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The words were matter of fact, but her voice was sad enough to make my heart ache.
Shit.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” I loathed Francis with the fire of a thousand suns, but he was her family. She loved him, and the split must’ve devastated her.
“It’s okay. I mean, it’s not, but it is.” Vivian shook her head. “It was my choice. I could’ve gone along with what he wanted, but it wasn’t right. I was still a pawn to him, and I refused to let him use me to manipulate you.”
It would’ve worked.
Francis Lau had deduced my weakness. There was nothing I wouldn’t give Vivian if she asked.
“It’s your family’s company,” I said, watching her carefully. Honestly, I was surprised she wasn’t more upset about what I did. I’d pushed the button knowing it would hurt her family and, by extension, her. And I had no excuse other than my pride and thirst for vengeance. “What do you want to happen?”
“I don’t want it to crash, obviously. If I could help in any other way, I would. But…” She blew out a breath. “This is going to sound bad, but my father has never faced many consequences for his actions. He’s the boss in the office and at home. He does what he wants, and other people have to go with it. This is the first time he’s had to deal with repercussions. And the thing about him is, he only understands strength and power. Subtlety doesn’t work on him, not when it comes to things like this.”
“I don’t agree with what you did, but I understand it. So even though I should hate you…” Her voice lowered until it was barely audible. “I don’t.”
My knuckles turned white from gripping my knee. “Even if the company goes bankrupt?”
A frown tugged at her lips. “Do you think it will?”
“It’s very possible.” I didn’t take my eyes off her. “Tell me the truth, Vivian. Do you want me to step in and end it?”
We hadn’t reached a critical juncture yet. What’d been done to Lau Jewels was reversible, but there was a ticking clock on the operation. Soon, it would be out of even my hands.
“I will,” I said. “No manipulation from your father. No questions asked. Just say the word.”
I meant what I said the other night. I loved her more than I ever hated Francis, and if being with her meant I had to save him, I’d do it without hesitation.
Vivian’s eyes shone in the light pouring from the TV. “Why do that when you went to all this trouble to punish him?”
“Because I don’t care about punishment or revenge anymore. I care about you.”
The shine brightened. A tiny tremble rolled through her when I brushed my thumb over her cheek, the food and movie forgotten.
I had no frame of reference for the indescribable ache in the pit of my stomach. It was endless and starved, satiated only by the softness of her skin beneath mine.
Vivian didn’t touch me back. But she also didn’t pull away.
“What are we doing, Dante?” she whispered.
My thumb traveled south and skimmed the curve of her bottom lip. “We’re working things out the way any couple would.”
“Most couples aren’t as dysfunctional as we are.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a little dysfunction. It keeps things interesting.” I smiled at her soft huff before turning serious again. “Move back in,mia cara.You can have your old room if you don’t feel comfortable sleeping in ours yet.” I swallowed. “Greta misses you. Edward misses you.Imiss you. So damn much.”
Vivian dragged in a shaky breath. “You really think it’s that simple? I move back in and everything’s fixed?”
“No.” We were in a hell of a mess, and I wasn’t that naive. “But it’s a first step.” I removed my hand and brushed my lips over hers, just light enough to steal a hint of a taste. “You and me, sweetheart.That’s the destination. And I’m willing to take as many steps as I need to get there.”
CHAPTER40
Vivian
Ididn’t move back in with Dante.
Part of me wanted to, but I wasn’t ready to jump in with both feet again so soon.
