Chapter 16

As the days passed, tension simmered beneath the surface of the Blackwood mansion. Vivi threw herself into her role as the perfect wife, organizing charity events and hosting dinner parties. But behind her polished smile, a war raged within her heart.

Damien, for his part, became increasingly withdrawn. He spent long hours at the office and returned late, often reeking of whiskey. When their paths crossed, the air crackled with unspoken desire and regret.

One evening, as Vivi prepared for another social engagement, she found herself alone in the vast living room. Her fingers trembled as she fastened a string of pearls around her neck, a gift from Reginald.

"Need a hand with that?"

Damien's voice startled her. She turned to find him leaning against the doorframe, his tie loosened and a tumbler of amber liquid in his hand.

"I've got it, thank you," Vivi replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

He approached anyway, setting his glass down on a side table. "You look beautiful," he murmured, his eyes roaming over her form-fitting black dress.

Vivi's breath hitched. "Damien, please..."

"Please what?" He stepped closer, close enough that she could smell his cologne mingled with whiskey. "Tell me to leave you alone? To forget about us?"

She closed her eyes, fighting the urge to lean into him. "We can't keep doing this. It's not fair to anyone."

Damien's hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing across her lower lip. "And is this fair? Trapping yourself in a loveless marriage?"

Vivi's eyes snapped open, meeting his intense gaze. "I made my choice," she said, but her voice lacked conviction.

"Did you?" Damien challenged. "Or did circumstances force your hand?"

Before Vivi could respond, the sound of a car pulling up outside broke the spell. She stepped back, smoothing her dress with shaking hands.

"That'll be your father," she said, her voice steadier now. "We should go."

Damien's jaw clenched, but he nodded, retrieving his glass and downing the contents in one swift motion. As he moved past her towards the door, his hand brushed against hers, sending a jolt of electricity through her body.

Vivi took a deep breath, steeling herself for another evening of pretense. But as she followed Damien out, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had to give. The question was, who would break first?

As Vivi and Damien stepped into the lavish ballroom, the air sparkled with champagne bubbles and idle chatter. Reginald immediately whisked Vivi away to greet important business associates, leaving Damien to fend for himself.

Vivi played her part flawlessly, laughing at the right moments and offering charming anecdotes. But her eyes kept drifting across the room to where Damien stood, nursing a whiskey.

She watched as a young woman in a slinky red dress approached him. The stranger tossed her golden hair over her shoulder and placed a manicured hand on Damien's arm, leaning in close to whisper something in his ear.

Vivi's stomach clenched. She tried to focus on the conversation around her, but found herself straining to catch glimpses of Damien and his admirer.

To her dismay, Damien seemed to be enjoying the attention. He flashed that devastating smile of his, the one that had first caught Vivi's eye in the nightclub. The blonde laughed at something he said, pressing herself closer.

Vivi's fingers tightened around her champagne flute. She knew she had no right to feel jealous. After all, she was the one who had pushed Damien away, insisting they couldn't be together. But seeing him with another woman made her blood boil.

"Are you alright, my dear?" Reginald's voice cut through her thoughts. "You look flushed."

Vivi forced a smile. "Just a bit warm in here," she lied smoothly. "I think I'll step out for some air."

She made her way to the terrace, gulping in the cool night air. From her vantage point,

Vivi leaned against the terrace railing, trying to compose herself. She couldn't shake the image of Damien and that woman from her mind. The cool night air did little to soothe the burning in her chest.

Inside, Damien laughed at something the blonde said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He found her company pleasant enough, but his thoughts kept drifting to Vivi. He'd seen her slip out onto the terrace and fought the urge to follow.

Reginald appeared at Vivi's side, startling her. "There you are, darling. I was wondering where you'd run off to."

Vivi plastered on a smile. "Just needed some fresh air. Shall we rejoin the party?"

As they reentered the ballroom, Vivi's eyes immediately sought out Damien. He was still chatting with the blonde, but his gaze locked onto Vivi the moment she stepped inside. For a brief instant, their eyes met across the crowded room, and the rest of the world seemed to fade away.

The spell was broken when Reginald steered Vivi towards another group of guests. She forced herself to focus on the conversation, but her mind kept wandering. Why did seeing Damien with someone else bother her so much? She had no claim on him.

As the night wore on, Vivi found herself stealing glances at Damien whenever she could. Each time she saw him smiling or laughing with the blonde, a fresh wave of jealousy washed over her. She hated herself for feeling this way, but she couldn't help it.

Damien, for his part, was acutely aware of Vivi's presence. Though he kept up his charming facade with the other guests, his attention was divided. He found himself searching for glimpses of Vivi in her stunning gown, the way it hugged her curves and made her eyes sparkle.

The party began to wind down, and guests started to trickle out. Vivi watched as Damien escorted the blonde to the door, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back. She turned away, unable to watch any longer.