Collision of Truth

Collision of Truth
POV Sage Winters

Slap!

The sharp crack of Thorne's palm connecting with Vivienne's cheek split the air like a gunshot.

Vivienne stumbled backward, her hand flying to her face, staring at Thorne with wide, disbelieving eyes. The red imprint of his fingers bloomed across her pale skin.

Then Thorne's eyes went completely gold. His Alpha authority exploded outward in waves so powerful that everyone in the room took an involuntary step back. Jason pressed himself against the wall, his face pale with shock. Edwin froze mid-step, caught between his daughter and his Alpha, his expression twisted with pain.

"You dare," Thorne said, his voice vibrating with barely leashed fury, "to insult your sister-in-law with such filth?"

Just then, Drake—who had been leaning against the wall in cold, silent observation—suddenly moved forward quickly, his hand closing around Thorne's arm. "Thorne, calm down!" But even as he spoke, I caught the flash of calculation in his eyes. "Let Vivienne finish what she was saying."

Thorne ripped his arm free with such force that Drake stumbled. "Get your hands off me. She's slandering my fiancee!"

I watched every reaction, every micro-expression. Jason stood frozen, his composure shattered. Edwin remained rooted in place, his body angled toward Vivienne but his eyes darting to me with something like guilt. Elena stood in the corner with her arms crossed, her dark eyes cold and without sympathy for Vivienne. The contempt in her gaze seemed directed more at me.

But it was Celeste who made my instincts flare. For just a fraction of a second, I saw her mouth curve in satisfaction. Then, so quickly I might have imagined it, her expression shifted into perfect concern as she moved to Vivienne's side.

Vivienne lowered her hand slowly. Blood trickled from her split lip where Thorne's strike had made her bite down. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but when she looked at me, the emotion in her eyes wasn't pain. It was pure, concentrated hatred directed at me.

"You..." Her voice came out choked. "You hit me. For her. For this gold-digging whore—"

"Say it again." Thorne took a step toward her, and the killing intent rolling off him made even me step back. "Go ahead."

Jason moved forward with his hands raised. "Alpha, please—"

But nobody was calm. Vivienne's entire body shook as she stared at Thorne. "It's all her fault! You used to be so kind to me, Thorne. You used to smile when you saw me, remember my birthday..." Her voice rose, growing more hysterical. "And then she showed up, and suddenly I didn't exist anymore! She stole you from me!"

Then Vivienne laughed, the sound high and breaking. "I love him! I've always loved him! From the moment I was old enough to understand, I knew I only wanted him!"

Edwin's face went white. "Vivienne, do you hear yourself? He's your cousin!"

"So what?" Vivienne's laugh turned bitter. "I love him, and then this nobody takes him!"

The room went deathly silent. But Drake watched with cold, calculating eyes, and I realized he wasn't surprised at all. He'd known about Vivienne's obsession and had never tried to correct it.

"Vivienne," Drake said slowly, his voice taking on false sympathy. "If Sage really has been manipulating Thorne, if she and Caius have an inappropriate relationship, then you need to tell us everything."

Thorne rounded on his father with fury. "You're going to pretend her delusional accusations have merit?"

"If there is evidence of impropriety, it needs to be addressed," Drake replied with maddening calm.

"Enough."

The single word cut through the chaos like a blade. My voice was quiet, but something in my tone made everyone stop and turn to look at me. I'd had enough of being talked about like I wasn't in the room, enough of defending myself against accusations that shouldn't even need defending against.

I forced myself to take a deep breath. "I understand emotions are running high. Marcus and Lyanna are both critical, and everyone is scared." I met Vivienne's eyes. "But what you're accusing me of isn't just false. It's impossible."

"First," I held up one finger, "Caius is my uncle, my mentor. We have a purely familial relationship. This accusation reveals more about your disturbed thinking than anything about reality."

"Second, I don't save people for credit. That's my moral responsibility as a healer."

"Third, you claim I was jealous of Elena? If I wanted to steal credit, why wouldn't I have Caius refuse Elena's participation? He could have easily insisted on his own team. But he didn't. I didn't. Because you're Lyanna's granddaughter, I can't do that."

I paused, my voice dropping lower. "And as for Thorne—he was never yours. He's your cousin. Your elder. Your Alpha. Even if I didn't exist, his feelings toward you would only be those of an elder toward family. Nothing more."

"Your delusions are not my fault. Your obsession is not my responsibility. That's not my problem, Vivienne. That's yours."

"You're lying!" Vivienne shrieked.

"Now," I said, cutting through her hysteria, "I only have one question." I let my gaze sweep the room, landing on Celeste for a fraction longer. "Who told you that Caius and I were lovers? Who told you I was jealous of Elena? Who has been whispering these lies, feeding your paranoia?"

My eyes moved back to Vivienne. "Someone has been manipulating you. Someone has been using your pain as a weapon. And I think we both know who."

Celeste's face remained perfectly composed, but I saw her hands tighten on Vivienne's shoulder.

"I can overlook rumors," I continued, my voice dropping colder. "But if anyone dares to harm my family..." I looked at Marcus and Lyanna. "I will not let it go. I will not forgive it. And I will not stop until I find whoever is responsible."

"Vivienne," Thorne said coldly, "tell us. Who gave you this information?"

Edwin stepped forward. "If someone has been spreading false information, that person should be held accountable."

Vivienne's eyes darted between us, flickering toward Celeste so briefly I almost missed it. Then her jaw set stubbornly, and she shook her head. The hatred in her eyes was answer enough—she would protect whoever had manipulated her.

"Vivienne!" Thorne took a step forward.

But Drake's cold laugh cut through. "Caius is your uncle? How do you plan to prove that, Sage? You've been an orphan since six. No parents. No family. Now suddenly you claim an uncle who happens to be one of the most renowned doctors?" He shook his head. "How convenient."

"You didn't even receive proper education," he continued. "No formal medical training on record. No credentials. Yet we're supposed to believe Dr. Rivers personally trained you? Or is the truth that you're using his name to cover your lack of qualifications? That you stole Celeste's achievement in saving my father?"

"You've done nothing but manipulate my son," Drake said, his voice rising. "You play the innocent victim, but you're nothing but a gold-digger. You don't belong in this family. You're not worthy. Vivienne is absolutely right!"

"How dare you!" Thorne's roar shook the room. He lunged toward Drake with sudden violence. "You know nothing about her!"

"Wake up, you fool!" Drake shouted back. "This woman is exactly what Vivienne says—"

Thorne's fist flew without warning toward Drake's face.

Jason and Edwin both lunged forward, grabbing at Thorne's arm and shoulders, trying to pull him back. Their combined weight barely stopped Thorne's fist two centimeters from Drake's face. Two centimeters. Close enough that Drake's eyes widened with genuine fear.

The room froze. Thorne's fist hung in the air, trembling. Drake stood perfectly still, his face pale, a thin sheen of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Then the door burst open.