Chapter 183 Meeting Joseph
Chapter 183 Meeting Joseph
Vivian's POV
My fingers dug hard into my scalp as I paced back and forth in the living room, cursing Sophia's name over and over. Every vicious word squeezed out of my throat. That cold-hearted bitch, that ungrateful piece of trash. How dare she humiliate me like this? How dare she destroy everything I worked so hard to build?
My phone, tossed on the couch, suddenly started buzzing—once, twice, three times, continuously. I irritably grabbed it, but froze when I saw the message from my friend. Even through the screen, I could feel her panic in that string of exclamation marks.
[Vivian! Who the hell did you piss off?! Check FL's official Facebook now!]
FL? That top global luxury brand?
My stomach churned. With trembling hands, I opened the app. Right there at the top of trending topics was that glaring red text: [FL Brand Global Blacklist Order.]
I tapped on the topic with shaking fingers. FL's official account had posted a joint statement ten minutes ago, every word cold and merciless.
[In light of Lady Vivian's personal conduct and professional ethics severely violating our brand's core values, effective immediately, all FL brand ready-to-wear, jewelry, and haute couture collections will permanently blacklist Lady Vivian globally, revoking her lifetime right to purchase, borrow, or wear any FL products. Any violation, or discovery of third parties providing FL products to her, will result in immediate legal action by our legal department.]
They named me. They actually named me.
This wasn't a quiet blacklisting. This was a public execution. For someone like me who built her reputation in high society circles through luxury brands, being globally blacklisted by a top fashion house was worse than death. This wasn't just about losing clothes and jewelry—this was being branded an outcast in front of the entire upper class. After this, I'd be a complete joke in socialite circles.
"No... this can't be real... this can't be!"
The phone slipped from my hand and hit the floor. I clutched my head, nails digging deep into my scalp until I felt pain, then let out a scream that tore from deep in my chest.
"Sophia! It must be you! It has to be you! Ahhhhh—"
My voice echoed through the empty mansion, hoarse and broken, but no one came to comfort me.
Ryan's POV
The study was dark, with only the desk lamp casting a weak yellow glow on the scattered documents I'd been pretending to read for the past hour. My phone sat in front of me, screen lighting up and dimming in an endless cycle as I stared at the draft message to Vivian.
[Vivian, are you okay?]
I typed it, deleted it, typed it again. My finger hovered over the send button, but I just couldn't press it.
The news about her blacklisting was everywhere online. FL's statement had gone viral, and the comments were brutal. This girl, who once made every socialite in the capital jealous, was now being torn to shreds online. The Smith family was in free fall, too, hemorrhaging money from breach of contract penalties.
My chest felt tight, my mind restless. I couldn't connect the gentle, fragile Vivian I knew with the plagiarist everyone was talking about. She'd always been so sweet to me, so delicate. There must be some mistake. Someone must have framed her.
The door suddenly burst open.
Jessica strode in, carrying a cup of hot milk that she slammed down on my desk with enough force to make me jump. Her sharp gaze swept over the light from my phone screen, and she smirked coldly.
"Still thinking about that disgraced jinx?"
"Mom!" I frowned, flipping my phone face downon the desk. "Vivian's going through hell right now. Those accusations online could be completely made up. You know how kind she is. She would never plagiarize."
"Kind?" Jessica's laugh was sharp and mocking. "If she were really kind, she wouldn't have dragged the Smith family into this mess. Listen up. Starting today, you're going to block all her contact information. Every app, every platform. The Smith family is a sinking ship, and the Lopez family absolutely cannot marry a woman with a plagiarism scandal who's been blacklisted by luxury brands."
I clenched my jaw, feeling my resolve waver, but pride made me argue back. "But our families already arranged our engagement. If we abandon her now, what will people think of the Lopez family?"
"They'll think we know how to cut our losses and have long-term vision!" Jessica's eyes flashed with barely contained fury, then shifted to something more calculating, almost greedy. "Besides, you shouldn't marry Vivian. You should go after Sophia."
"Sophia?!" The name hit me like a bucket of ice water. I recoiled in my chair, shaking my head. "Mom, are you crazy? She's cold as ice and ruthless as hell. Look what she did to the Smith family. How could I possibly handle someone like that?"
"You don't understand anything!" Jessica leaned forward, lowering her voice urgently. "She's ruthless because she's capable. Don't you remember who she is? If you marry her, her connections, her reputation, the entire Spencer family's backing—it all becomes ours. With that cash cow, the Lopez family's business could triple."
Sophia's calm, sharp eyes flashed through my mind, and I couldn't help but shudder. I'll admit she's beautiful, stunningly so, but that beauty has thorns.
"I can't do it," I said, running my hand through my hair. "She doesn't even see me as human. If I go after her, I'll just humiliate myself. Honestly, I think Vivian suits me better."
The slap came too fast for me to see.
My head snapped to the side, my cheek burning. I clutched my face, staring at Jessica in shock as she stood before me, chest heaving.
"You useless waste! You'd give up our family's future for a bankrupt girl, completely bewitched by her? I'm telling you now—you're going after Sophia, using every means necessary to win her over. This isn't a discussion. If you dare ruin this opportunity for me, I'll freeze all your accounts."
I stared at Jessica's twisted, greedy expression, my cheek throbbing, and swallowed my protest. When she was like this, arguing was pointless.
Sophia's POV
Morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows as I fastened the buttons on my tailored beige blazer. I pulled my hair into a simple, low bun, practical and professional. As I headed toward the entrance to change shoes, the butler hurried over with a set of car keys.
"Lady Sophia, you're leaving early today." His smile was warm and respectful. Over the past few weeks, all the household staff had come to understand that the Spencer family's newly found daughter was not only capable but also fair in rewards and punishments—a stark contrast to the fake heiress's affected fragility.
"Still some follow-up matters to handle at the company," I replied, nodding briefly as I took the keys.
The butler hesitated, then lowered his voice. "Lady Sophia, the Young Master returned to the country yesterday. He stayed here last night. Mrs. Spencer asked that you try to come home early tonight so the family can have a proper dinner together. You and the Young Master haven't officially met yet."
Oliver Spencer.