Chapter 3 ECHOES OF BETRAYAL.

VIVIAN POV.

I watched my mother's every move from the balcony. She stood there, watching the night sky as if they held the solution to her problems.

I joined her, clutching the glass of Champagne I held, and sipping little by little.

"Don't overthink yourself, mother. She'll be fine."

Her head turned to me, her eyes red and soaked with tears. "Of course, I know she will. But, Vivian, what exactly were you thinking? Do you want people to start talking?"

My breath seized for a while. How did she know? "I don't know what you're talking about, mother." I took a sip of my champagne, feigning ignorance.

Her voice became cold. "Don't play dumb with me. I told you to stay away from him, but you just don't listen!"

A pang of relief clouded me. For a moment, I thought she caught me. "I said I don't know what you're talking about! Do you have proof that I was with him?" I shot back, now losing my cool.

"Oh! Really? Then how come you were with Michael during the fire? He was so busy with you that he forgot about Victoria." Her voice rose with each word.

"And?" I snapped. "You already knew I had always liked Michael, but you decided to take him away from me because of your selfish desires!"

"Do you even realize what you've done? Michael's obsession with you almost cost your sister her life!"

"That's on him, not me." I spat. "Victoria could have also saved herself if she wasn't lurking around."

I ignored her disdainful look and continued to voice out my pain. "You never cared about me. All you care about is money, fame, and the family's stupid reputation!"

The slap came so fast, echoing through the balcony. My cheek burned, but it didn't stop me from expressing my pain and anger.

"And you wonder why I've always hated you?" I spat, my hand on my cheek. "You've made it clear, you love Victoria more than me. Yet, you're also only using her."

My eyes stared right into hers as I said. "You don't deserve to have children." My voice, cold and firm.

She lashed me another slap. This time it was harder than the former. I tried to hold back my tears but I couldn't. My piercing eyes were fixed on her.

"Victoria never questions my decisions. Unlike you, you're an ungrateful child!" She spat, her voice full of venom.

"Well, let's see if you'll still love her the same way now. Your favorite little puppet doesn't even remember her name now." I forced out my laughter, painful yet satisfying.

The third slap came like a blow, and I could swear, I almost showed her my dark side. My face turned to the other side, and it burned more now.

"Get out!" My mother screamed at the top of her voice. I enjoyed the pain that came with her tone. "Leave my sight at once!"

I stormed away to my room. Her words still hurt, they echoed in my ears. My heart shattered with every word.

****

As I lay down on my bed, I allowed the tears to flow freely. Every bitter memory felt like a needle was being pierced through my heart.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed and I picked it without even checking who it was.

"What is it?!" I snapped.

"I'm sorry... we failed you again." The man talking on the other end's voice was shaky.

Realizing who it was, my pain suddenly grew to anger and frustration. "You always fail to get a simple job done! I'm not paying you any more cents for your incompetence!"

"Ma'am, we're sorry. We made sure to pour the accelerant everywhere. We don't know how she managed to survive..." he paused for a while.

"There's a man... my men were at the scene and confirmed that a man saved her..."

"And that's your excuse?" I interrupted.

"No, ma'am. We'll keep trying..."

"Nah... it's okay. I think I'll have to handle it myself now. And as for the man that saved her, I took care of him already." My face twisted in an evil smile. "He won't be seeing her the same way again."

Suddenly, I heard a faint creak coming from my door. I ended the call and moved silently to the door.

As soon as I flung the door, it hit the maid who had been eavesdropping. She attempted to run, but I was faster

I grabbed her hair and pulled her into my room. Tears poured down her eyes as she desperately pleaded. "Please, ma'am... spare my life. I promise you, I barely heard anything." Her hands clasped together as she pleaded seriously on her knees.

I bent down in front of her, staring directly into her eyes. "Really? You're sure you didn't hear anything?"

"Yes ma'am, I didn't... I swear!" Her voice was shaky.

My expression softened, and I let a tear fall. "I'm scared that if my mother finds out, I'll be in trouble. Promise me you'll keep quiet.

"I promise, ma'am. I'll die with this secret." She looked relieved now and reassured.

I gave her an evil smile. "Of course... of course you will, Emily." And just with a swift motion, I grabbed my small knife hidden in my desk. Before the maid could react, I slit her throat, leaving her in a pool of blood.

I let out an evil laugh, yet my heart still ached from everything. Every pain, every betrayal, and for every time I was being neglected, the scar in my heart grew even more.

They trained me. They made me stronger, leaving my heart completely eaten up. To them, I'm that weak, little, innocent Vivian they took advantage of.

But to me, that Vivian died a long time ago. This Vivian won't stand back and watch things being taken away from her anymore.

Just slow and steady. Soon, I'll take back everything they ever stole from me.

Victoria Langston, maybe in another world, we can be perfect sisters, but in this world...

If your life is what it takes for me to finally be able to live-then so be it.