VIVIAN
Vivian shut her eyes and clenched her fist. "What do you want from me?"
The doctor folded his arms.
"You should be on the floor thanking me. You lied about being pregnant, remember? I helped you prove it. Now I have ended the pregnancy, so you won’t have to keep worrying about Caelan asking about the child."
Vivian opened her eyes.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing."
She stared at him. "You faked my pregnancy and then ended it. And you’re telling me you want nothing?"
"I simply wanted to do something good."
Vivian frowned. Something about him felt familiar. Then it hit her.
A doctor from the book. One of Elena’s admirers. She couldn’t remember his ending, but she remembered his name.
"Tim?"
The doctor froze.
"Yes."
Vivian’s eyes narrowed. "You did all this to stop Elena’s marriage to Caelan. You are one of her fanatics."
Tim’s expression changed. "How do you know that?"
Vivian’s heart skipped. She laughed inwardly. Thank you Elena for having so many admirers.!
She sat up and crossed her legs. "Tim, you’re the one who should be begging me. I’m the only person who can stop that marriage. You don’t want your favorite female getting married to another man. I know how painful it is to see your crush choose someone else."
Tim suddenly laughed. "You think because I smiled at Elena a few times, I’m secretly in love with her?"
Vivian’s smile disappeared.
Wait?. She had thought she understood the plot. But his reaction wasn’t what she expected.
Did the plot change again?
Tim turned his back. His voice became serious.
"Vivian, I need you to bring Elena to a location I’ll send you."
Vivian relaxed slightly. He’s still after Elena.
"Fine." She paused. "i will do that. Who pushed me down the stairs? Was that also your plan?"
"Caelan’s confidante. The one you met at the coffee shop on your blind date."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I was there." Tim replied.
Vivian’s eyes narrowed. "She pushed me? Why?"
"She wanted to stop Caelan’s marriage. Using you was the easiest way to create chaos. Afterall she knew Caelan likes you."
Vivian laughed. Like me? Caelan that can’t wait to feed me to fishes in the sea. Is he blind? Where is the love? She asked."Does Caelan know?"
Tim smiled. "He knows."
Vivian clenched her fists. Then she laughed bitterly.
"Of course."
She looked down.
I’m the villainess. Who would care whether I live or die?
Suddenly...
WEEEE-OOO!
An alarm blared through the building. Tim looked toward the door.
"This is your chance."
He quickly removed his doctor’s coat and handed it to her.
"Put this on. Knock me unconscious and leave."
Vivian stared at him.
"You’re asking me to knock you out?"
"Unless you have a better idea."
She smirked. "No."
BAM! Her fist struck his jaw. She punched so hard, Tim collapsed. Vivian looked down at him.
"Serves you right."
She put on the doctor’s coat and slipped out. The corridor was chaotic.Soldiers rushed past her.
Nobody stopped to question the doctor walking through the emergency corridor.
Vivian kept her head down until she finally escaped the building.
She ran toward the mountains surrounding the military district.
A secluded structure was hidden behind the rocky cliffs.
Then...A luxurious flying car descended in front of her.
Vivian froze. Is It Caelan. When did he notice I left? She looked around for a safer route to escape.
The door opened. A familiar man sat inside. Her eyes met his. "Lucien..."
She immediately turned around.
"Where are you going?" she asked herself and stopped. There was nowhere else to run. Lucien stepped out.
"What are you doing here?"
Vivian looked at him.
"I should be asking you that."
His expression darkened. "You went to Caelan’s house again?"
Vivian’s eyebrows twitched. "Again?"
"Aren’t you ashamed?"
He stepped closer. "Caelan is your sister’s man now. And I’m your man. The Federation has already accepted our marriage arrangement."
Vivian stared at him.
"When will you finally accept that Caelan is meant for your sister?"
His voice became colder.
"Are you really that jealous of Elena?"
Vivian said nothing. She simply climbed into the flying car.
Lucien followed. The vehicle lifted into the night.
Vivian leaned against the seat and closed her eyes.
His words hurt more than she wanted to admit.
If only you knew. I don’t even want Caelan.
I’m just trying to escape a story that keeps forcing me toward him.
The flying car eventually landed at Haxia Military Academy.
"Take me to the instructors’ quarters."
Lucien glanced at her. "Fine."
After arriving, Vivian asked a passing soldier where Vincent Hale lived.
The soldier pointed toward a nearby residence.
She walked there. Knock. Knock. Knock.
No one answered. She knocked again. Nothing. It was already late Tuesday night. She knew she failed him.
Vivian knocked harder. Finally, the door opened.
A soldier stepped out.
His expression was uncomfortable. "Miss Vivian."
"Where is Sir Vincent? I am his student."
The soldier hesitated. "Commander Hale isn’t here."
"Then tell him I’m back."
The soldier lowered his eyes. "There’s nothing he can do."
Vivian’s smile faded. "What do you mean?"
"Your admission has been cancelled."
Her heart dropped. "You’re lying."
"You were given a deadline to return and explain your absence."
He swallowed. "You didn’t return."
Vivian stood completely still.
"He said..."
The soldier hesitated. "He said you don’t deserve the uniform."
The cold seemed to seep through her entire body. Vivian slowly looked down at the military uniform she was wearing.
She felt like she had truly lost something.
Her chance to become a soldier.
Vivian stared at him. For several seconds, she didn’t speak.
She had survived a mutated forest. Discovered she could heal. Lost three days of her memory. Woken up chained to a bed.
Lost a pregnancy she wasn’t even supposed to have.
Escaped a doctor’s room. And finally returned to the one place she actually wanted to belong.
Only to discover that she was no longer a student.
Her fingers slowly curled into fists. "He said I don’t deserve the uniform?"
The soldier nodded.
Vivian lowered her eyes.
Then she smiled. It wasn’t her usual playful smile. It was cold. "Then I’ll make him regret taking it away."