Chapter 54

VIVIAN POV

As I walked downstairs to get some air, I couldn't shake off the feeling of loneliness that had settled over me. The grandeur of the mansion seemed to only emphasize my isolation.

Just as I reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw Julian emerging from Martha's room. I stopped dead in my tracks, watching him with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.

He didn't seem to notice me at first, his eyes fixed on some point ahead. But as he approached the entrance door, his gaze flickered towards me. Our eyes met for a brief moment, and I felt a shiver run down my spine 

As he reached the door, he turned back to glance at me. The smirk was still plastered on his face, and I could sense a hint of triumph in his eyes.

I felt my gaze follow him as he walked towards his car, parked outside the mansion. He got in and started the engine, the sound of the motor echoing through the silence.

As he drove away, I couldn't help but wonder what had just transpired. What had Julian been doing in Martha's room? And what was behind that cold, calculating smirk?

I stood there for a moment, lost in thought, before shaking off the feeling of unease. 

I continued as I walked into the kitchen and cooked myself some food to eat, I could listen to footsteps as I was cooking turned out it was Mira.

“What the fuck... what’s that stupid smell?” she said squeezing her face.

I stood at the table, my hands moving deftly as I cooked the meal. But my calm demeanor was shattered when I heard Mira’s voice behind me.

"What's with this silly attitude when I am cooking?" I asked, my expression a mix of anger and confusion.

Miira’s face was red with rage as she yelled, "Can't you tell? How can you cook these damn foods when there is a pregnant woman in the house? Are you this cruel? You really want this baby gone?"

Her voice was loud and shrill, and I could feel the tension in the air. Martha rushed out of the living room, her gaze focused on me with a mixture of concern and accusation.

"What's the problem?" she asked, her voice firm but controlled.

I knew she was going to find fault and pin it on me, but I was well-prepared for the both of them. I turned to face Mira, my expression calm and collected.

"I'm just cooking dinner, Mira. I didn't realize I was putting the baby in harm's way," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Mira’s face turned redder, and she took a step closer to me. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. You're cooking foods that are bad for me, that can harm the baby. You're doing it on purpose."

Martha stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "Even if you haven’t given birth, Even though you are not a mother you should at least have a sense of reasoning that a pregnant woman can not eat these dogs food you cooked”. She spat

I laughed sheepishly “Funny enough, I am not cooking for anybody, what makes you think I am cooking for all of us? Aren’t you scared that I might poison you both?” I said 

They both glared at me and couldn’t utter a word.

Finally, I'd had enough. I turned off the stove and turned to face Vivian, my expression cold and hard. "If you're so concerned about the baby, maybe you should take care of yourself. Instead of accusing me of trying to harm you." I said and walked away.

Martha suddenly grabbed my hands, her grip tight and desperate. But it was too late, the damage was done. The hot food poured all over the floor, scalding my feet and sending a wave of pain through my body.

I pulled my hand away from her grip, my anger boiling over. I reached out and grabbed her by her hair, my fingers twisting in the strands.

"Do you have a death wish?" I spat, my voice low and menacing.

Martha yelled, her eyes wide with fear. But I didn't let go. I held her in place, my grip tight.

That's when Kian rushed inside, his face a picture of concern. "What's going on?" he demanded.

Mira, ever the opportunist, began to fake yell, her voice high-pitched and dramatic. "She's hurting me! She's going to kill me!"

But I had already removed my hands from Martha's hair. I stood there, my arms at my sides, as Kian rushed to Martha's side.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft and gentle.

Martha nodded, her eyes still wide with fear. "Y-yes. I'm fine, she is going to kill us."

Kian turned to me, his eyes narrowed. "What happened?" he demanded.

I shrugged, my expression innocent. "I don't know what you're talking about."

But Kian wasn't buying it. He knew me too well. He knew I was capable of violence.

Mira continued to fake yell, her voice growing louder and more dramatic. "She's a monster! She's going to kill us all!"

I rolled my eyes, my expression disgusted. But Kian wasn't looking at me. He was looking at Martha, his eyes filled with concern.

“Mom please have your sit," he said, his voice soft.

As Martha took a seat and started breathing heavily, playing the victim, Mira also touched her pregnancy and began crying. Kian looked at her, but he feigned ignorance and turned his face away from her.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. They were all so caught up in their own drama, their own lies.

They all gazed at me, wondering why I was laughing. Kian saw the food on the floor and his eyes widened as he took in the sight of my scalded feet. His expression changed immediately, concern etched on his face.

But I eyed him, warning him not to overreact. I didn't want him to make a scene, to give them the satisfaction of knowing they had gotten to me.

Kian's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of understanding. But then his expression changed, and he looked away, his jaw clenched in frustration.

Martha and Mira continued to play their roles, Martha breathing heavily, Mira crying and clutching her pregnancy. It was all so ridiculous, so over-the-top.

I shook my head, my chuckle turning into a full-blown laugh. "You're all so pathetic," I said, my voice dripping with disdain.

Kian's head snapped back towards me, his eyes flashing with anger.