The taste of the cake, sickly and sweet, lingered in Vivienne’s throat, bringing a wave of nausea that made her stomach flip. Her face drained of color as the feeling threatened to overwhelm her.
“Freya asked for some dessert,” Cassian explained, as though the reason was perfectly reasonable. “Her manager’s always watching, so she finally gets a break. I can’t disappoint her.” He added quickly, “I’ll call Remiel to pick you up. Wait by the corner for a moment.”
Without missing a beat, Cassian pulled over, clearly eager to leave.
Suddenly, a deafening clap of thunder split the air, rattling Vivienne and making her shiver uncontrollably. The rain began to pour in torrents as if the sky had cracked open.
Vivienne tightened her grip on the seatbelt, curling up in her seat, trembling uncontrollably.
The storm brought with it memories she couldn’t escape. When her father had failed in his investments and jumped to his death, the debt collectors always seemed to show up during storms like this, demanding what they were owed.
Her mother, always out working, left Vivienne alone at home and the sounds, the wind howling, thunder cracking, the shouting, the relentless pounding on the door, had struck her young heart like a hammer, imprinting a deep-seated fear.
Ever since that night, she had been terrified of thunder.
In the past, Cassian had discovered her fear and would hold her close, covering her ears as he spoke in a raspy, soothing voice, "Don’t be scared, Vivienne. I’m here."
“It’s just thunder. If you’re still afraid, you can hide in my arms, alright?”
But now, Cassian simply frowned, his gaze cold as ice, with a faint hint of concern furrowing his brow.
Vivienne knew all too well that his worry wasn’t for her. "Freya, are you scared again?"
"Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll be there soon."
Once he ended the call with Freya, Cassian’s patience snapped and he clicked his tongue in irritation. "Hurry up and get out of the car."
"Can you stop being so dramatic over a minor injury?"
Vivienne’s fingers trembled as she gripped the seatbelt, doing her best to mask her unease as she replied, "The rain’s coming down so hard. I’m worried my wound might get infected."
Cassian’s face darkened at once and he sneered, his disdain palpable. "Vivienne, what are you pretending for?"
"Freya was coddled like a princess, so of course she’s afraid of thunder. But you, afraid of thunder?"
"Don’t play the pity card here. Get out of the car, now!"
Before Vivienne could even open her mouth to defend herself, Cassian had already stepped out into the relentless rain, swiftly circling to her side. With a firm grip, he yanked her from the passenger seat, effortlessly undoing her seatbelt and pulling her out without a second thought.
"See that? A bus stop just a hundred meters away. Wait there for Remiel to pick you up."
"I know you're upset. Call me when you're done at the hospital and I’ll come get you."
The car sped away like a shadow, splashing filthy water across Vivienne, though the torrential rain quickly rinsed it off.
The raindrops stung like tiny daggers against her skin as she cradled her injured hand to her chest and stumbled toward the bus stop.
The open shelter at the stop barely shielded her from the deluge and the pain in her hand gradually numbed.
Her body burned with fever, her thoughts were muddled and her lips, cold as ice, began to turn an unnatural shade of purple.
Vivienne slumped against the bus stop bench, letting the relentless rain drench her.
An hour had passed, yet Remiel, the driver Cassian had promised, still hadn't arrived.
She fumbled for her phone, but it had already shut down, waterlogged from the storm.
With a wry smile, Vivienne slowly pushed herself to her feet and trudged to the roadside, hoping for a taxi.
The rain washed the streets as if purging them of all the filth and grime.
As she watched the rain blur into a curtain of water, a quiet sense of clarity settled in her heart.
She had no more feelings for Cassian.
In the deserted, rain-soaked outskirts of the city, only a few cars passed by and fewer still dared to venture through the downpour.
Vivienne waited, her fever mounting, barely able to keep her eyes open before finally, a car slowed down to a stop in front of her.
By the time Vivienne reached the hospital, her body was feverish, burning with a heat that only worsened as her wound began to show signs of infection. The doctor advised her to stay for treatment.
During her days in the hospital, not a single word came from Cassian, not a visit, not even a call to check on her, let alone an offer to "pick her up."
Yet, as his manager, Vivienne couldn’t completely escape hearing about his movements.
The very night he had abandoned her to see Freya, the latter posted on social media, even tagging Vivienne.
The photo showed Cassian braving the storm, rushing toward Freya. [Cassian really makes me feel safe! I told him I was scared of thunder and he came through the rain just for me!]
At that moment, Vivienne had just finished her IV drip, curled up alone in the sterile quiet of her hospital room, the scent of disinfectant thick in the air.
She lay awake as the thunder rumbled outside.
As Vivienne saw Freya’s post, a quiet, almost bitter reply escaped her lips. "I wish you a lifetime of happiness together."
Freya never bothered to respond. The following day, Vivienne noticed that Cassian and Freya’s seemingly perfect moments were trending across social media.
#A Fan Spots Cassian and Freya at a Dessert Shop, So Sweet
#A World Without the Ex is So Sweet
Vivienne found herself scrolling through the comments, the words cutting deeper with each passing second.
People mocked her, calling her a clown, a toad dreaming of swan meat, a delusional fool.
Cassian did nothing to protect her, letting the insults rain down on her without lifting a finger.
Each harsh word only made the image of Cassian and Freya’s romance seem even sweeter as if their happiness came at her expense.
After over a week in the hospital, Vivienne’s fever finally broke.
The doctor cleared her to go home, advising her to continue her recovery with regular checkups.
The day she was discharged, Cassian’s call came through and without skipping a beat, he launched into a tirade. "Vivienne, are you growing a backbone now?"
"It’s been over a week and not once have you come back. Are you trying to pull one of your disappearing acts on me?"
"I only dropped you off by the side of the road that night and went to see Freya. Was that what upset you? Didn’t I arrange for Remiel to pick you up? What could you possibly be so unhappy about?"
Vivienne had waited in the storm for what felt like an eternity, but Remiel, the driver Cassian had mentioned, never showed.
If Cassian didn’t care, it was no surprise his employees treated her with even less regard.
In the past, Vivienne would have defended herself, arguing until Cassian understood and finally apologized.
But now, she simply stood in silence, letting him vent his frustration, letting him berate her without a word.
One more week, she thought. Just one more week and she would be free from Cassian for good.
"Are you done shouting?"
"If you’ve finished, then just hang up. I’m tired."
Cassian’s teeth ground together in anger, his words sharp and cold. "Fine, have it your way."
"Vivienne, you’ve got guts."
"Don’t want to come back? Fine, never return."
In a fit of rage, Cassian threw the phone across the room, shattering it against the wall.
Vivienne, unbothered, smirked bitterly. After completing her discharge, she checked into a hotel, feeling free at last.
For the days that followed, Cassian seemed to enjoy parading his love for Freya, each post more public and shameless than the last.
The two seemed inseparable, their sweet romance splashed across every screen, sparking admiration from many, though some passersby couldn’t help but feel annoyed by the constant drama.
But for the most part, people cheered them on, caught up in the spectacle.
Each time someone praised Cassian and Freya, Vivienne found herself dragged into the conversation, a target for ridicule and verbal assault.
Yet, she paid it no mind. Soon enough, she’d liquidate her assets, repay Cassian and leave it all behind.
Five days had passed since that last phone call, with Cassian nowhere to be found.
When he finally called again, Vivienne had gathered enough money and was ready to say goodbye for good.
Cassian’s voice sounded stiff and strained as he asked, "Have you been reflecting these past few days? I’ll pick you up later and take you to meet some friends."
Vivienne recognized this for what it was: Cassian’s awkward attempt at an apology, a clumsy peace offering.
If it had been before, she might have felt some flicker of hope at his rare vulnerability. But now, she merely shrugged it off, almost amused by the whole charade.
After giving him her location, Cassian arrived on time, with Remiel driving, as promised.
When Remiel saw Vivienne, his lips curled into a smug, almost taunting smile as though he were sure she wouldn’t call him out for his earlier neglect.
Vivienne had no intention of doing so. She was leaving and there was no need to bring it up now.
With a calm smile, she opened the car door and took a seat in the front.
She wasn’t about to sit in the back with Cassian. Being near him made her skin crawl.
When the door to the private room swung open, fireworks erupted overhead with a deafening crack.
Multicolored confetti rained down, drifting lazily through the air. Cassian’s friends cheered in unison, "Congratulations to Cassian and Sister-in-law on your happy marriage!"
Vivienne looked up, her gaze falling on a red banner that hung across the room, emblazoned with the words: "Wishing Cassian and Freya a lifetime of happiness!"
"Why is it you, this crazy woman?"
As the confetti settled, the room fell into an eerie silence. Everyone’s eyes turned to Vivienne, burning with a quiet, intense anger as though she had committed some unforgivable sin.
Vivienne simply shrugged, offering a helpless smile. "You’ll have to ask Cassian about that."
The air in the room grew thick with tension.
Cassian moved to the center of the room, taking a seat. After a brief pause, he cleared his throat twice, "Everyone, take a seat."
The group exchanged uncertain glances before slowly finding their places around the large round table, leaving a spot beside Cassian and across from him.
Vivienne chose a seat as far from him as she could manage.
"Did Cassian bring this crazy woman here to make her see the difference between her and Sister-in-law?"
