Juliet finally picked up her phone. "Hello?""About time!" Vivian snapped. "I've been calling all day!""I'm sorry, Vivian. You know, I was working on a project proposal—""Yeah. Whatever. I have big news," Vivian cut her off. "Louis and I have divorced.""Oh no! What happened?""Don’t feel sorry for me, dear. Congratulate me! I finally got rid of a freakish leech.”"He's the most awful being I’ve ever met, that's what happened! Do you know what he did?" Vivian's voice grew louder."He was having emotional affairs! ”“And you know what? He even dared to require a million dollars every month for expenses!" Vivian complained whiled expressing her discoveries and grievances, as if she was a victim, not a cheater."Really? I had no idea..."Juliet couldn’t believe her ears. How could a man be so shameless?She immediately felt sorry for her childhood bestie."Of course you didn't. Nobody knew how horrible he was," Vivian replied sternly. “You know what’s more? His disgusting deeds eve
Vivian was still at it, spreading more lies. Everything he had told Vivian was true.The cards were real, and the doll wasn’t stolen.As for demanding one million dollars every month for expenses, that was thoroughly slanderous and fabricated!Louis wanted to tell Juliet right away the truth, and that Vivian was the one who had cheated.She was the one destroying his reputation to hide her own sins.However, would Juliet believe him?"If I ever met a horrible man like that," Juliet declared, "I'd throw him straight in the garbage where he belongs!"Louis laughed silently at how crazy this all was. Here he sat, listening to someone wish him in the garbage, while thinking he was sitting in front of her."You're so quiet," Juliet noticed. "Doesn't it make you angry too?""Maybe..." Louis chose his words carefully, "maybe there's another side to this story?""Another side? No way! Vivian would never lie to me. We've been best friends forever!" Juliet shook her head. "Her ex-husband i
The purr of the luxury car's engine faded as Louis pulled up to the villa.Before his hand even reached for the doorbell, the door swung open. Victoria stood there, her face bright with a welcoming smile, clearly expecting someone else."Vivian, you're home! Is Ben joining us for din—"Her expression soured instantly upon seeing Louis."Oh. It's you.""Hello, Mom," Louis said politely.The word tasted bitter, a habit he now despised but continued out of mere formality.Victoria's eyes narrowed.Her face twisted with contempt."Don't you dare call me that!”“You're like a stray mutt trying to sneak back into a warm house after being kicked out."She said with disgust."I'm only here to collect my belongings," Louis explained calmly.Louis let the insult wash over him, determined not to rise to the bait.Breathe, he reminded himself. He wasn’t here for a fight.Victoria barked out a laugh."Your belongings? What belongings? You're like a tick that's been living off my daughter's blood
“That was the whole point of letting someone like you marry into our family!" “But since you can’t provide her, why can’t she find a better mate for herself?”Victoria's voice dripped with contempt. "What good is a husband who can't even provide properly?""Provide?" Louis's voice was dangerously quiet. "I gave her the foundation for everything she has now.""Even if you did give her some measly start-up money - which I highly doubt - two million is nothing!" Victoria spat."Is that all my daughter was worth to you?”“A pathetic man like you should have emptied your bank accounts, sold everything you owned, and begged on the streets if you had to!"Louis's cold smile returned."How interesting. One moment you deny I gave anything, the next you say it wasn't enough. Which is it, Victoria?""Don't you dare take that tone with me!" Victoria snapped. "My precious Vivian worked herself to death while you, her so-called husband, probably skimmed money from her success.”“I bet that fan
Louis's patience was wearing thin. This circular argument was getting nowhere. He took a step forward, intending to enter the villa, but Victoria moved quickly, stepping in front of him to block his path.She raised her hand in a dismissive gesture, and that was’s when he noticed it—a glint catching his eye.There, on her outstretched finger, sat his mother’s ring.The delicate silver band with its modest moonstone setting - the only piece of his mother he had left. He remembered the day he'd given it to Vivian, hoping she would treasure this small piece of his mom’s heirloom."That ring," his voice came out low and controlled."I'll be taking it back."Victoria instinctively covered the ring with her other hand. "This? Don't be ridiculous! You gave it to Vivian, which makes it hers. And since she gave it to me—""It's my mother's heirloom," Louis cut in, his tone leaving no room for argument."It was never meant to be passed around like a cheap trinket.""Heirloom?" Victoria's l
"Mom? What's going on here?"Just then, a man walked into the room while rubbing his sleepy eyes.Victoria's face lit up with obvious relief. "Jackson! Thank goodness you're here!"She immediately scurried behind her son, her previous intimidation morphing into renewed boldness. "This… this leech is trying to steal from us! He wants to take things from our home, and now he’s taken the ring your sister gave me!” She exaggerated, twisting the story to make Louis look like the villain and to ease her own guilt.She hoped Jackson would step up, put Louis in his place… and most importantly, get the ring back.“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll handle this pest,” Jackson Howard sneered, looking at Louis like he was nothing.His lips curled into a sneer as he sized up Louis. "Well, well. If it isn't our family's pet beggar. Missing the taste of our table scraps already?"Louis remained silent, but something dangerous flickered in his eyes.His fingers tightened around the ring in his palm."What's
In one fluid motion, Louis caught Jackson's arm, twisted—CRACK!Jackson's scream echoed through the foyer as the coat rack clattered onto his foot."AHHHHH! MY ARM! MY FOOT!""Interesting," Louis observed clinically. "I didn't know you could hit such high notes. Have you considered a career in opera?""You... you broke my arm!" Jackson wailed, cradling his twisted limb."Really? I thought I was just helping you wave goodbye." Louis's voice was desert-dry. "My mistake."Victoria rushed to her son, shrieking. "Monster! Beast! We'll have you arrested!""For what?" Louis adjusted his cuffs calmly. "Self-defense against a man attacking me with furniture? Please, do call the police. I'd love to hear you explain that to them."Jackson writhed on the floor, alternating between cursing and sobbing.Victoria was trembling with fear as well."I'll kill you for this! I'll destroy you!" Jackson threatened."You couldn't even destroy a coat rack properly," Louis observed."Though I must say
Her mind couldn't reconcile the Louis she knew with the man who just left."Let's go... we’ll figure out who he really is later."But as they made their way to his car, Victoria couldn't shake the sinking feeling that they had grossly underestimated the man.They'd tormented for years – and now they were seeing the consequences.An hour later, Vivian rushed to the hospital with Ben accompanying her. "Vivian! Thank goodness you're here!" Victoria wailed the moment her daughter rushed through the hospital corridor, Ben following close behind.Jackson, his arm now in a cast, seized the opportunity. "Sis, look what that bastard did to me!" He gestured dramatically at his injuries. "He's gone completely insane!"Perfect timing, Victoria thought, quick to feed the flames."He was like a different person, Vivian. So violent, so cruel! And he stole my ring!""Mother's ring?" Vivian's eyes widened. Louis would never dare... unless... "What exactly happened?"Victoria wrung her han