Chapter 191 – A Choice Between Truth and Revenge
I was already seated when Calista arrived.
My fingers were wrapped tightly around the warm cup of coffee in front of me, but I hadn’t taken a single sip.
My mind was too loud for that. The door of the café opened, and I looked up immediately. Calista.
The moment our eyes met, I felt something inside me crack.
She rushed toward me. “Vivian…”
I stood up. And before I could even say anything, we hugged.
Like I had been holding myself together all day just for that moment.
“Hey… hey…” she whispered softly. “I’m here.”
And just like that, I broke down. Tears rushed out of my eyes uncontrollably.
“I don’t know what to do…” I cried against her shoulder.
She gently pulled me back and guided me into my seat.
“Talk to me,” she said calmly. “Tell me everything.”
I wiped my tears, but they kept falling anyway.
“I messed up…” I whispered.
Calista leaned forward, her eyes fixed on me.
“What happened?”
I took a shaky breath.
“Jasper…” I started. “He promised to help me.”
Her brows furrowed. “Help you how?”
“He said he would pay off my father’s debts,” I continued. “Clear everything… get him out.”
“And?” she asked.
My chest tightened. “He gave me a condition. That I should break Edward and Elara’s relationship.”
Calista’s expression changed slightly, but she didn’t interrupt me.
“I did everything,” I said, my voice trembling. “Everything I could think of.”
“You were there,” I added quickly. “You saw it. You saw everything I did.”
Calista nodded slowly.
“I exposed Elara,” I continued. “Everything she was hiding… her powers, the man… everything.”
Tears streamed down my face again.
“And yet…” I laughed bitterly, “…they’re still together. “Now…” my voice broke, “…now Jasper has framed my father.”
Calista’s eyes widened.
“He’s been arrested again,” I whispered. “And this time…”
I couldn’t finish. My voice failed me.
“He might go to prison for life.” The words hung heavy in the air.
Calista reached across the table and held my hand.
“Hey…” she said softly. “Don’t cry.”
“I don’t know what to do,” I repeated helplessly.
“We’ll figure something out,” she said firmly.
I shook my head. “How?”
She asked quietly. “Have you spoken to Sir Edward?”
My fingers tightened around hers. “No.”
“Why?” she asked gently.
I looked away. “I was angry,” I admitted. “He broke up with me… and then he went straight to Elara.”
My chest tightened again. “I felt… replaced.”
Calista nodded slowly. Then she leaned back slightly.
“You know…” she began calmly, “…sometimes hate blinds us.”
I looked at her.
“We get so caught up in it,” she continued, “that we lose ourselves.”
Her words sank deep.
“And we miss opportunities,” she added softly. “Things that could actually help us.”
I swallowed hard. She sighed lightly.
“You know I don’t like Elara,” she said. She smiled faintly.
The truth is… she didn’t really do anything to me.”
I stared at her. That wasn’t what I expected. But I knew why she hated Elara so much.
“You love Edward,” I said.
She blinked. Then she smiled. “How did you know?”
I let out a small, tired laugh. “I see the way you look at him.”
She shook her head slightly, still smiling.
“I guess I’m not that subtle.”
A small silence fell between us.
Then I asked. “So why didn’t you hate me too? I dated him too”
She looked at me and shrugged lightly.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I just… couldn’t.”
My brows furrowed. “I’ve genuinely liked you from the start,” she added.
My chest softened slightly and I smiled. Just a little.
Then her expression turned serious again.
“Vivian,” she said gently. “You need to talk to Sir Edward.”
My smile faded. “I don’t think he’ll listen to me.”
“He will,” she said firmly. “Sir Edward is a good person.”
I hesitated. “He’s angry,” I said.
“He’s hurt,” she corrected softly. “But that doesn’t make him heartless.”
Her words stayed with me.
“Tell him everything,” she continued. “Be honest.”
I looked down at the table. “Do you really think he’ll understand?”
“Yes,” she said without hesitation.
I nodded slowly. “Okay…”
“And as for Jasper, we will find a way to make him pay for what he has done.” Calista said.
Those words made me feel so much better.
She then stood up. “I have to go,” she said. “I don’t really have time off. I just came because you needed someone.”
My chest tightened again. “Thank you,” I said sincerely.
She smiled. “Anytime.”
We hugged again briefly. Then she left.
And I was alone again. I sat there for a long time. Overthinking.
My mind kept going back and forth. Jasper, Edward, my father, the book. Everything felt like a trap.
But one thing kept echoing in my head, Tell him everything, you're out of options.
I picked up my phone. My fingers hovered over Edward’s name.
Then I tapped it. Calling… It rang and rang and rang. No answer.
I tried again. Nothing. Then a third time, still nothing.
I let out a shaky breath. “Of course…”
He is angry and disappointed. I deserved it.
So instead, I typed a message. I really need to talk to you. It’s urgent. It’s about life and death.
I stared at the screen for a moment. Then I hit send and waited.
Seconds felt like minutes. Minutes felt like a few hours. Then suddenly, my phone rang. Edward.
My heart skipped. I answered immediately.
“Hello?”
“What is it, Vivian?” his voice came through.
I swallowed hard. “It’s not something I can say over the phone,” I said quickly. “I need to see you.”
A pause.
“I don’t have time for your games,” he replied. “What is it?”
“It’s not a game,” I said, my voice breaking slightly. “Please… just trust me this once.”
Silence.
“I’m sorry,” I added softly. “I’m truly sorry for everything I did. I want to make amends.”
My grip on the phone tightened.
“There’s something important I need to tell you.”
A long silence followed.
Then, “Come to my office,” he said finally. “I will be waiting.”
Relief flooded through me. “Okay,” I said quickly. “I’m on my way.”
The drive to his office felt even longer than the one to the station.
My heart wouldn’t stop racing. What if he didn’t believe me?
What if it was too late? I got there, parked and stepped out quickly.
Took a deep breath. Then walked in. Each step felt heavy.
I reached his office door and I pushed the door open slowly.
And there he was behind his desk. He looked calm and unreadable.
“Sit,” he said.
I walked in quietly and sat down. My hands were shaking.
He watched me. Waiting.
“What is it?” he asked.
I didn’t speak. Instead, I opened my bag slowly.
Reached inside and pulled it out. The Book of Bloodlines.
I placed it gently on the table between us and looked up at him.
Silence filled the room.