Chapter 36

As I walked into the painting shop, I was immediately struck by the vibrant colors and eclectic atmosphere. The smell of paint and turpentine filled the air, and I could hear the sound of brushes stroking canvas in the background. I had always loved art, and I was excited to explore this new shop.

I browsed the aisles, taking in the various paintings and sculptures on display. There were abstract pieces, landscapes, and portraits, each one unique and beautiful in its own way. I stopped in front of a particularly striking painting, a vibrant depiction of a sunset over a bustling city.

As I gazed at the painting, I noticed a figure standing behind the counter, watching me with a curious expression it was julian.

As I turned to face Julian, I couldn't help but notice the smirk on his face. "You love paintings," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Yes, may I ask what brings you here?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Julian walked closer to me, his shoes echoing off the walls of the gallery. "You know my brother is getting married right?" he asked, his face cold and filled with malice.

I smiled softly, trying to hide my unease. "What is your point?" I asked, my eyes locked on his.

"Kian cheated on you with Mira under the same roof, his mother knew about everything, you have been in the middle of enemies all this while," Julian said, his voice dripping with venom.

I felt a sting from his words, but I refused to show any weakness. "And?" I asked, my voice firm.

Julian sneered at me. "And you pretend like everything is okay?"

I laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You know nothing about me, Julian. Nothing."

As Julian approached me with a sly grin on his face, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. "Why don't you join hands with me so I can become the CEO?" he asked, his voice dripping with ambition. "You can take your revenge on Martha and Mira."

I laughed sheepishly, realizing that the crowd around us had started to stare. "Sorry, my bad," I said, waving my hands at everyone. "Julian, I think you came to the wrong person."

Julian's face fell, but he quickly recovered. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion.

"I mean, I'm not interested in joining forces with you to take down Martha and Mira," I said, my voice firm. "I have no desire for revenge, and I certainly don't want to be a part of your power-hungry schemes."

Julian's face turned red with anger, and he took a step closer to me. "You're making a big mistake," he hissed. "I can help you take down those who wronged you."

I stood my ground, looking him straight in the eye. "I don't need your help, Julian. And even if I did, I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you."

The crowd around us started to murmur, sensing the tension between us, Julian's face twisted in anger.

"Vivian, it's your loss here, not Mira," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "She is pregnant with Kian's child, she is going to marry Kian and be the heiress of the company, she is winning you in everything, Vivian."

I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. I couldn't think straight, my mind racing with thoughts and emotions.

Julian's smirk grew wider as he saw the shock on my face. "Yes, Vivian, you are losing Kian.

As Julian finished speaking, I couldn't help but smirk at his attempts to provoke me. "If Kian belongs to me, it's fine, and if he doesn't, I can't force it," I said, my voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Julian's face fell, his expression turning from smug to disappointed. He seemed taken aback by my nonchalant response, as if he had expected me to be devastated by his words.

With a huff, Julian turned and left, his departure as sudden as his arrival. I watched him go, my smirk still firmly in place.

As the door closed behind Julian, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. I had refused to give him the reaction he so desperately sought.

But as I turned to leave, I couldn't shake the feeling that Julian's words had left a lingering impact. "Mira is pregnant with Kian's child," he had said. "She is going to marry Kian and be the heiress of the company."

The thought sent a pang of discomfort through me, and I couldn't help but wonder if there was any truth to Julian's claims. Was Kian really going to marry Mira?

I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the present moment. I had more important things to worry about than Julian's attempts to provoke me.

As I walked away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of determination. I would not let Julian's words get to me. I would rise above them, and I would come out stronger on the other side.

I walked back into my car, I couldn't help but think about Julian's words. He had tried to provoke me, to get a rise out of me, but I had refused to give him the satisfaction. I had always been the type of person who didn't let revenge consume me. My happiness was all that mattered to me.

I started the car and began to drive away, leaving Julian and his toxic behavior behind me. I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief as I put distance between us.

As I drove, I thought about what Julian had said. "Mira is pregnant with Kian's child," he had said. "She is going to marry Kian and be the heiress of the company."

But as I thought about it, I realized that it didn't matter. I was happy with my life, and I didn't need Kian or anyone else to complete me. I was enough on my own.

I pulled up to a red light and stopped, looking around at the people walking by. Everyone was going about their day, living their lives, and I was doing the same.

The light turned green, and I continued driving, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. I was exactly where I was meant to be, and I was happy.

As I drove, I thought about my future, about what I wanted to achieve. I wanted to be successful, to make a name for myself, but I also wanted to be happy.

And as I thought about it, I realized that happiness wasn't about revenge or getting back at someone. Happiness was about living your life to the fullest, about being true to yourself.

I pulled up to my destination, a small café, and got out of the car. I walked inside, greeted by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

I ordered a cup and sat down at a table, looking around at the other patrons. Everyone was laughing and chatting, enjoying their day.

And as I sat there, sipping my coffee, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. I was happy, truly happy, and it had nothing to do with revenge or getting back at someone.

It had everything to do with me, with my own personal growth and happiness. And as I sat there, I knew that no matter what Julian or anyone else said, I would always be happy, because I had found my own path to happiness.