Chapter 61 Scarlett
RORY POV
“What happened?” I asked softly, closing the door behind me so Liam wouldn’t overhear anything.
Viviane gulped down a fresh wave of tears, her voice cracking. “He said he doesn’t want to have sex with me anymore…”
That sucks. Maybe he got tired of being used as her personal stress reliever. But I still didn’t get why she was crying this hard over it, the level of devastation on her face seemed extreme just for a lost hookup. She had always been the one calling the shots between them.
“Why? Is it because you were stalking him or something?”
Before she could answer, I poked my head out of the study door to check on Liam. I was going to tell him to put his headphones on, but the drawing room was already empty. The little genius had vanished. I rolled my eyes, he knew exactly what kind of "adult" conversation was about to happen and wanted no part of the fallout.
I shut the door and turned back to Vivienne.
"So? Why the sudden change of heart?"
“He told me he’s engaged,” Viviane whispered, fresh tears spilling over. “He’s getting married next month.”
My mouth fell open. Not because of the engagement itself, but because last week this same man had been looking at her like she was the only woman on earth and they had plenty of sex. Now he was suddenly someone’s fiancé?
“Luke has a girlfriend? Did you even know about her?” I asked, stunned.
She shook her head, sniffing hard as more tears rolled down. “I had no idea. I’ve never seen him with anyone before. I thought—” she stopped. “I thought it was only me.”
"Hold on. Vi.. do you actually like him?" | asked, the realization hitting me like a physical blow.
“God no… I don’t,” she answered quickly, looking at me like I’d said something ridiculous.
“Then why are you crying like this if it was just sex?” I pressed gently. “Are you sure it was only sex?”
She opened her mouth. Closed it.
“Do I like him?” she said quietly, like she was asking herself more than me. “I don’t know. I can’t like him. But I also don’t want him to get married. I’ll be losing him forever.” Fresh tears spilled over. “What am I supposed to do Rory?”
She sounded so lost.
Her head dropped onto my shoulder.
We ended up on the floor together, side by side, her leaning into me while I tried to figure out the right thing to say.
“I’m sorry to break it to you Viviane,” I said carefully. “But you love him. I think it took seeing him with someone else to make you admit it.” I paused. “So what are you going to do?”
“Nothing,” she said immediately. Like she had already decided before she even started crying. “I don’t even know if he has any feelings for me. I’ll just cry my eyes out and watch them get married. Maybe I’ll be fine eventually. Even though I’m not okay with it I can’t be selfish.”
She said it like giving up was the only option she had ever considered.
“Why are you holding back?” I asked.
“Seriously Viviane, why?”
She was quiet for a moment.
“My family isn’t normal like other families,” she said finally. “We were in the brotherhood. Where you can’t make decisions for yourself. Where your whole life is mapped out before you even understand what life is.” She exhaled slowly. “Alexander pulled us out four years ago and I finally felt free for the first time. But even now I can’t fully be free. It’s like I don’t deserve to be. Why should I be happy?” Her voice cracked. “We lost Anastasia in the fight. It feels so wrong to have a normal life when she’s not here to have one.”
My heart sank.
She was punishing herself for Anastasia’s death. Denying herself happiness because she didn’t think she had earned it. Watching everyone else live while she kept herself small as some kind of penance.
“I’m sure Anastasia wouldn’t want you to feel this way Vi,” I said. “I’m sure if she could see you right now she’d be furious at you for wasting yourself like this. She’d want you happy. She’d be cheering for you.”
Viviane let out a short wet laugh.
“Damn,” she said. “That sounds exactly like something Ana would say.” She looked at me sideways. “Are you sure you’re not my Ana?”
She laughed through the tears, the sound shaky but real.
Finally, a glimpse of the real Viviane.
“Stop crying, Vi. Wipe your face and that nose, you’re that girl. You’ve always been that girl. Don’t let anyone , not even Luke make you forget it.” I motivated her, using my palms to gently straighten her messy bob.
She wiped her eyes roughly and gave me a small, grateful smile. “Thank you so much, Rory.” She turned and pulled me into a tight hug. I hugged her back just as hard.
“You’re welcome, Vi. I’m always here,” I told her, meaning every word.
She pulled back, her expression shifting like she suddenly remembered something important. “Have you heard about Scarlett?”
I raised a brow. “Who’s Scarlett?”
“Anastasia’s elder sister,” she said. “I saw her in DC yesterday. She said she’s coming to see you.” She took my hands in hers, her expression suddenly serious. “Just be careful around her Rory. Please.”
I stared at her.
I didn’t even know Anastasia had a sibling. I had always assumed she was an only child like me. And now apparently her elder sister was on her way here specifically to see me.
What could her sister possibly want with me?