Chapter 47: – Breathe For Me –
Viviana slowly turned her gaze over to Nikolas.
Nikolas’s expression changed.
She was pissed. And he could tell. While on the surface, she looked calm, he could taste her rage at the tip of his tongue.
"Viviana, listen–"
Viviana tramped to the dining table, grabbed a glass of wine, and splashed it on Serena.
She didn’t give her a chance to recover, grabbing her by the hair and slapping her so hard across the face that Serena staggered back, falling into the table.
"How dare you?" she questioned. "What gave you the audacity to put your filthy hands on him?"
"VIVIANA!" Savannah shot up.
But Viviana had lost it. She snatched Serena by the hair again and slammed her face into the table, leaving everyone far too shocked to even react.
"You barge into my life and take everything like it’s yours, everything that is mine. And you can have all of it. But him?"
She wrapped her fingers around her throat, warning, "He’s mine. He belongs to me. And you can and will never have him."
She shoved her into the table. Serena, a complete mess, coughed harshly as she tried to push herself up.
"You bitch! You! How dare you hit me?!" she screamed, glaring at Viviana. She turned to her mother. "Mom! Look what she’s done to me! Do something!"
Viviana ran her fingers over her scalp, smoothing her hair. She adjusted her dress and took a deep breath.
Nikolas reached for her hand. "Viviana–"
"Don’t touch me." She slapped his hand away and stormed out of the manor.
She hurried down the stairs, ignoring the pouring rain. She didn’t stop for the car, her feet carrying her straight out the gate.
"What is wrong with me?" she muttered, hugging her arms tight around herself. ’Why did I lose it like that?’ She was someone who knew how to keep her cool after all.
’There is nothing between us. I’m not in love with him or anything.’ She couldn’t love anyone.
Yet she’d felt angry seeing what Serena did. She hated it in a way that made no sense to her. It made her skin crawl.
All she knew was that ever since meeting this man, she had been feeling this strange familiarity that she couldn’t shake off, as if she knew him before they even met. Which was insane. Nikolas was a man she hadn’t known until that night. She was certain that if they had met before that day, she would have remembered along with this—
"Viviana!–"
She jolted as she heard his voice. Her steps faltered for a moment before she hurried up her pace even more.
The last thing she wanted was to see his face. Her mother had warned her, getting too entangled with this man would do her no good. The plan had always been simple: keep their distance, even in marriage. But she’d let him close, too close to her!
His finger burned against her skin suddenly, and she spun around too fast, crashing into his solid frame, her forehead knocking against his chest. She let out a grunt and stumbled back, nearly falling if not for him reaching out to steady her.
She blinked up at him.
"Viviana."
She quickly took her hand back.
"Viviana, listen–"
"Leave me alone."
"To go where?" Nikolas asked. "You’re angry with me, aren’t you?"
She scowled at him.
They stared at each other.
"Do you want her?" Her face screwed up. "Then go ahead. I do not care."
Nikolas’s brows shot up. "And why would I want your sister? Can you hear yourself?" He gripped her shoulders, forcing her to stare right into his eyes. "Look at me. Do you really think I’d stoop that low? Have I ever given you the impression I’d choose anyone over you?"
"I don’t need you to choose me!" Viviana shot back. "You’re just someone I am using. Do not flatter yourself."
"And is that why you acted like that?"
She stiffened. "That’s..."
"Is it because another woman touched someone you are just using, huh?" Nikolas questioned, pissed. "Won’t you be more honest with yourself? Why can’t you just talk to me instead of making assumptions like this?"
Viviana’s face had hardened. "Take your hands off me, Nikolas," she demanded with a glare.
Nikolas let out an exasperated sigh. He looked straight into her eyes. "No," he said.
"What?"
"I said no. I’m not letting you go, and I am taking you home." Before she could protest, he scooped her up with ease and slung her over his shoulder.
"Put me down!" Viviana demanded. "Nikolas, put me down."
But he didn’t listen. Not until they reached the manor, crossed into the compound, and stopped by the car did he finally set her back on her feet.
She shoved away from him. "You’re just like him."
"Viviana–"
"You’re going to be just like him."
Nikolas froze. Confusion flashed in his eyes. "Be like who? Your father, or–"
"No, no, I am not stupid, okay? I know what you’re trying to do." She shook her head quickly, eyes darting. "I will not be naive like my mother. I won’t let you."
The more she spoke, the further she backed away from him. "I won’t allow it, and I–"
Nikolas reached for her and pulled her into him, wrapping her in a crushing hug and burying her against his frame. His palm pressed firm and steady to the back of her head.
He was... warm.
"Please..." he whispered. "Please."
But what was he begging for?
Viviana’s eyes flickered, her face pressed against the curve of his neck.
"I..." Her body went lax against his; it felt as if she could almost melt into his hold.
Nikolas pulled back, but he didn’t let go. Viviana stared up at him. He cupped her cheeks in both hands, and when her focus finally locked on him, she swallowed hard.
There was panic in his face, and he looked at her too softly. Like he was worried. Afraid?
His thumb brushed beneath her eyes. "Breathe for me. Please."
She drew in a long breath.
The warmth of his palms against her face soothed her. Her drumming chest slowed down.
"It’s okay," he whispered. "Breathe."
Blinking, she suckled in another deep breath. Her fingers reached for his shirt as she pressed herself against him, arms wrapping tight around his shoulders. Making him lean in for her. She buried her face in the crook of his neck.
"Sorry," she mumbled. "I’m sorry. I-I didn’t mean to say all that. I didn’t mean to. I was... It’s just..."
"It’s okay. I promise. Just calm down. That’s all I need from you. To calm down." Nikolas lowered his nose into her hair.
"Should we go home now?" he asked.
Viviana nodded, grasping him tighter.
"Then let’s go home," he said, lifting his eyes to the second floor of the manor. "You don’t have to come here again. I won’t let you."
Cold light shone in his eyes as his gaze stretched over, fixing on Amadeo Di-Grassi. The incredibly handsome middle-aged man stood above with his hands clasped behind his back, his shadow reflecting on the floor-length glass window.
He was silent. Still as a statue. His face gave nothing. Just icy and...
...Unreadable.