Chapter 13 - The Garden Alcove
As the waltz concluded to polite, stunned applause, Alessandro was inevitably pulled away by a cluster of nervous regional investors seeking his attention. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, I slipped through the French doors into the cool, quiet seclusion of the estate's rear garden. The moon cast silver beams across the manicured boxwood hedges and marble fountains, offering a sharp contrast to the suffocating heat and artificial charm of the ballroom inside.
"You think a pretty dress and a borrowed name can shield you from reality, Catherine?"
The venomous voice sliced through the night air. Vivian stepped out from the deep shadows of a stone trellis, her diamond jewelry flashing malevolently under the moonlight. Her face was twisted into a mask of pure desperation and malice. She closed the distance between us, her fingernails digging slightly into her satin clutch.
"You don't belong here," Vivian hissed, her voice trembling with restrained fury. "Alessandro is mine. If you don't pack your bags and leave this estate before sunrise tonight, I will ensure that child of yours—what's her name, Lily?—finds herself penniless, hounded by debts, and cast out into the streets. I have connections that can destroy her before she even learns to spell her name."
The threat hung in the freezing night air, vibrating with a cruelty that surpassed anything she had done before. For a fraction of a second, the protective maternal instinct flared hot and terrifying inside my chest. But the momentary panic dissolved instantly, replaced by the heavy weight of the ledgers tucked safely in the secret pocket of my evening bag. I looked past Vivian toward the glowing French doors, where Alessandro stood watching the garden entrance with an intensity that suggested he was already searching for me.
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"You've underestimated me from the very beginning, Vivian," I replied, my voice remarkably steady in the cool breeze. "And more importantly, you've underestimated Alessandro."
Before Vivian could process the chilling calm in my tone, I turned my back on her and walked resolutely back toward the brilliant lights of the ballroom, leaving her alone in the dark.
