vivienne finally crumbled, sobbing uncontrollably, curling into herself. But the bodyguards held her firm, forcing her to remain exposed as they stripped her down to her undergarments.

Standing close by, Cassian cradled Freya in his arms, murmuring soothing words to calm her. "Freya, stop crying. I’ve punished her."

"A lowly woman like her doesn’t deserve to wear a wedding dress in front of you."

"She deserves this. I’ll make sure she learns her lesson later."

With a glance of disdain, Cassian looked down at Vivienne. "Don’t try any more tricks with me. There won’t be a next time."

At his signal, the bodyguards released her. She immediately collapsed to the ground, hugging herself tightly as if trying to shield her dignity.

With a mockingly satisfied smile, Cassian wrapped his arm around Freya’s waist and walked away, leaving her broken and exposed.

One of the venue security guards leered at Vivienne, his gaze lingering on her with clear intent.

"Leaving already, Miss Waverly?" he sneered. "Or perhaps you'd like to have some fun with us?"

Vivienne’s face drained of color as she slowly rose to her feet, her legs unsteady. She turned and began to walk toward the exit.

The vast venue loomed dark and silent behind her, the only sound the soft patter of rain starting to fall. Drenched in the downpour, Vivienne felt a lump form in her throat, but she forced herself to keep walking.

Her phone was gone and she wandered aimlessly, trying to block out the hushed whispers and judgmental glances from the few remaining bystanders.

A wave of shame washed over her, but just as it seemed unbearable, a kind cleaning lady approached, offering her a coat to shield her from the cold. She also handed Vivienne her phone to help her find her way home. Vivienne didn’t know how she would have managed without the woman's kindness.

The house was in the opposite direction of the venue and if Vivienne had to walk back, it would take her at least seven or eight hours without a single break. By the time she finally reached home, her body was drained and completely worn out.

But there was no time to rest. Vivienne wasted no moment and immediately contacted her financial advisor, instructing him to liquidate all her assets.

These funds were hers, earned from writing novels and selling their rights. They had nothing to do with Cassian.

Years ago, Cassian cleared her debts, paid her mother’s medical bills and supported her through school. She had kept meticulous track of every expense he’d made for her and now, she intended to return every cent, severing all ties with him once and for all.

After two or three hours of sorting her finances, she collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. But before she could rest, Cassian returned home as if nothing had happened.

"Vivienne, make me a bowl of hangover soup," he ordered.

Vivienne’s breath caught in her throat, but she steeled herself and forced her legs to move. She couldn't risk showing weakness until she was completely free from Cassian’s hold.

With his family’s influence, she wasn’t sure she’d even be able to escape the villa.

Staring into the flickering flames of the stove, she was lost in thought when Cassian’s voice cut through her reverie.

"What are you doing, so lost in thought?"

The soup had long since boiled over, spilling out of the pot in a bubbling mess.

Startled back to reality, Vivienne quickly turned off the heat, but the boiling water seared her hand.

She jerked her hand back with a sharp cry, the pain searing through her skin.

Cassian’s voice, sharp and commanding, pierced through her daze. He grabbed her hand, placing it under cold running water.

"How could you be so careless? A grown woman and you still manage to burn yourself just making soup? Quite the talent," he scolded, urgency slipping into his tone.

Suppressing her urge to pull away, Vivienne let him hold her hand beneath the cold water.

Noticing her lack of response, Cassian’s gaze darkened, his impatience evident.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"Still angry?"

"Vivienne, I’ve warned you time and time again, don’t harbor any foolish thoughts about me."

"If you weren’t hoping for something, why would you have been so eager to wear that wedding dress? Were you thinking you could use that to secure a title from me?"

"I’ll tell you this, you’re not fit to be Mrs. Tucker. Someone like you, with no status or power, will never deserve it."

"Consider this your lesson. If it happens again, you’ll suffer a hundred times more."

"Did you hear me?"

Once, Vivienne would have flinched at his words, but now, she concealed the cold resolve within her, bowing her head in apparent meekness.

"I heard you. I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t covet things that aren’t meant for me anymore."

The words hit their mark, but instead of satisfaction, Cassian froze. His breath caught for a moment and then a rush of anger swept over him. Without warning, he flung her hand aside, storming out of the room.

She was caught off guard by his sudden movement and her already injured hand slammed into the hard edge of the table, drawing a stream of blood.

Cassian immediately turned, panic flashing across his face. "I’ll take you to the hospital!"

Vivienne didn’t protest, simply nodding. "Alright."

As he started the car, the navigation system chimed and Freya’s sweet voice echoed through the speakers.

"Are you ready, Cassian? Let’s head towards happiness together!"

Cassian’s expression shifted and he quickly tried to explain, "Freya took an endorsement for this navigation software. She was worried she wouldn’t get it right during the recording, so she decided to test it out in my car first."

He added, "If it bothers you, I can switch it."

Vivienne suppressed the sting of pain in her hand and responded with a calm composure, "There’s no need."

Cassian studied her, a flicker of surprise crossing his face as he checked her expression for any hint of discomfort. "You’re not upset?"

Vivienne pressed her lips together, the words hanging between them.

Being angry required caring and that was something she no longer felt for him.

In the past, Freya had hurt her because she had still held on to some attachment to Cassian.

Now, she had nothing left to lose. Why would she bother herself with the women in his life?

"It’s just a navigation voice. I’m not that petty."

Cassian suddenly grew animated. "Why couldn’t you have been this way before?"

"I promise, no matter who I marry in the future, you’ll always have a place in my heart and our relationship will never change."

"Vivienne, you're the one I truly love."

In the past, hearing Cassian confess his love would have made Vivienne’s heart soar.

But now, all she felt was disgust.

"Let’s go. My hand really hurts."

Vivienne and Cassian lived in a secluded villa in the suburbs, a quiet haven far from the bustle of the city.

The neighborhood boasted excellent security, but its remoteness was a constant reminder of how disconnected it was from the life Vivienne once knew.

The pain in her hand had intensified, leaving her with a numb, dull ache that seemed to spread through her entire arm. Leaning against the car window, her face pale, she fought the dizziness creeping over her.

After a ten-minute drive, just as they reached the city's edge, Cassian’s phone rang.

"Cassian, what are you doing? Freya misses you!"

The familiar, personalized ringtone of Freya echoed in the car.

Vivienne turned her gaze to the window, desperate to avoid the suffocating reality of it all.

To her surprise, after glancing at Vivienne’s face quickly, Cassian ignored Freya’s call and pressed the gas pedal harder.

When the car came to a stop at the next red light, Freya’s call rang through again.

Cassian fidgeted awkwardly. "Freya called twice; she might need something urgent..."

"Go ahead, answer it," Vivienne said flatly, cutting him off.

Sweat beaded on her forehead from the pain and the skin on her burned hand felt as though it were still being scorched by fire. Every fiber of her being screamed to claw at it, but she held herself back.

Cassian answered the call and a soft, genuine smile spread across his face as his fingers tapped the steering wheel in a rhythmic pattern. "Cassian, I’m really craving that strawberry cake from the dessert shop in the south part of town!"

The mention of the familiar shop made Vivienne’s eyes snap open. She couldn’t help but glance at him, a bitter taste rising in her chest.

It was the same cake he had bought for her all those years ago when he’d rescued her from the clutches of her debt collectors.

And whenever he had angered her, he would show up with that cake, hoping to win her forgiveness. And each time, she had given in.

Vivienne had once thought it was a special little understanding between them. But now, it had twisted into nothing more than a way for Cassian and Freya to flirt, an inside joke she had never been a part of.