Escape from the Loveless Zone

The house was in the opposite direction of the venue and if Vivienne had to walk back, it would take her at least seven or eight hours without a single break. By the time she finally reached home, her body was drained and completely worn out.

But there was no time to rest. Vivienne wasted no moment and immediately contacted her financial advisor, instructing him to liquidate all her assets.

These funds were hers, earned from writing novels and selling their rights. They had nothing to do with Cassian.

Years ago, Cassian cleared her debts, paid her mother’s medical bills and supported her through school. She had kept meticulous track of every expense he’d made for her and now, she intended to return every cent, severing all ties with him once and for all.

After two or three hours of sorting her finances, she collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. But before she could rest, Cassian returned home as if nothing had happened.

"Vivienne, make me a bowl of hangover soup," he ordered.

Vivienne’s breath caught in her throat, but she steeled herself and forced her legs to move. She couldn't risk showing weakness until she was completely free from Cassian’s hold.

With his family’s influence, she wasn’t sure she’d even be able to escape the villa.

Staring into the flickering flames of the stove, she was lost in thought when Cassian’s voice cut through her reverie.

"What are you doing, so lost in thought?"

The soup had long since boiled over, spilling out of the pot in a bubbling mess.

Startled back to reality, Vivienne quickly turned off the heat, but the boiling water seared her hand.

She jerked her hand back with a sharp cry, the pain searing through her skin.

Cassian’s voice, sharp and commanding, pierced through her daze. He grabbed her hand, placing it under cold running water.

"How could you be so careless? A grown woman and you still manage to burn yourself just making soup? Quite the talent," he scolded, urgency slipping into his tone.

Suppressing her urge to pull away, Vivienne let him hold her hand beneath the cold water.

Noticing her lack of response, Cassian’s gaze darkened, his impatience evident.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"Still angry?"

"Vivienne, I’ve warned you time and time again, don’t harbor any foolish thoughts about me."

"If you weren’t hoping for something, why would you have been so eager to wear that wedding dress? Were you thinking you could use that to secure a title from me?"

"I’ll tell you this, you’re not fit to be Mrs. Tucker. Someone like you, with no status or power, will never deserve it."

"Consider this your lesson. If it happens again, you’ll suffer a hundred times more."

"Did you hear me?"

Once, Vivienne would have flinched at his words, but now, she concealed the cold resolve within her, bowing her head in apparent meekness.

"I heard you. I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t covet things that aren’t meant for me anymore."

The words hit their mark, but instead of satisfaction, Cassian froze. His breath caught for a moment and then a rush of anger swept over him. Without warning, he flung her hand aside, storming out of the room.

She was caught off guard by his sudden movement and her already injured hand slammed into the hard edge of the table, drawing a stream of blood.

Cassian immediately turned, panic flashing across his face. "I’ll take you to the hospital!"

Vivienne didn’t protest, simply nodding. "Alright."

As he started the car, the navigation system chimed and Freya’s sweet voice echoed through the speakers.