Chapter 5

"I've read the divorce agreement." Sebastian tossed the papers onto the table. "Vivian, you think just because you had a miscarriage, you can use this as a bargaining chip with me?"

Vivian stopped in her tracks.

She lifted her gaze to him, a fleeting look of disbelief crossing her eyes, almost bordering on absurdity.

"You really think I'd use my miscarriage as leverage against you?" she retorted.

Sebastian's jaw clenched tight.

He hadn't gone to the hospital last night, and that restless irritation had been gnawing at him ever since. Now, seeing Vivian act so indifferent, his words came out even sharper.

"You chose to announce your pregnancy at that kind of event last night, didn't you? Just so I'd have to acknowledge you in front of Sylvia. Now the baby's gone, and you immediately bring up divorce and want to reassess everything. What else is that if not you trying to negotiate with me?" Sebastian said.

The air grew colder with every passing second.

Vivian looked at him, suddenly at a loss for words.

It turned out that when someone didn't believe you, they could even see your blood as just paint.

Vivian set the box down and asked quietly, "Sebastian, did it ever cross your mind—even for a second—that I actually wanted to keep that baby?"

Sebastian was caught off guard.

Vivian just laughed softly.

"You didn't," she said.

"You didn't even bother to ask if I was hurting," she added.

She crouched down and kept packing, her movements slow and deliberate, her voice so calm it was almost emotionless.

"Sign it or don't, it makes no difference to me. I've already moved out," Vivian said.

Sebastian stared at her. "Where are you going?"

"Where I go has nothing to do with you," Vivian said coolly.

"Vivian," Sebastian said, his voice low and commanding.

There was that usual edge of intimidation in his tone.

Vivian didn't respond, just picked up the box and walked out as if he hadn't said a word.

Sebastian clamped down on her wrist, his grip so harsh that Vivian's face lost all color.

"Who said you could leave?" Sebastian's voice was cold and commanding.

Vivian lowered her eyes, staring at his hand wrapped around her wrist, and murmured, "It hurts."

Sebastian stiffened, unconsciously easing his hold.

Vivian looked up, her gaze cool and emotionless.

"So you actually know people can feel pain," she said.

Her words were like sharp shards of glass, piercing straight into Sebastian's heart.

His face darkened, and just as he was about to speak, suddenly a sharp female voice cut through the room from the doorway.

"Damn, Sebastian, have you no shame?" Stella burst in, her Martin boots stomping across the floor.

Her long hair was tied up high, a camera slung over her shoulder, and she looked like she'd just stormed back from the trending scene, still burning with rage.

Stella was Sebastian's little sister, and usually she was scared of him, but right now she was like a cat with its fur all puffed up, standing protectively in front of Vivian.

"Vivian just had a miscarriage, and the first thing you do when you get home is try to negotiate with her? Are you even human?" Stella snapped.

Sebastian shot her a cold look. "Who said you could come here?"

"Grandma sent me, so what?" Stella snapped, glaring at him. "I saw all the trending posts last night. You took off your wedding ring and flaunted it online, brought Sylvia to the event, and totally embarrassed Vivian in front of everyone. Sebastian, if you had even a shred of decency, you'd never pull something like this!"

"Stella," Sebastian's tone was cold and dangerous. "Shut up."

"No way," Stella fired back, her eyes red with anger. "For three years, you've been out there playing the devil, and who's been keeping this family together? Vivian. She was the one sitting by Grandma's hospital bed, the one covering for Mom and Dad at every dinner, and she even made sure your fancy suits were ironed and hung up, one by one. What do you think she wants from you? To get your cold shoulder every night? To watch you sleep in the study and not even bother with a goodnight? Or is she just here so you can stomp all over her for some woman who ditched you three years ago?"

Sebastian's face changed.

Vivian said quietly, "Stella, please stop."

"I don't care, I'm saying it anyway!" Stella fired back, her eyes red with tears. "Vivian, why are you still sticking up for him after all this? Last night, while he was with Sylvia getting her stitches, you were in the hospital getting emergency treatment! And your baby..."

Her voice broke off, choked with emotion.

Vivian's lashes quivered, and her face turned even paler.

It hit Sebastian like a ton of bricks. He whipped his head toward Vivian.

But Vivian didn't even glance at him. She just gently patted Stella's hand, her voice barely audible.

"Don't worry about it. It's all over now," Vivian said quietly.

"It's all over now."

Those four words should've sounded like relief, but from her lips, they felt more like a final verdict.

All of a sudden, Sebastian was gripped by a sinking feeling, like something precious was slipping away through his fingers, faster than he could ever catch it. And for the first time, he realized he might be powerless to stop it.

Vivian turned and walked toward the door.

This time, Sebastian didn't stop her.

He stood there, watching her slim silhouette vanish beyond the doorway, unmoving for a long time.