Escape from the Loveless Zone

The arrogance in Cassian’s eyes wavered for a brief moment as he frowned, eyeing Vivienne with growing suspicion. "Are you really apologizing to Freya? Don’t start cursing us behind our backs."

Vivienne clasped her hands over her abdomen and bowed deeply toward both Cassian and Freya. With genuine sincerity, she spoke, "I apologize. Today, I was wrong."

She shouldn’t have held onto any illusions about Cassian.

From the moment he had hurt her for Freya, Vivienne should have understood her place and severed her feelings. Instead, she had let herself become a spectacle, disgraced to the point of being cast aside.

In the end, she was about to leave the land where she had spent twenty-three years of her life, escaping to a foreign country.

"Ruining your proposal was my fault. If there’s anything I can do to make up for it, please let me know."

Her voice was quiet, humbling herself as if she truly regretted her actions. But instead of remorse, Cassian’s fury only deepened.

He looked at her with cold eyes, irritation pulsing through him at the very sight of her. "Who knows if you’re being sincere or just putting on an act? I don’t believe a word you say."

Freya playfully tugged at Cassian’s ear. "Oh, Cassian, don’t be so cruel."

She added, "Vivienne already apologized. What more do you want from her?"

By now, the security guards had started clearing the crowd, leaving only the three of them behind.

Cassian’s gaze turned hard as he spoke, "I want her to kneel and apologize to you!"

The words hung in the air and even Freya paused, momentarily stunned, before her shock gave way to a self-satisfied smirk.

Vivienne stared at him in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind?"

Years ago, when she’d been on her knees, drenched in rain and desperation, begging him for help against the debt collectors, Cassian had pulled her up and told her that her knees were only for heaven, for earth and for her parents, not for anyone else.

Now, this same man was demanding that she kneel to someone else.

Seeing the familiar fear and pleading in her eyes, Cassian’s pride swelled further, his voice dripping with venom as he scolded her.

"You humiliated Freya in front of everyone. Isn’t it only fair for you to kneel and apologize?"

"Vivienne, when did you become the kind of person who refuses to own up to her actions?"

Vivienne pressed her lips together, her whole body trembling with barely contained anger. "I won’t."

Most of the guests had already filed out of the venue and a security guard approached, inquiring when they planned to leave.

With tears brimming in her eyes, Freya wrapped her arms around Cassian. "Cassian, with Vivienne acting like this, can we even believe her apology was sincere?"

"She turned my proposal into a joke and still, I was willing to forgive her…"

Cassian frowned, gently pulling Freya closer. He then turned his piercing gaze to Vivienne.

"Vivienne, isn’t groveling to the wealthy what you do best? All we’re asking is for you to apologize to Freya, yet you refuse?"