Chapter 61

Vivi remained in the study after Sophia left, her fingers drumming against the polished mahogany desk. The weight of what she'd agreed to pressed down on her chest. Seducing Damien away from Ava - the thought alone made her stomach twist.

"This is insane," she muttered to herself, pushing back from the desk. She paced the length of the study, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. Every step reminded her of moments with Damien - stolen kisses, heated touches, the way his eyes darkened when he looked at her.

She stopped at the window, pressing her forehead against the cool glass. The rational part of her mind screamed that this was wrong. She'd pushed him away for good reasons - their family, their positions, the scandal it could cause. But now those same reasons were pushing her back to him.

"It's just to protect him," she whispered, trying to convince herself. But deep down, she knew it wasn't that simple. Her feelings for Damien had never truly gone away - she'd just buried them under duty and obligation.

Running her hands through her hair, Vivi turned back to face the empty room. "I can do this," she said firmly. "For the family. For Damien." The words felt hollow, even to her own ears. How was she supposed to seduce him while keeping her own heart intact?

But Sophia was right - Ava was dangerous. And if Romano was involved... Vivi shuddered at the implications. She couldn't let Damien fall deeper into whatever trap Ava was setting, even if it meant reopening wounds that had barely begun to heal.

She squared her shoulders, decision made. She would do whatever it took to protect him, to protect their family. Even if it meant playing with fire once again.

Vivi gathered the documents scattered across the desk, tucking them into a leather portfolio. Her research with Sophia had revealed disturbing patterns in Ava's past - suspicious financial transactions, convenient "accidents" befalling her previous lovers, and a web of connections leading back to Victor Romano.

The clock on the wall struck nine, its deep chimes echoing through the study. Down the hall, she heard Damien's familiar footsteps, followed by Ava's high-pitched laugh. Her fingers tightened on the portfolio.

"Baby, you're insatiable," Ava's voice carried through the walls.

Vivi's jaw clenched. She'd witnessed their displays of affection all week - Ava draped over Damien at breakfast, their not-so-subtle disappearances during family dinners, the sounds that carried through the mansion's walls at night. Each moment twisted the knife deeper.

The sound of a door closing jolted her from her thoughts. She moved to the study window, watching shadows play across the garden. How had everything become so complicated? Just months ago, her biggest concern had been adjusting to life as Reginald's wife. Now she was investigating his son's girlfriend for potential corporate espionage while fighting her own feelings for said son.

Sophia's words from earlier echoed in her mind: "We need to get Damien away from her before it's too late."

But the thought of seducing Damien again made her chest tight. Their last encounter had left them both raw, vulnerable. She'd pushed him away, told him to move on. Now she had to undo all of that - not for her own desires, but to protect him from whatever game Ava was playing.

The irony wasn't lost on her. She'd distanced herself from Damien to protect their family's reputation, and now she had to get close to him again for the exact same reason.

Vivi gathered her composure and stepped out of the study, clutching the portfolio against her chest. As she walked down the hallway, Ava's laughter echoed through the mansion again, making her steps falter.

The sound of a door opening caught her attention. Damien emerged from his room, his hair disheveled and shirt half-buttoned. Their eyes met for a brief moment before he looked away, maintaining the careful distance they'd established.

"Mrs. Blackwood," he said formally, the title feeling like a barrier between them.

"Damien." Vivi's voice came out steadier than she felt. She watched him stride past, catching a whiff of his cologne mixed with something distinctly feminine - Ava's perfume, no doubt.

Back in her room, Vivi spread the documents across her bed. Bank statements, property records, old newspaper clippings - pieces of a puzzle that painted an increasingly disturbing picture. But how could she make Damien see it without revealing how much she still cared?

She picked up her phone, thumb hovering over Sophia's number. Her newfound step daughter had become an unexpected ally in this investigation. Still, questions lingered about Sophia's own mysterious past and her seemingly endless network of contacts.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. "Come in," she called, quickly gathering the papers.

Sophia slipped into the room, closing the door behind her. "I found something else," she whispered, pulling out her phone. "Another connection between Ava and Romano."

Sophia held out her phone, showing Vivi a series of photos. They depicted Ava at various high-society events over the past few years, but one detail caught Vivi's eye - in several shots, Victor Romano lurked in the background, watching.

"These aren't coincidences," Sophia said, swiping through the images. "She's been at every major event where Romano made an appearance. Always perfectly positioned, always catching the attention of wealthy men."

Vivi studied the timestamps. "This goes back three years."

"Before Father's company even announced its expansion plans." Sophia zoomed in on one particular photo. "Look at this - she's wearing Romano's family crest as a pendant."

"How did you get these?" Vivi asked, taking the phone for a closer look.

Sophia shrugged, a slight smile playing at her lips. "Let's just say I learned more than art in Paris. When you grow up not knowing who your father is, you develop certain... skills."

The sound of footsteps in the hallway made them both freeze. Vivi quickly handed the phone back as Ava's voice drifted through the door.

"I should go," Sophia whispered. "But there's more. I'll keep digging."

After Sophia left, Vivi sat on her bed, mind racing. The evidence was mounting - Ava wasn't just some social climber who'd caught Damien's eye. She was playing a much more dangerous game, and Damien was walking right into her trap.