Chapter 2
Vivienne's POV
I hadn't planned on attending this charity auction, but Celeste wouldn't take no for an answer.
I knew she wanted to show off, but I didn't care enough to argue. Might as well watch this circus one last time before I left.
Crystal chandeliers lit up the auction hall. Celeste stood in the most prominent spot, her arm looped through Dante's, while other guests swarmed around her with flattering small talk.
I'd been seated in the farthest corner, practically invisible. Strange though—I kept feeling someone's eyes on me. But when I glanced around, I couldn't spot who. Probably just my imagination.
The auction began.
The first few items didn't interest me at all, until the auctioneer wheeled out a diamond necklace.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our grand finale for the evening—a one-of-a-kind piece from France's premier jewelry designer, featuring 999 natural diamonds, symbolizing eternal love." The auctioneer's voice rang with excitement. "Starting bid: five million dollars!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
I watched Celeste lean close to Dante's ear, whispering something. He raised his paddle without hesitation.
"Six million from Mr. Moretti!" the auctioneer announced eagerly.
Celeste's face lit up with a brilliant smile.
"Ten million."
A deep male voice cut through the room.
The hall fell silent. Every head turned toward the source.
A man stood—tall and lean in a charcoal gray suit, with striking, chiseled features.
Xavier Kane.
Heir to the Kane family fortune. Dante's sworn enemy. I'd seen his photo in newspapers during my first life—supposedly he and Dante were evenly matched, their two families locked in a years-long rivalry.
Dante's expression darkened instantly.
"Twenty million." He raised his paddle, voice cold.
"Fifty million." Xavier's eyebrow arched.
The crowd erupted in shocked whispers.
The auctioneer froze for several seconds before snapping back to reality. "F-fifty million! Fifty million from Mr. Kane! Do I hear any other bids?"
Dante's fingers clenched the paddle so hard his knuckles went white. Celeste nervously tugged at his sleeve. "Dante..."
"Fifty million once! Fifty million twice! Fifty million THREE times! SOLD!" The auctioneer's gavel struck hard. "Congratulations to Mr. Kane!"
Celeste's face crumpled. She bit her lower lip, eyes brimming with resentment.
My mood improved considerably. Thank you, Mr. Kane.
During the reception after the auction, I sat in a corner sipping champagne. No one paid me any attention. Perfect—I didn't want to be noticed anyway.
Then Xavier approached me, wine glass in hand.
"Excuse me, miss—may I ask your name?" His voice was gentle.
I looked up, surprised. Was he talking to me?
"Vivienne."
"Beautiful name." He smiled and pulled out an elegant box from his pocket. "This is for you."
I froze. Inside the box lay the diamond necklace he'd just won.
"Mr. Kane, I can't—"
"Beautiful jewelry should adorn beautiful souls." He interrupted me, his tone sincere. "Consider it my way of introducing myself."
Every eye in the room instantly fixed on us.
I saw Dante's face turn thunderous. He strode toward us and knocked the box from Xavier's hand.
"Touch what's mine again, Kane, and you're dead." Dante pulled a gun from his waist and pressed it against Xavier's forehead.
The music stopped abruptly.
The room went dead silent.
Moretti guards rushed forward, surrounding Xavier. Kane family men immediately drew their weapons in response. The entire ballroom bristled with tension, violence ready to explode at any second.
"Dante, stop—" I instinctively tried to intervene.
The gun swung toward me.
The cold barrel pressed against my forehead, freezing my entire body.
Xavier's brow furrowed. "Back off, Moretti. This is a hospital—show some damn respect."
"Shut the hell up." Dante stared at me, ice-cold fury in his eyes. "Vivienne, you dare flirt with another man right in front of me?"
"I didn't—"
"Still lying?" His voice dropped even colder, finger on the trigger. "Who the hell do you think you are? Just because you're my wife on paper doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."
Celeste suddenly screamed.
"Dante! Please! Don't shoot!" She rushed over and grabbed his arm, sobbing. "She's my SISTER! I know she screwed up, but please—if you ever cared about me at all, let her go!"
But a flash of triumph gleamed in her eyes.
Dante stared at me for several long seconds, then slowly lowered the gun.
"We'll settle this at home." His voice was pure ice. "You better pray I'm in a good mood tonight."
With that, he took Celeste's hand and turned to leave.
Guests immediately swarmed them.
"Mr. Moretti and Miss Quinn make such a perfect couple."
"Indeed. Looks like the next Mrs. Moretti is already decided."
"Who's that woman in the corner?"
"No idea. Nobody important."
Marcus and Helena proudly mingled with other prominent families, as if the scene moments ago had nothing to do with them.
I stood frozen in place, watching Dante and Celeste's retreating figures. A memory from my first life flashed back—at a charity gala, Dante publicly announced his engagement to Celeste. Everyone raised their glasses in celebration. And I sat in a corner like a joke.
Suddenly, sharp pain lanced through my lower abdomen.
I clutched my stomach, legs buckling, nearly collapsing.
"Hey—you okay?" Xavier caught me just in time.
Cold sweat beaded on my forehead. The pain came in waves. No, I couldn't break down here. My baby...
"I'm sorry..." I said through gritted teeth. "Could you... take me to a hospital?"
Without a word, Xavier immediately helped me toward the exit.
My vision began to blur. I heard him on the phone. "Get the car ready. Nearest hospital, now."
Then everything went dark.
When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed.
White ceiling. Antiseptic smell. Harsh fluorescent lights.
My hand instinctively moved to my stomach. Thank God—the baby was still there.
"You're awake."
I turned my head to see Xavier sitting in a chair beside the bed. His suit jacket hung over the chair back, shirt sleeves rolled up. He looked far more casual than at the gala.
"The baby... is the baby okay?" I asked.
"The doctor said you were just exhausted. The baby's perfectly healthy." He handed me a glass of warm water. "You need proper rest."
I took the glass, my hand still trembling slightly.
My phone suddenly buzzed.
I picked it up. Messages from Dante.
"You had the fucking nerve to leave with another man!"
"Vivienne, you disgust me."
"Get back here. Now. IMMEDIATELY."
I stared at those words, feeling nothing. In my first life, I would've run straight home, crying and begging for forgiveness.
Not anymore.
The hospital room door suddenly burst open.
Dante stormed in, face dark with rage. When he saw Xavier sitting beside my bed, his expression grew even more menacing.
"Get out."
Xavier didn't move, just looked at him calmly. "Mr. Moretti, this is a hospital. Show some damn respect."
In one swift move, Dante lunged forward, grabbed my hair, and hauled me off the bed.
"You BITCH!" He raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. "How DARE you hurt Celeste!"
My face burned with pain, ears ringing.
Hurt Celeste? WHAT?
