Chapter 27
His words were so vile, so utterly self-serving, that Vivian felt sick to her stomach. How had she ever found this man attractive?
“I have no interests,” she spat. “Mason, stop the car and let me out.”
Mason just sneered. “Vivian, your father approved this marriage, and it’s a business deal. After you insulted my parents at your stepmother’s party, you owe them an apology. Once you’ve given Chloe your blood, I’ll take you to their house. You’ll apologize, and say whatever they want to hear. Then we can forget this whole mess and move forward with the worlding.”
Vivian let out a dry, mirthless laugh. To her, the Quinns acted as if they were royalty.
“Knew you’d be happy,” Mason continued, misinterpreting her laugh, “with the transfusion. I expect you to be a proper wife, which means you’ll be quitting your job.”
Vivian’s eyes widened with disbelief. She hadn’t expected Mason to think she was happy about this. She took a deep breath, and then unleashed a torrent of abuse.
“Mason, what rock did your family crawl out from under?” she roared. “Do you really think I’m that desperate for you? I told you we were done! Are you so pathetic that you have to cling to me like this? A proper wife? In your dreams!”
Mason was so shocked by her outburst that he slammed on the brakes. In that split second of confusion, Vivian threw open the car door and bolted.
The realization of Vivian cursing him hit him like a ton of bricks. His fists clenched. No one had ever treated him with such contempt. “Get her,” he snarled into his phone, calling his guards.
Two large men appeared out of nowhere, just as Vivian was trying to flag down a taxi. They grabbed her and dragged her towards Mason.
“Let go of me! Help! Somebody help me!” Vivian screamed, but people quickly looked away when seeing Mason’s luxurious car, not wanting to get involved.
“Vivian, let’s go,” he said, grabbing her wrist and dragging her towards the nearby hospital.
“Help! Help me!” Vivian cried out.
“My girlfriend is just having a tantrum,” Mason explained smoothly to anyone who stared.
And just like that, her pleas were dismissed. She was dragged helplessly into Chloe’s hospital room, where Chloe greeted her with a radiant smile.
“Vivian… you’re finally here! Please, sit,” said Chloe. “I’m so sorry to be a bother again. It has nothing to do with Mason. He’s just worried about me. I don’t want to cause any trouble between you two.”
“Chloe, what are you talking about? I love you. Vivian is just your stand-in,” Mason took Chloe’s hand. “If she had given you your transfusion on time, you wouldn’t still be in the hospital. This is all her fault.”
In the past, Vivian would have stood there and taken it. But she was not the same person.
“Mason, are you blind?” she said, her voice dripping with scorn. “What kind of stand-in is a hundred times prettier than the original? Where, exactly, do you see a resemblance between me and her? My eyes are bigger, I’m taller, my figure is better, and my skin is fairer.”
She then turned to Chloe and pressed on. “And a stand-in? Don’t make me laugh. Why should I give you my blood? Did I kill your family, Chloe? What exactly do I owe you!”
Both Mason and Chloe were stunned into silence. Chloe, in particular, her eyes burning with hatred. They had never seen this sharp-tongued, ruthless side of Vivian. Her words had stripped them bare, leaving them exposed and humiliated.
Yet Mason felt a strange sense of dissonance. He had to admit, Chloe wasn’t as beautiful as Vivian. Vivian had that soft, ethereal beauty men dreamed of.
Seeing the way Mason was looking at her, Chloe knew she was losing him. She immediately collapsed against him, letting out a series of weak coughs.
“Vivian, dear,” she whispered. “I know you don’t want to do this. It’s okay. I won’t force you. It’s my own fate, and you don’t owe me anything.” With that, she turned to Mason, acting the victim. “I’m the one who should be sorry. Mason, just let her go. I’ll be fine.” Mason’s heart ached with pity. “Chloe, don’t worry,” he promised. “I will make her give you blood, no matter what it takes.” Then he looked at Vivian, as if making up his mind. “If you give Chloe a transfusion, I will agree to any condition you name.”
Chloe’s eyes flew open in panic. “No! You can’t, Mason!” she called out. “I can hold out a little longer. The doctors will find another way. Don’t sacrifice yourself for me!”
What if Vivian demanded that he marry her? Chloe was afraid. She would lose everything. Her ultimate goal had always been to become Mrs. Quinn.
Seeing the fear in Chloe’s eyes, Vivian smiled, a slow, predatory smile. She tapped a finger against her lips, feigning deep thought. “Anything, you say? Well, I’ll have to think about that.”
Chloe knew exactly what she was thinking. “Vivian, please,” she begged, “don’t make things difficult for Mason. It’s all my fault. If you’re unhappy, you can hit me, you can yell at me. I don’t mind.”
Mason stroked her hair, moved by her selfless devotion. “Vivian, you just want to marry me, right? Fine. I agree. Now, let’s go get your blood drawn.”
“No!” Chloe shrieked, her voice so sharp and shrill it startled Mason. Realizing her mistake, she quickly composed herself, burying her face in his chest and squeezing out a few tears.
“No, Mason, I don’t want to be a burden,” she sobbed. “If you marry her because you love her, then I have nothing to say. I will sincerely wish you a long and happy life together. But if you’re only doing this for me, I’ll live with a guilty conscience for the rest of my life.”
“Chloe, my dear,” Mason whispered, deeply moved, holding her tight.
They clung to each other, a perfect picture of tragic love. And Vivian, in this picture, seemed to be the villain, the evil third party trying to tear them apart.