Part 3All Roads Lead Away from You

In the days leading up to the wedding, the rumors started.

“Did you hear? Vivienne is forcing her stepsister to marry that cripple from the Bartlett family.”

“How could she? All for a few hundred million in investments.”

“No wonder Asher Thorne has been avoiding her. He must have seen her for who she really is.”

I sat at an auction, pretending not to hear. Then, Chloe appeared, greeting me with a cheerful smile. “Sister, what a coincidence! What are you doing here?”

I gave her a cold look. She either didn’t notice or didn’t care. “Oh, and about those rumors…” she said, her brow furrowed with fake concern. “Don’t worry, I’ll clear things up for you. After all, you’re the one who’s actually marrying into the Bartlett family…”

The wedding was just days away. It was time she was told about the change of plans.

I took a sip of champagne, a cynical smile on my face. “Aren’t you the one who started those rumors? What’s there to clear up?”

Her innocent expression vanished, replaced by a cold hardness. “So what if I did?” she whispered, her voice dripping with venom. “It was supposed to be me from the start. The rumors aren’t exactly wrong, are they? All these years, playing the dutiful daughter for Father, the gentle soul for Asher, the gracious lady for everyone else. It makes me sick. You’re just like your mother. You both act so virtuous, but underneath you’re just a pair of hypocritical, conniving bitches.”

I raised my hand to slap her, but my wrist was caught in a viselike grip.

“Vivienne? What do you think you’re doing now?”

Asher had appeared behind me. He shoved me, hard. I stumbled back, my high heel twisting, and I fell to the ground. My champagne flute shattered, sending shards of glass flying.

“Sister!” Chloe cried out, rushing to help me up.

“Don’t touch her! It’s all broken glass, you’ll get cut,” Asher said, pulling her back. But then he stepped forward and offered me his hand.

I gritted my teeth and slapped it away, pushing myself up from the floor. My palm was sliced open, and the pain made my hand tremble.

“Asher, she just insulted my mother. She called my mother a…” The words were too vile to repeat.

He awkwardly withdrew his hand and turned to Chloe with a frown.

Tears welled in Chloe’s eyes as she shook her head pitifully. “I didn’t… I just told her you came with me… I don’t understand why she would lie about me like that.”

The doubt in Asher’s eyes vanished, replaced by a cold disgust. “You’re becoming more and more repulsive,” he said to me. “To frame Chloe, you’d even use your dead mother.”

He took a step closer, looking down at my bleeding hand. “Look at yourself. You’re no different than a bitter, scorned shrew.”

A wave of nausea washed over me. The auction’s opening announcement sounded, saving me. I shoved past Asher and returned to my seat. I had more important things to do today.

Asher bought Chloe several small trinkets—a brooch, a hair clip. He was acting like he’d brought her here for a day of fun.

Then, the final item was brought to the stage.

“A jade pendant from the Qing Dynasty. Starting bid, five million.”

I was about to raise my paddle when a gasp went through the crowd.

“Mr. Thorne has lit the lantern!”

I whipped my head around to see Asher staring at me, his eyes cold and hard. Whispers erupted around us.

“Is he trying to outbid Vivienne?”

“I heard they had a falling out over the Bartlett marriage. I guess it’s true.”

I bit my lip, forcing back the wave of hurt and betrayal. This jade pendant was my mother’s most treasured dowry gift. The family had been forced to sell it when we were on the brink of bankruptcy. Now, finally, it was back. He knew what it meant to me.

After the auction, I cornered him in the parking garage.

“Why?”

Before Asher could speak, Chloe jumped in. “Sister, I’ve been having nightmares lately, and I thought a protective amulet might help.” She glanced at me timidly. “But if it makes you unhappy, I can give it to you.”

Asher frowned, pulling her behind him. “Chloe, you don’t have to do that.” He glared at me. “It’s because you always back down that she keeps pushing you.”

I laughed, a harsh, grating sound. “I’m pushing her? Or are you two pushing me?” I pointed a trembling finger at Asher. “You knew that was my mother’s. How could you help her take it from me?”

“Why do you think she’s having nightmares?” Asher retorted. “It’s because you’re forcing her into this marriage! She’s terrified! All she wanted was a symbol of peace. What’s wrong with that?” He paused, looking away. “Besides, it belonged to your mother. She was such a kind soul. I’m sure she would want her spirit to watch over Chloe.”

What?

The world went black for a second. The next thing I knew, my palm was stinging. I had slapped him, hard.

Chloe gasped and rushed forward, clutching the jade pendant. “Sister, I’m sorry… please don’t be angry. I’ll give it back to you… Please don’t blame Asher…”

She made a show of handing the pendant to me, but before I could take it, it slipped from her fingers and shattered on the concrete floor.

The air froze. Chloe burst into tears, frantically trying to pick up the pieces. “How did this happen… Sister, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

Asher pulled her up, afraid she would cut her hands.

I stared at the broken jade, my body trembling. The world around me faded into a dull roar. The last thread of my control snapped.

I ran to my car, jumped in, and slammed my foot on the gas. The engine roared to life. I aimed the car directly at Chloe. Her face went white. She screamed, her act of contrition forgotten, and scrambled backward.

Asher’s eyes widened in horror. “Vivienne, are you insane?!” he roared, pounding on my window, trying to get me to stop. “If you kill her, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life!”

I glared at him, then stomped on the accelerator. The car shot forward. Chloe screamed, crawling desperately across the pavement.

Just as I was about to hit her, Asher’s SUV slammed into my car from the side. The world spun, and my vision was filled with the spiderweb crack of the windshield. Then, everything went red.

Through the haze of pain, I saw Asher stumble out of his car. The last thing I heard before I lost consciousness was his desperate, heartbroken scream.

“Vivienne!”

I woke up to the stark white ceiling of a hospital room. Asher had kept a vigil by my bedside for seven days and seven nights. When he saw me open my eyes, a flash of joy lit up his face.

Just then, his phone buzzed. It was the special ringtone he had set for Chloe. The light in his eyes died.

He turned to me, his voice raspy and cold. “Vivienne, your mother asked me to look after you before she died, and I’ve never forgotten that. But if you ever try to hurt Chloe again, I won’t hesitate to destroy you myself. That cripple from the Bartlett family doesn't deserve her. I will stop this wedding. Don’t interfere. This is your last chance.”

He answered the phone and walked out without a backward glance.

I slowly turned my head, letting the tears fall freely. On the pillow beside me lay the jade pendant, its pieces painstakingly joined together with gold.

Because of my “accident,” the wedding was postponed for two weeks.