Chapter 7

Chapter 7

( Regret)

Vivienne relaxed on the sofa and heaved a sigh of relief.

With money, everything is possible. Because she has been receiving her royalty from the industry, she rented an apartment very far away from the heart of the city.

She didn’t want anything that would make her cross paths with Sebastian again unless she was ready for divorce.

Now, she would take care of her self, her mind and then start looking for her Savior.

She didn’t need to go back to her Granma again. No, she has her own money and she’s a grown up to take care of herself.

That woman would only make things worse for her, she would inform all the family members that her husband sent her away from the house because she didn’t know how to keep a home.

“I’m a free girl!” she laughed bitterly. She could remember the first day Sebastian proposed to her. That day, she was the happiest woman on earth.

And because she didn’t want their relationship to take long, she requested for a marriage and Sebastian didn’t bulge.

Looking at the bright side now, wasn’t she the one to be blamed for the marriage? She didn’t even know if Sebastian was ready at that moment but she went ahead to propose the marriage.

And because he was so greedy, he didn’t turn down her request. He went ahead with the wedding plans which everything they did came out from her pocket.

Sebastian didn’t spend a dime in their wedding. She was the one that took care of everything. From the hall, to decorations, to guests, to hotel, to her wedding dress, his wedding Tuxedo and even his family’s needs.

Wasn’t it the reason why Sebastian treated her like a trash? She showed him she was so in love with him that was why he didn’t see her worth and went ahead to humiliate her.

“I’ve learned a bitter lesson. No more men in my precious life. It’s now time I take care of myself and return back to my career.” She sniffed.

Vivienne stood up, she went into the kitchen and emptied all the snacks she bought on the table.

She picked out three packs of different flavor banana chips, two cans of soda and a carton of Pizza then left the kitchen.

It has been long she ate that way because of her sadness. But now that she wasn’t sad anymore and her kind was free, it’s time to recover her inner self.

She turned on the television as she munched on her chips.

And the first person that appeared on the screen was Sabrina Vanguard, the same woman Sebastian was cheating on her with.

She was being interviewed by one of the famous company in the country. And there on her neck, was the necklace Vivienne bought with her money.

“That bitch.” She threw a chip at the television. “She dare wear that necklace without shame!” she yelled at the TV.

And then, Sabrina dropped the bomb. When she was asked how she got that pretty and expensive necklace, she said it was her boyfriend that bought it for her.

But she didn’t mention the boyfriend, she said he was a secret from everyone.

“Liar!” She threw a pack at the TV. “You are going to regret this, Sabrina. Vivienne Montague will return back to the movie industry and you are going down!” she shouted.

She emptied the can of soda in her mouth and sniffed.

“What a wicked world!” Vivienne cried. “But I won’t give up, no! I’m not born to do that.” She buried her face on the pillow and sobbed.

Few hours later, Vivienne woke up but found herself still in the living room, lying in the middle of the chips and cans.

She dusted her arms, yawned and stood on her feet. Sabrina’s show wasn’t on the TV again, it was her own movie which was being hired.

“What’s not to love.” She read our the movie title aloud and burst in to laughter.

“What’s not to love indeed. Who knows what I acted in that movie would come true,” she laughed out loud.

“Well, I gave up in that movie but not in my real life. I am not going to let any jerk weigh me down. I am Vivienne Montague, the Renowned actress.” She beat her chest and started clearing the trash.

After she was done cleaning, she heard her phone ringing inside the room. She hurriedly went inside to see who was calling and as she had thought, it was Sebastian.

“Where the hell do you go?” His voice was so loud that she pulled the phone away from her ear.

“Why do you care?” she hissed. “Vivienne, you’d better return home now before I,” she scoffed.

“Your Mum didn’t tell you I already left the house? Maybe she’s afraid to tell you,” she laughed shortly.

“Well, Vivienne has moved on with her life and you should also do that. And for the divorce, wait for it,” she said.

But Sebastian didn’t believe her when she mentioned divorce. He knew she wouldn’t do that because she was already scared of getting divorced.

“The earlier you come home, the better. I am not going to tolerate this from you. I still have a client who you should meet tomorrow,” he said without shame.

“Oh really? Why don’t you send Sabrina there? She’s good at that. And for your information, do not call me again!” she hung up and threw the phone on the bed.

Her phone continued ringing but she ignored it and left the room.

Now she was convinced something was wrong with Sebastian’s brain. He didn’t even care that she went through another tragic moment that day and yet, he wanted to send her there again.

She laughed aloud. Because she was a fool? Because the person saving her was a fool, right?

If she should do as he had said again, then the person would never save her anymore.

( Greediness)

It has been two days already since Sterling received the call from the hospital to come quick. It was indeed a terrible night to him and he was still traumatized by that incident.

He lost his Mum who he thought would open her eyes one day. The person he looked forward to bringing back their normal lives.

When she was still alive, she would always remind him of getting married before she died. But Sterling didn’t take her serious, he would always laughed it off whenever she brought that topic.

But now that he didn’t even get to see her or hear her last statement to him, everything was now new to him.

How would he start over? How would he come out from his trauma? And how would he get back on his feet?

Sterling sighed deeply. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t see the business men coming in to the mansion.

He was standing right there on the balcony. With his elbows resting on the railings.

“Mr. Hawthorn?” Assistant Li called but he didn’t hear him. Assistant Li shook his head pitifully before going to him.

He knew what the Boss was passing through because he too was passing through that.

Even if the Boss’s sadness was more than his, then it wouldn’t be that much.

He grew up with Sterling’s Mum even before Sterling would make him his assistant. That woman was like his own Mum. She adopted him from the orphanage at a very young age and raised him like she raised Sterling.

He couldn’t control himself when the news of her passing away reached the house. It was a terrible moment that they wished never happened.

“Boss.” He tapped Sterling back to the reality. Sterling dropped a sigh before turning around.

“You have guests, Mr. Hawthorn Boss.” He bowed his head sadly.

Since the day broke, the Hawthorn’s household has been welcoming guests from every part of the city.

Among them were those that came to extend their condolences. While there were those that wanted to get on the good side of Sterling.

Who knows, he might consider working with their companies.

Sterling nodded his head as he could already hear noises coming from the living room.

Sterling wonder if those people really came to extend their condolences or were only there for debates. Because their voices were so loud that you could hear what they were saying about getting his good side.

He glanced at Assistant Li who was now the one lost in thought with his eyes fixed on the colored light in the mansion.

He patted Assistant Li's shoulder and left the balcony, leaving Assistant Li to get a hold of himself.

When he stepped down the last stairs, they touched each other and rose to their feet.

“Mr. Hawthorn?” They all bowed their heads. There were quiet an increase number of people that comes and go so, he wasn’t surprised to see more than ten people at that moment.

“Mr. Hawthorn, accept our condolences. We are deeply touched by the sudden death of Mrs. Hanna Hawthorn…”

“Indeed, she was a great and powerful woman.”

“A life well spent and also a good person.” One of them wiped the tears beside his eyes.

“May her beautiful soul rest in peace.” They all chorused with Amen.

“I’m telling you, Mrs. Hawthorn was a very good woman. I could remember the last time I saw her, it was five months ago. She was shopping for kids clothes and when I asked her why, she said she was buying them for her future grandkids.”

“Poor woman, she always wanted to see her grandkids beside leaving this sinful world. But she couldn’t,” he sighed deeply.

Sterling just stayed there, looking at them as they continued with what they were saying. He wasn’t surprise because some of the ones that came earlier already said those things. And he knew the next thing they would say.

“Mr. Hawthorn dear, since your Mum couldn’t get to witness your wedding, why don’t I offer you something that would cool off your mind and make your Mum in heaven be proud of you?”

Others turned to the man who just spoke, waiting to hear what he was going to say.

“Mr. Hawthorn, my first daughter had just finished her studies and is ripe for marriage. Why don’t we tie this unbreakable bond? I’m very sure Lillian wouldn’t be a thorn to you. She’s a good girl and…”

“Mr. Jerry?” One of them interrupted him. “If Mr. Hawthorn is going to chose from any family, then it should be mine. Everyone knows the kind of a wife you have. She’s greedy, rude and also selfish. Even you, you aren’t different from her. And you want our dear Mr. Hawthorn to marry your daughter?”

“You said she’s a young girl ripe for marriage?” Another one added. “Isn’t your first child Lillian old for Mr. Hawthorn? She’s 30, remember.”

“Yes which isn’t a problem because Mr. Hawthorn is still older than her.” Others burst in to laughter except the few that were surprised on what was going on there.

“Doesn’t Lillian has a child? Twins? A boy and a girl?” Mr. Jerry’s pupils enlarged.

He thought no one knew about that because they were sure they hide those kids and their Birth away from the people. It was a secret that not all the people in their family knew about.

“That isn’t true,” he snapped at them. “Oh really?” The other man gestured to his Assistant to hand him over the tablet and he showed everyone the picture of Lillian and her twins.

Lillian looked a lot like her Dad so, he wouldn’t deny that.

Sterling chuckled inside, he was also enjoying the show especially the look on Mr. Jerry’s face. But wasn’t that inappropriate? Trying to hook him up with a lady when his Mum had only passed away?

His eyes traveled through the crowd to locate Assistant Li but he wasn’t present there. He remembered he left him at the balcony.