Chapter 35

A FEW seconds later, Beckett was snoring heavily. As he's peacefully asleep, even though there was an earthquake at El Continental Hotel, he wouldn't wake up. Vivianne had spiked Beckett's wine with a sleeping aid earlier.

She didn't want things to come to this, but she knew it would be difficult to leave Beckett if he were awake. Beckett would surely stop her from leaving, and she might be swayed by her feelings.

But their relationship needs to end now.

"I love you. I love you so much..." Vivianne whispered as she caressed the young man's cheek. Her tears continued to flow. "And I hope that when we meet again, you won't forgive me."

Vivianne kissed Beckett for the last time before wiping her tears. She gazed at him for a moment before finally leaving. It was hard to leave the one she loved the most, but if she didn't do it, their lives would be ruined.

Vivianne quietly exited their room. She looked around and smiled, seeing that the room was empty. She seized the opportunity to quickly make her way to the elevator, but she had to hide against the wall when she heard some footsteps.

"Shit!" Vivianne exclaimed before covering her mouth. She closed her eyes momentarily and blamed herself for swearing a bit too loudly.

She cautiously peered to see who had arrived and cursed even more when she saw that it was Jerusalem McBride. She continued to walk, allowing the man to pass by, which made Vivianne breathe a sigh of relief.

However, her relief turned into nervousness as she saw Jeru smirking before entering one of the rooms.

Vivianne bit her lip because she knew Jeru was a friend of Beckett's and could potentially report this. Nevertheless, there was nothing more they could do. Vivianne was supposed to leave today, and there's no turning back now.

"Live a good life, Beckett… Even without me." Vivianne smiled bitterly before finally leaving the hotel.

Although their relationship ended like this, she's still grateful to have met someone like Beckett who made her feel loved and special. She will never forget the moments they spent together.

She went to a corner and waited. One of Alfred's men was supposed to pick her up there. She leaned against the wall, looking at the dark surroundings.

Her heart felt the same way. Dark, quiet, cold. She used to be able to handle everything because she was with Beckett, but now... she was alone again.

As she pondered, Vivianne could still hear footsteps approaching her direction. She shifted her gaze to where the sound was coming from, and she saw a familiar woman.

"Good evening, Miss Vivianne," the woman greeted before bowing in front of her. "Sir Alfred instructed me to pick you up tonight. He asked me to take you to the mansion."

"Alright, Joan."

Vivianne smiled sweetly, but her expression was cold, causing Joan's hair to stand on end.

Joan couldn't move or speak immediately. She thought Alfred's presence might be intimidating because he rarely smiled and was serious about his work, but Vivianne was different. Her looks could make someone shiver in a second. Despite being young, her aura could infiltrate the barrier Joan had inside.

"What are you waiting for? I thought you were supposed to take me to the mansion," Vivianne asked, raising an eyebrow. "Should I walk ahead? Where's the car?"

Joan seemed to snap out of it then. "Uh, right here," she said before starting to walk towards where she had parked the car earlier.

Vivianne followed her. Her previous smile had turned into a smirk. She was pleased to see the fear in Joan's eyes—her assistant at Syneverse Entertainment.

She knew it. She wasn't foolish enough not to realize that Joan was one of Alfred's people. She also knew that Joan wasn't the only one ordered by her father to keep an eye on her.

Joan got into the driver's seat, and Vivianne took the passenger seat. Joan was surprised by this, but she didn't say anything more.

In the midst of the silence, Vivianne spoke. "How's your sideline?"

"What?" Joan asked.

"Your job is to report on me to Dad, right? That's why you're here to pick me up," Vivianne replied in a cold tone. "How's it going? Have you learned a lot? Are you getting a promotion for all your reports?"

Joan didn't respond. Instead, she tightened her grip on the steering wheel and bit her lip. There was a hint of resentment in Vivianne's voice, and Joan couldn't help but notice it.

"Ma'am Vivianne—"

"Shut the fuck up," Vivianne emphasized every word, causing Joan to fall silent. "If you don't want me to shoot you right now, shut the fuck up. Are we clear?"

Joan nodded three times out of fear. She was still new to the Allamino Mafia, and she wasn't used to this kind of treatment from people, especially from Vivianne, who had always been kind to her at Syneverse.

Vivianne knew about that information too. Joan was supposed to work only inside the warehouse, but because of her previous career as a hair stylist, Alfred had assigned her to get close to Vivianne.

She had found out about it, but it was too late. Alfred had ordered her to be picked up and taken to the mansion.

Moments later, they arrived at the Allamino mansion. Vivianne didn't wait for Joan to open the door for her. She stepped out of the car, slammed the door shut, and entered the Allamino mansion with her cold and intimidating gaze.

It was quiet inside, but Alfred's loud applause broke the silence as he descended the stairs. "Well done, Vianne! I knew you wouldn't let me down."

"I told you not to call me by that nickname." Vivianne raised an eyebrow before looking around. "Where's Mom?"

"Vivianne, my child, you always look for her every time you come here..." Alfred sat down and crossed his legs. "Why didn't you talk to me about your work first?"

Vivianne threw her bag on the floor, her gaze sharp.

"I followed everything you said. I left Beckett and sent my things here. We're supposed to live together in this hellish house... And you can't even answer my questions properly?"

It seemed like Alfred's ears perked up at what he heard.

"Mind your language, Vivianne Kaye," Alfred said, but Vivianne didn't even flinch.

She was too hurt to care, too naive to notice the deadly look Alfred was giving her. She couldn't accept her father's attempt to blackmail her into returning to the mansion and continuing her training as the heir of the Allamino Mafia.

Four days ago, the moment Vivianne realized that Joan was one of her father's people, she received a call from Alfred. Beckett was at work then, so she was alone.

"I need your presence in the company, Vianne," Alfred said when she asked what he wanted. "I'm not getting any younger, and neither are you. You need to learn everything while you're still young."

Vivianne sighed heavily. "I don't like where this conversation is going."

"Come back home," Alfred said sternly. "Break up with Beckett, and leave your job. You don't belong in Syneverse. You belong in my company."

"And who are you to dictate that to me?" Vivianne raised an eyebrow.

"I'm your father... And I hold your mother's life in my hands."

Seconds later, Vivianne heard noises in the background. She heard the faint sobbing of a woman. She realized it was Ella when she listened closely to the whimpering.

"W-What... have you done?"

"If you decide to defy me, that's on you. If you really don't want to come back, I won't stop you. I gave you enough freedom to do what you wanted, even to investigate Beckett... But you didn't follow me," Alfred replied coldly.

Her entire body trembled. She imagined what might be happening to her mother, and she didn't like it. She couldn't help but imagine the worst. Knowing Alfred, he could kill her mother if he wanted to.

He was that evil, heartless, and vile.

"You're a demon!" Vivianne shouted. Her veins were almost popping from anger, but Alfred just responded with a sinister laugh.

"I know." He laughed sinisterly. "If you don't want to see what else I can do to make you come back here, figure out what your decision will be."

Alfred ended the call, bringing her back to reality. She took a deep breath before picking up the bag she had thrown earlier.

"I'll just find her. I want to know if she's safe."

"You don't need to worry about that. I always keep my promises." Alfred pointed to the second floor. "Second hallway, last door."

Vivianne didn't answer. She was about to go up to the second floor, but her father spoke again.

"If you want to see her, you need my permission," he gave Vivianne an intimidating gaze. "That's how I make sure you won't do anything to ruin my plans."

"You shouldn't have any more worries about that. He doesn't even know where I went or where I'm going. We're not going back together." Vivianne felt a lump in her throat as she said those words.

But she turned even paler when she heard her father's next words.

"You're right about that, because why would you go back to someone who's already dead?"