Chapter 646

Vivian Bennett returned to her room.

She ran through the plan in her mind over and over.

She pondered every detail, every possible outcome.

Any loopholes had to be sealed. Contingencies had to be prepared.

Tomorrow, everything must end.

This revenge was of her own making. No one could stop her.

She would never be bound by anything again.

With the plan finalized, she lay down on the bed, hoping to get a good night's sleep.

But insomnia was an old companion.

And the pressure of tomorrow weighed on her like a mountain.

She tossed and turned, finally sitting up.

She walked to the window, gazing blankly into the heavy night.

Most lights in the villa were already off.

Only one room on the second floor still emitted a warm, yellow glow.

Vivian stared at that light, her expression shifting slightly.

She threw on a robe and quietly left her room.

That room was the nursery Liam Sullivan had prepared.

Why was the light still on so late?

She softened her footsteps, approaching the door.

It was slightly ajar, and faint sounds came from within.

Vivian peeked through the crack.

Liam was sitting on the floor.

Wooden blocks, nails, and tools were scattered around him.

He held a piece of wood in his hand, intently assembling a small rocking horse.

The horse was already taking shape.

He was tightening a screw, making it more secure.

Vivian froze outside the door.

Her heart felt as if gripped by an invisible hand, squeezing hard.

A suffocating pain welled up.

Old, scabbed wounds seemed torn open again, raw and bleeding.

She clutched her chest, her breathing becoming ragged.

Tears welled up without warning.

A sob escaped her. She bit her lip, but couldn't stop the choked sounds.

Her gaze was locked on that rocking horse.

For a fleeting moment, she seemed to see a child sitting on it, smiling sweetly at her.

The image pierced her heart.

"Vivian?" Liam heard the noise and turned, seeing her standing at the door, face streaked with tears. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Vivian just wept, staring blankly at the horse.

Gradually, the sorrow was replaced by fury.

Her whole body trembled as she stepped into the room.

Her eyes saw only the horse, as if Liam wasn't even there.

She walked right up to him.

She snatched the rocking horse from his hands.

And hurled it to the floor with all her might.

She smashed it down again and again, using every ounce of her strength.

Until the horse shattered into pieces.

Liam watched her, stunned, momentarily unable to react.

Only when the horse was utterly destroyed did he spring up, grabbing her arms from behind.

"Vivian! What are you doing!" His voice shook. "That was a toy I was making for our child! Even if you don't like it, you don't have to trample on my effort like this! Do you hate me that much? How much more do you want to hurt me?"

He shouted, his heart feeling slashed by a knife.

He couldn't sleep and had wandered in here almost against his will.

Making some toys felt like a form of solace, a way to cope.

But her arrival had shattered the fragile hope he'd been piecing together.

Vivian's face was wet with tears. She turned, eyes red, and demanded, "A toy? Who gave you permission to make these? The baby is gone! Who are you making these for now? Who are you putting on this hypocritical show for?"

These toys were like poisoned needles, stabbing into her deepest pain.

The child was gone. What was the point of toys now?

They only mocked her loss, ripped open her wounds.

"Burn them! Burn them all! I don't want to see any of this!"

She grabbed other finished toys from the floor, smashing them one by one.

Baby pictures on the wall were torn down and ripped apart.

Rattles and bells were crushed under her feet.

She pushed over the crib, kicking it until it broke.

Liam watched the room descend into chaos, saw the things he'd carefully prepared turn to fragments.

Heartache twisted inside him, but a fierce anger ignited.

"Enough! Vivian Bennett!"

He couldn't take it anymore. His hand shot out, slapping her across the face.

"How long are you going to keep trampling on me? There has to be a limit to this madness! I made these with my own hands! They were my feelings! What right do you have to destroy them like this?"