Chapter 17

VIVIANNE

Kimberly is trying on clothes when I return, too absorbed to acknowledge me. The poor girl sitting with her nods at every outfit, murmuring compliments—~You’re beautiful in this. That really suits you.~

Kimberly eats it up, her fake smile almost too convincing.

“Glad you’re back.” She meets my gaze for a brief moment. Her icy blue eyes seem even colder now, as if they could freeze me solid and drag me under.

I mumble a hello and sink into the seat beside the girl.

“What’s your name?” I whisper.

She looks up, startled. “Louise.” A small smile spreads across her lips before she drops her gaze, hands clasped in her lap.

“You’re doing great.” I nod, settling in my chair as Kimberly twirls in front of the mirror, inspecting herself from every angle.

She doesn’t ask for our opinions—she doesn’t need to. She knows she looks good. Each approving nod from the sales staff feeds her ego, and she soaks it up.

It feels like hours before we finally leave.

The moment we step outside, we head straight into another store—one that looks identical to the last. My patience is growing thin. I’m not sure I can take any more of this.

Kimberly hasn’t spoken to me since I came back from talking to Liam. Something in me snaps. Anger simmers beneath the surface, hot and unchecked.

When we step out of the car, I don’t wait for her. I stride ahead, cutting in front of her with an exaggerated sway to my walk.

I don’t look back. I don’t slow down. Chin high, I step inside and flash a bright smile.

Within seconds, I’m surrounded.

“What can I help you find?”

“Looking for something special?”

“Need any assistance?”

I smile at each person, thanking them, asking for skirts, pants, blouses, dresses, shoes, accessories—whatever comes to mind. They nod with enthusiasm, scattering to gather what I’ve requested.

Not a single person asks Kimberly if she needs anything.

I find my own petite helper and motion for her to follow me. “Are you busy?”

She blinks, shaking her head.

“What’s your name?”

“Bea,” she squeaks.

I smile. “Bea,” I repeat warmly, waving her along.

Kimberly simmers, her face an ugly shade of red. I’m surprised she hasn’t made herself known. But I don’t question it. I focus on the steady stream of clothes being brought out to me, selecting an outfit for work and another for dinner.

Just as I’m about to signal that I’m done, a tall man approaches. His blond hair is pulled back in a messy bun, and in his hands, he holds a dress that makes my breath catch.

A black dress.

Sexy and innocent all at once.

I want it.

I’ve never owned a little black dress before, but now I ~need~ to. I slip it on, turning toward the mirror.

The fabric is the deepest black I’ve ever seen, stopping just above my knee. It hugs my curves perfectly without making me feel confined.

A sweetheart neckline and spaghetti straps reveal just the right amount of skin, and the back swoops low, dipping to a point in the small of my back.

~Liam would love this~, I think.

“I’ll take it. Thank you.” I smile at the man and hand the dress back.

I don’t wait for Kimberly. I head straight to the counter, pull out Liam’s credit card, and hand it over.

Kimberly waits until the card is safely back in my wallet before approaching. “Having some trouble running your card?” she pouts, her expression turning sour.

“No,” I say, smiling sweetly. “She’s just finishing packaging and bagging things.”

“Right, it’s okay, sweetie, here—” She starts to reach into her bag, but the cashier hefts my bags onto the counter with a bright smile.

“Here you go, ma’am. Have a great day.”

I thank her and make sure she’ll pass along my gratitude to everyone who helped me. When I glance at Kimberly, her irritation has only deepened.

She’s silent as we climb into the car, barely speaking the entire drive back to the cabin. It isn’t until we’re almost home that she finally turns to me.

“This won’t end well for you.”

A chill runs through me. “What are you talking about?”

“Liam is going to leave you. Whether it’s on his own or because my husband tells him to.” The smugness in her voice is unmistakable.

I keep my face neutral. “Maybe you don’t really know him as well as you think.”

She snorts. “It doesn’t matter. He isn’t going to end up with someone like you, sweetie. That’s just not the way the world works. Not ~his~ world.”

I lift my chin in defiance. “We could be different.”

“No, you aren’t. Stop lying to yourself. You’re poor—I can see it in the clothes you wear. Liam is rich, ~old~ rich, and his father doesn’t even like you. So just give up now. Go home while you still have some pride.”

The car rolls to a stop. Everything in me screams ~run~, and I do.

I throw open the door and rush inside, straight to Liam’s room. Relief floods me when I see he isn’t there. I check the bathroom and closet just to be sure before dropping to my knees and pulling my bags from under the bed.

I shove clothes inside, hangers and all, but as the pile grows, the rage inside of me settles. My hands still. This isn’t right. I squeeze my eyes shut.

When I open them again, I start putting the clothes back.

My shoulders sag as tears spring to my eyes. Instinctively, I pull out my phone and dial Momma’s number.

“Hey.” She sounds weak.

“Momma,” I croak, a hot tear slipping down my cheek. “I miss you.”

She coos, trying to comfort me, listening as I tell her about Kimberly’s harsh words.

I take a deep, steadying breath and squeeze my eyes shut.

By the time we’re done talking and have said our goodbyes, I feel like I haven’t slept in days. I crawl into bed, curling into myself without bothering with the covers.

***

“Viv.” His voice is soft and warm, but I refuse to open my eyes.

“Viv, wake up. It’s time for dinner.”

I groan and roll over. He chuckles, the sound stirring something deep in my belly. I twist back to look at him.

“Go away.” I smile sleepily at him.

“Come on, time to wake up.”

Sighing, I push myself upright and rub the sleep from my eyes. I have no idea when I got back or how long I’ve been asleep. My head throbs and the light feels too bright.

I glance at the bags from today and smile. “I think I really pissed off Kimberly.”

“Trust me, you did. I heard her and my father fighting.”

He looks down, and my stomach drops.

“Sorry,” I say, trying to catch his gaze.

“Don’t be.” He stands, and I follow, nearly stumbling on legs, still half asleep.

“About this morning—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“We don’t have to—” He pauses, eyes on mine. “We don’t have to talk about this.”

The words I had ready freeze in my throat. My courage jumps off a cliff.

I nod, slipping past him into the bathroom to run a brush through my hair.

The girl in the mirror is still a stranger. My face is flushed from sleep, a hint of pink returning to my cheeks.

I don’t know if I can meet my own eyes.

There’s so much I want to say to Liam. He’s all I think about, and yet I can’t even speak to him.

What if these feelings screw up my entire future?

I scrub a hand down my face and run a brush through my hair before stepping out.

Liam waits patiently on the bed. I grab my bags and step into the closet, dropping them near the ones I just unpacked.

I finger through the freshly rehung clothes, then decide to stay in what I’m wearing.

Liam is at the door, and together, we head to dinner with the devil and his wife.

***

It’s Tuesday. We leave today.

Liam is outside packing up the car, preparing for the long ride home. I’ve spent most of my time alone or with him, biding my time until this moment.

Nan stands on the steps, chatting with Liam about his next visit, already making plans for him to bring a few things and stay longer.

I’m going to miss her.

Liam shuts the trunk and glances at me. “You ready?”

A wave of sadness washes over me. Instead of answering, I rush back up the steps and throw my arms around Nan. “Thank you,” I whisper.

She rubs my back, her head tucked against mine. I can feel her smile. “Be careful, deary. Be strong. Be brave. I’ll see you next time.” She pulls back, gripping my shoulders, then gives me a firm nod.

I swallow against the lump in my throat. “I’m gonna miss talking to you.”

I think about all the times I snuck away to find her—how she’s the only one who knows the truth about Liam and me.

“Don’t worry, dear, I’ll be right here.” She pulls me in for one more squeeze before shooing toward the car.

I turn—and my heart stops.

Mr. Stryder leans casually against the porch railing, watching me. The way his gaze sweeps over me makes my skin crawl.

Liam is still distracted, saying his final goodbyes to Nan, so Stryder takes his chance.

“You should stay,” he murmurs, stepping closer. “I could show you what a real man is like.”

I force myself to hold my ground, even as my stomach twists in disgust. “Stay away from me.” My voice is low, firm. “If you try anything, I’ll tell Liam what you did.”

When I turn around, Liam is standing there, looking at me curiously, an odd gleam in his eye.

He chuckles—slow and deliberate. “Go ahead. See what happens.”

I glare at him. “I mean it.”

He leans in, his breath warm and heavy. “And I mean it when I say I can destroy you. And ruin any chances of Liam taking over Stryder Corp. You have no idea who you’re dealing with, sweetheart.”

I refuse to flinch. “Neither do you.”

Liam’s voice cuts through the tension. “Viv?”

Mr. Stryder straightens, the smirk still playing on his lips as he steps back. “Enjoy your trip.”

I don’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead, I turn and walk to the car, climbing into the seat without another glance.

As we pull away, I watch in the rearview mirror as Nan disappears into the house. Mr. Stryder is still standing there, watching.