Chapter 643

"Vivian, you've changed."

Liam Sullivan's voice was heavy in the night, each word like ice.

"You've become someone I barely recognize."

"To get what you want, you'd even use a self-harm ploy."

"Falling down the stairs... that was part of your plan too, wasn't it?"

Vivian Bennett leaned against the headboard.

A faint, cold smile touched her pale lips, not reaching her eyes.

"Disappointed?"

She coughed lightly, a dull ache blooming in her chest.

"I was never some kind-hearted soul."

"You should know what kind of mire I crawled out of."

She tilted her face up.

The light caught her lashes, casting a small, trembling shadow.

"I only regret being too indecisive before."

"Too weak."

"It wasn't until I truly lost something important that I understood how pathetic I was."

"Bound by morality, by sentiment, by so-called propriety."

"I couldn't even do one thing wholeheartedly."

Her voice grew soft, then suddenly sharpened with desperate resolve.

"Now it's different."

"I've cast off all restraints."

"What I want to do, no one can stop me."

"Liam, that includes you."

Liam stood by the door, his silhouette stretched long by the light.

"What you become is not my concern."

He paused, his tone carrying a warning.

"But Luna Clark is off-limits."

"Vivian, you should understand."

"If I truly decide to stop you, you won't succeed."

"Then let's see you try."

Vivian's lips curved, but a flicker of pain crossed her eyes.

She coughed again, her hand instinctively pressing below her right ribs.

When she'd tumbled down the stairs, she hadn't held back.

A bone was probably bruised.

Liam watched her for a moment.

Finally, he said nothing more and turned back to his own room.

The door closed softly.

It felt like a dull hammer blow to Vivian's heart.

She heard him on the phone next door.

His voice was low, but each word was clear.

"Send people to search."

"Leave no possible hiding place unchecked."

"Yes, go now."

Vivian closed her eyes.

Using him.

Deceiving him.

Staging a convincing self-harm act.

She hadn't hesitated while doing these things.

But when he truly turned away, the pain in her chest...

She didn't know if it was from the injury, or something else.

The doctor hadn't left yet.

He stood nearby, looking hesitant.

"Miss Bennett, you've been holding your chest."

"Are you really in pain?"

"It's best to go to the hospital for an X-ray."

"If a rib is fractured..."

"It's fine."

Vivian cut him off, slowly sitting up from the stretcher.

"I know my own limits."

"Please go back first."

The doctor sighed and left with his medical kit.

Vivian tried to stand.

A sharp, stabbing pain immediately shot from below her right ribs.

Her face paled.

She quickly grabbed the stair railing for support.

After catching her breath for a while, she began moving up step by step.

Just as she reached the second-floor hallway, she saw Liam coming out of his room.

He wore a coat and held car keys.

Their eyes met.

Vivian instinctively let go of her chest.

She straightened her spine.

Her voice was cold as frost.

"Where are you going?"

"To find someone."

Liam didn't look at her, heading straight for the stairs.

"You won't tell me where she is."

"So I'll find her myself."

"I said I wouldn't let you do this."

Vivian's chest tightened.

Even breathing hurt.

Her fingers on the railing trembled slightly.

Her nails dug into the wood grain.

"For a woman like that..."

"You're going personally?"

Her voice shook.

Each word seemed squeezed from between her teeth.

"Liam, I really don't understand."

"A worthless woman who has nothing to do with you..."

"Is she worth protecting to this extent?"

"Haven't you investigated her background yet?"

"Or..."

"Have you been so bewitched by her that you can't even tell truth from falsehood?"

"Vivian."

Liam stopped and looked back at her, his brow deeply furrowed.

"Don't speak of her that way."

"Am I wrong?"

Vivian suddenly laughed.

Her laughter held a hint of tears.

"Fine, have it your way."

"Just don't regret it in the future."

"One day you'll understand."

"The person you're protecting today isn't worthy."

She didn't look at him again.

Turning, she leaned against the wall and slowly walked back to her old room.

The door closed.

She walked to the window and lifted a corner of the curtain.

The night was thick like ink.

Liam's headlights came on.

Two beams of white light pierced the darkness.

They soon disappeared down the road.

Vivian stood motionless.

Like a statue frozen in place.

Outside, only the wind could be heard.

Gust after gust, making the heart feel hollow.

Waves of pain surged from below her right ribs.

But she seemed not to feel them.

She just stared in the direction he had left.

For a long, long time.