Escape from the Loveless Zone

"Are you done shouting?"

"If you’ve finished, then just hang up. I’m tired."

Cassian’s teeth ground together in anger, his words sharp and cold. "Fine, have it your way."

"Vivienne, you’ve got guts."

"Don’t want to come back? Fine, never return."

In a fit of rage, Cassian threw the phone across the room, shattering it against the wall.

Vivienne, unbothered, smirked bitterly. After completing her discharge, she checked into a hotel, feeling free at last.

For the days that followed, Cassian seemed to enjoy parading his love for Freya, each post more public and shameless than the last.

The two seemed inseparable, their sweet romance splashed across every screen, sparking admiration from many, though some passersby couldn’t help but feel annoyed by the constant drama.

But for the most part, people cheered them on, caught up in the spectacle.

Each time someone praised Cassian and Freya, Vivienne found herself dragged into the conversation, a target for ridicule and verbal assault.

Yet, she paid it no mind. Soon enough, she’d liquidate her assets, repay Cassian and leave it all behind.

Five days had passed since that last phone call, with Cassian nowhere to be found.

When he finally called again, Vivienne had gathered enough money and was ready to say goodbye for good.

Cassian’s voice sounded stiff and strained as he asked, "Have you been reflecting these past few days? I’ll pick you up later and take you to meet some friends."

Vivienne recognized this for what it was: Cassian’s awkward attempt at an apology, a clumsy peace offering.

If it had been before, she might have felt some flicker of hope at his rare vulnerability. But now, she merely shrugged it off, almost amused by the whole charade.

After giving him her location, Cassian arrived on time, with Remiel driving, as promised.

When Remiel saw Vivienne, his lips curled into a smug, almost taunting smile as though he were sure she wouldn’t call him out for his earlier neglect.

Vivienne had no intention of doing so. She was leaving and there was no need to bring it up now.

With a calm smile, she opened the car door and took a seat in the front.

She wasn’t about to sit in the back with Cassian. Being near him made her skin crawl.

When the door to the private room swung open, fireworks erupted overhead with a deafening crack.

Multicolored confetti rained down, drifting lazily through the air. Cassian’s friends cheered in unison, "Congratulations to Cassian and Sister-in-law on your happy marriage!"

Vivienne looked up, her gaze falling on a red banner that hung across the room, emblazoned with the words: "Wishing Cassian and Freya a lifetime of happiness!"

"Why is it you, this crazy woman?"

As the confetti settled, the room fell into an eerie silence. Everyone’s eyes turned to Vivienne, burning with a quiet, intense anger as though she had committed some unforgivable sin.

Vivienne simply shrugged, offering a helpless smile. "You’ll have to ask Cassian about that."

The air in the room grew thick with tension.

Cassian moved to the center of the room, taking a seat. After a brief pause, he cleared his throat twice, "Everyone, take a seat."

The group exchanged uncertain glances before slowly finding their places around the large round table, leaving a spot beside Cassian and across from him.

Vivienne chose a seat as far from him as she could manage.

"Did Cassian bring this crazy woman here to make her see the difference between her and Sister-in-law?"