Chapter 51 DESIRE
It was just a couple of days until Vivienne's 28th birthday, and she was practically glowing with excitement. Every year, she had her tradition of shopping extravagantly, mostly for her annual birthday photoshoot. This year wasn't different. Her return to social media was long overdue, and she planned to make a bold comeback. The birthday shoot was the perfect excuse.
Vivienne preferred shopping in person; she never trusted online orders. She needed to see the fabric, feel the texture, and try everything on herself. She moved gracefully through the boutique, her fingers skimming along the new arrivals, eyes scanning for something that screamed luxury and power.
Just as she reached for a sequined dress, her phone buzzed. She glanced down at the screen Unknown Number. Curious, she opened the message.
"I have intel on Ethan and Lena. I believe their marriage is fake. If we work together, we can expose them. If you're interested, meet me at Wine Galore by 5."
Vivienne blinked at the message, her heart skipping a beat. For a moment, she stood frozen, the dress still hanging from her fingers.
She reread the message.
It was sudden, out of the blue but it aligned with everything she had been suspecting. That marriage had always seemed too perfect, too strategic. And now, someone else had seen through the illusion too?
A slow smile curved her lips
She didn't know who had sent the message, but one thing was clear. Whoever it was, they were on her side. And that was all Vivienne needed to know.
All this time, she'd been waiting for a crack in Ethan and Lena's façade, something to prove she wasn't the bitter ex or the jealous outsider. Now, the opportunity had come to her.
She glanced down at her watch. It was already past four.
"Can't afford to be late," she murmured under her breath, a sense of purpose sharpening her every move.
Without a second thought, she dropped the few items she had picked into a nearby return rack and headed straight out of the boutique, her heels clicking confidently against the polished floors. Her shopping spree could wait.
There were more important things at stake now.
As she slid into the backseat of her car and gave the driver the name Wine Galore, her heart pulsed with anticipation. She didn't know who she was about to meet but if they truly had the evidence she needed to tear Ethan and Lena apart, this could be the beginning of everything she'd been waiting for.
It was closing hour at the office, and for once, Ethan felt a strange urgency to leave. He wouldn't admit it out loud, not even to himself but he was curious. Curious about how Lena was doing.
His mind drifted back to the moment she clung to him like he was her only anchor, her face buried in his chest. He could still feel the weight of her trembling body, still smell the faint trace of her perfume that had clung to his suit long after she let go. He had never imagined that the sharp-tongued, defiant Lena could be so quiet, so soft... so broken.
And it infuriated him what Vincent had done. The pain he had caused her. Ethan wished he had hit the bastard harder.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Hugo stepped inside.
"You're heading home, I see," Hugo said, noting the absence of Ethan's usual post-work rhythm.
"Yeah," Ethan replied, his voice deliberately casual.
"How's Lena doing?" Hugo asked, a genuine concern in his tone.
"She's much better now," Ethan answered, shrugging slightly, trying not to seem too affected.
"That's good. I'll make time to come see her," Hugo said,
"Alright," Ethan replied.already reaching for his briefcase.
just as Ethan reached the door, Hugo called out.
"Uhmm... Ethan," he said quietly.
Ethan turned, his brows slightly furrowed. "Yeah?"
For a brief moment, their eyes locked. Hugo looked like he wanted to say something his lips parted, but the words didn't come. It was like whatever he'd planned to say had evaporated.
"Uh, it's nothing," Hugo said with a forced smile. "We'll talk some other time."
Ethan nodded slowly, though his gaze remained fixed on him. "Alright."
Without another word, Ethan slipped out, leaving Hugo standing alone.
Hugo had been wrestling with guilt for days now.
The affair or whatever it was between him and Sophie had happened so suddenly, yet it consumed his thoughts like wildfire. Every time he looked at Ethan, the weight on his chest grew heavier. Ethan was his friend. A good one. The kind of man who had trusted him, confided in him, stood by him.
Telling him the truth was the right thing to do.
That was what Hugo had told himself as he stood in Ethan's office moments earlier. But then doubt had crept in, wrapping around his conscience like a vice.
What if Ethan got angry?
What if he took it personally?
Worse still... What if he told him to stay away from Sophie?
That thought alone was paralyzing. Hugo couldn't imagine it not now, not when he had just found out Sophie liked him too. It had taken years for him to admit his feelings, years of silent glances and buried emotions. And now that the door had finally opened between them, he wasn't ready to close it not even for Ethan.
No. He couldn't give her up.
He had spent too long bottling up his emotions. He had sacrificed enough already. If pouring his heart out to Sophie meant doing it behind Ethan's back... then so be it.
For once, he was choosing himself.
Hugo was done second-guessing himself.
As soon as he stepped out of Ethan's office, he pulled out his phone and typed a message, his fingers moving faster than his thoughts.
Hope you haven't had dinner. I'd like to have dinner with you.
He hit send before he could talk himself out of it.
For years, he'd stood on the sidelines, pretending his feelings didn't exist. But not anymore. He was ready now to court her properly, to show Sophie the kind of man he could be. No more hiding behind friendship. No more holding back because of Ethan.
A soft ping brought him back to the present.
That would be nice, she replied.
Hugo's chest tightened, but not with guilt this time, it was excitement. He typed quickly:
Alright, I'll pick you up by 9.
He stared at the screen for a moment, disbelief flickering in his eyes. Just moments ago, he'd been on the verge of confessing everything to Ethan... and now, he was setting up a date with her.
What the hell am I doing? he thought. I'm truly losing my senses.
But he didn't slow down. He walked briskly through the hallway, ignoring the questioning looks from a few employees still packing up. It was truly unusual to see Hugo leave at closing hours.
But Hugo had one thing on his mind now: Sophie.
He needed to go home, take a quick shower, and get ready. Tonight, he wasn't just seeing her, he was claiming the place he had longed for all these years.