“Will jos make our rtionship public?”


    “No, the family will test your chastity in their own way.”


    “Test?” Vivian was startled, “How will they test? Will theye and watch us in bed? Or will they spread my legs and look…”


    “Don’t be so scared; it’s not what you think, it’s the sheets. Didn’t people used to say that a virgin bleeds the first time? They will take the bedsheet the day after the wedding night to see if there’s blood on it.”


    Vivian’s face turned pale, “Will there be a lot of blood?”


    “Times have changed, science has progressed,” Luzia consoled her, “People now understand that even a virgin might not bleed the first time. Taking the bedsheet is just a formality; it doesn’t really mean anything.”


    “Thank you for yourfort, Luzia.” Vivian leaned against Luzia. Her fear did not subside with Luzia’sfort, but she was still grateful for Luzia’s guidance andpany.


    “It’s sad. I was born into an indifferent family, and now I’m marrying into another indifferent one. I long for love, but perhaps I’ll never have it in my life,” Vivian said, choking up, “If I weren’t Vivian Jones…”


    “Don’t talk like that, Vivian. Compared to many unfortunate people in this world, we are already very lucky. jos might not give you love, but he can give you much more. He will regard you as family and will protect you with all his might.”


    “Without love, your life will be rich and noble. Your standard of living won’t decline, and you don’t have to worry about whether you have rice today or if you’ll starve tomorrow. We are already very lucky.”


    “Maybe you’re right.” Vivian hugged Luzia and closed her eyes.


    Is such a life without freedom truly fortunate?


    Vivian didn’t know, but she couldn’t break free and attain true freedom.


    Since Vilem went to jos’s side, he had started living a life of early departures andte returns. Although the siblings were supposed to live in the same apartment, Vivian hadn’t seen Vilem for several days.


    Vivian knew that Vilem hadpletely joined jos’s team and had started to get involved in the Houston business. She knew it was dangerous, but she couldn’t stop him.


    Vivian often felt powerless, like amb waiting for ughter, her life devoid of sunlight.


    Today, the apartment was still upied only by Vivian and Mare. Vivian flipped through her script-she had secretly brought it from Los Angeles, the school had been rehearsing this y when Vilem brought her home.


    The apartment lights had no focus, Vivian had no costumes. She turned on the radio, and familiar music flowed smoothly out. She immersed herself in the plot, encountering the male lead in her imagination, dating, arguing, reconciling, passionately dering love, agonizingly forced to part, searching for her lover’s trace, and finally reuniting at a grand ball.


    Vivian danced the elegant waltz steps; her dress fluttered with her spins. She couldn’t see her feet, and her high heels stepped on something, causing her to stumble, and she lunged towards the television.


    This was bad.


    Vivian closed her eyes, but the expected pain did note. She had bumped into a solid and spacious embrace-it was jos, who had appeared just in time to rescue her.


    In the background, Mare silently withdrew her hand.


    Vivian jumped out of jos’s embrace like a rabbit, the touched spot seemed to retain the man’s warmth, “You, why are you here?”Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    jos was not pleased with the distance between them, he frowned and took a step closer to Vivian, “I came to see my fiancee, is that not allowed?”


    “This is my family’s apartment.” Vivian swallowed hard, her heart beating fiercely, jos’s approach brought a strong sense of oppression, making her breathing difficult, “As a gentleman, you should have announced your visit before entering.”


    “I am no gentleman; I am your fiance.” jos snatched the script from her hands behind her back, “A musical? You sing very well.”


    “You heard?” Vivian’s eyes widened, her face slightly red, “How long have you been here?”


    “Since you said ‘I am deeply in love with you’, I’ve heard everything after that.” jos touched her flushed cheek, which was somewhat hot, “You were so absorbed in your role that you didn’t notice my arrival.”


    “I…” Vivian snatched the script back from his hand, “Now that you’ve seen me, as you can see, I’m fine. I can sing, dance, eat, drink, I’m healthy. Youshould attend to your own affairs instead of wasting time on me.”


    “Are you trying to send me away, my fiancee?” jos was displeased by Vivian’s indifferent attitude.


    “My name is Vivian, Mr. Hargrave.” Vivian frowned, disliking the way jos addressed her. Each time he uttered ‘fiancee’, his tone was t, as if speaking to a stranger, constantly reminding Vivian of the loveless marriage she was about to enter.


    “You are Vivian, and you are also my fiancee.” jos crossed his arms over his chest, his biceps bulging attractively beneath his perfectly tailored ck suit, “This is a deal between your father and me, an alliance between Houston and Los Angeles.”


    Vivian swallowed, images of jos’s naked, muscr body shing through her mind. Even though she had never seen jos’s body, the conversation with Luzia about the wedding night and making love hadn’t faded from her memory. She seemed to hear jos’s breathing.


    No, no… stop your imagination, Vivian. His body may be tempting, but he has a heart as cold as your father’s. He will turn you into a breeding machine as pitiful as your mother.


    “Yes, Mr. Hargrave.” Vivianbatted his indifference with her own, “I’m constantly mindful of the deal between you and my father. I’m just a part of your transaction, a tool for bearing an heir.”


    “A breeding tool?” jos’s brow furrowed, he seemed angry, “Is that how you see our arrangement? That I only consider you as a tool for breeding?”


    “Isn’t it?” Vivian didn’t understand why jos was angry. She was the one who should be enraged, “Don’t you want to marry me? Don’t you want to make love, to have me bear your heir?”


    “I don’t understand how marriage, making love, having children is equivalent to seeing you as a ‘breeding tool’.” jos retorted, “You are to be my wife, I should possess your body, you should bear our children. This has nothing to do with a breeding tool.”


    “Can you give me love?” Vivian had to look up to speak to the tall jos.


    jos paused, looking into Vivian’s blue eyes. He liked her eyes, deep blue like the ocean, calming his mind considerably with just one nce.


    jos didn’t answer Vivian, but her disappointment was palpable as she guessed his response, “Without love, it is a breeding machine.”


    “You’re being too hasty, Vivian.” jos turned and left the apartment, “I think you need some time to cool off.”


    The radio clicked, and the smooth music resumed. Vivian reached out and turned it off; her heart slowly sank.