Chapter 13
njake spent two whole days tracking down Melanie’s whereabouts. When he finally passed a note containing her latest address to Albert, he wore a hesitant look. It seemed like he was tom between saying something and holding his tongue.
“Southaven?” Albert stared at the address on the note, a deep frown marring his face. He sounded quite perplexed, “Why did she visit Southaven all of a sudden? Is she planning to make it her permanent home?*
Blake opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something. In the end, he chose to stay silent,
Instead, he lowered his head and spoke up after some hesitation. “Mr. Palmer, you might need to personally find out Mrs. Palmer’s exact whereabouts as well as her purpose in Southaven. It’s not in my place to give such details.”
Albert raised his head instantly, his sharp gaze finding Blake’s face, “Why would you think it’s not in your place to give me that information?
While Blake was debating whether or not he should speak up, the office’s door was suddenly thing open from the outside.
Albert’s secretary, Dana Watson, could be heard exclaiming andously, “Ms. Palmer, you can’t enter the office! Mr. Palmer is dealing with something important right now!”
But Vivienne had already rushed into the office by then. Her eyes were red and puffy, and there were tear tracks all over her cheeks. It was clear that she’d been crying.
Vivienne’s attention fell on the note in Alfred’s hand. Her gaze Instantly switched to one of anger.
“Is loolding for Melanie your so–called important business now, huh?” she thundered emotionally as she snatched the note out of Alfred’s hand and gopped it tightly. “I’ve been gone for the past two days, yet you didn’t even look for me! it turns out that you really are looking for her! Are you really in love with her? I don’t believe that! I refuse to believe that!”
Vienne completely lost control of her emotions at that moment. She began destroying everything in the office, Everything on the desk, including the documents, the computer, and the teacups, was instantly swept off the surface. They clattered to the floor loudly.
Then, she grabbed the decorations from the bookshelf and hurled them at the wall, Glass shards flew everywhere.
Blake and Dana wanted to stop Vivienne’s chaotic actions, but Albert was quick to stop them by raising an ann. He said calmly, “Let her trash the office.”
Vivienne seemed to be triggered by that sentence, for her actions became even more frenzied. Tears kept streaming down her face as she shrieked hysterically, Why aren’t you stopping me? Why aren’t you coaxing me? You weren’t like this before you’d placate me all the timel
Her actions were brutal and irregular, as though she wanted to express her tage and aggrievement.
Everything in the office was practically ruined by now. The entire room looked like a huge mess,
Vivienne trashed the office for the next half hour or so until she completely ran out of steam. That was when she began slowing downL
Now that le rage had dissipated, it was replaced by a sense of helplessness and desperation that made her beg. She tumed around to look at Albert, her tears already rolling down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Alberi..I messed up again…” Vivienne said in a quivering tone. “Do you hate it when I throw a tantrain? I won’t do it anymore… You love me, right? Tell me, Albert—I’m the one you still love, right?
Two days ago, Albert hadn’t been able to answer this question. But he’d already figured it out over the past two days.
He just gazed at Vivienne calmly, his response coming out finn. “I’m sorry, Vivi, I don’t love you anymore.”
All color drained from Vivierdie’s face. Slur screamed hysterically, “I refuse to believe that tow could you change so much in just two days? You’ve loved me for so long, haven’t you? How could youdain to not love me now?”
Albert just gazed at her with mixed feelings.
He replied quietly, I didn’t change over the past two days. Vivi, do you still remember when we first got together? I wanted to elope with you, but you kept crying and claiming that you didn’t want to leave the Palmer family.
for
“You were also worried about people puinting fingers at you, so you told me to keep waiting for a better opportunity and that you waited us to remain as adoptive siblings. I’d agreed to your suggestion back then”
Albert’s voice was laced with exhaustion. To him, this was a bad memory that wasn’t worth remembering.
“After that, I got into a business aliance with Melanie. On the day before the wedding, I asked you again if you wanted to leave with me. But you told me that you were scared, so you rejected me agal
“Right after I got married, the first thing you did was destroy my and Melanie’s new villa. You began throwing tantrums and demanding that I keep loving you. So, agreed to do that.
“Over the past five years, I’ve neglected Melante in so many ways just to appease you. Not only did I treat you well, but I also pampered and loved you. I forgave everything that you did, and I also cleaned whatever messes you left behind gut Vivi, I’m a human being too. I get tired as well.”
Albert’s voice grew hoarser and deeper. He sounded rather helpless at the moment.
“I wasn’t like I fell out of love with you all of a sudden. The truth is, I stopped loving you the moment you refused to leave with me. It’s just that I never realized that fact.”
