In the banquet hall, the invited guests had all arrived. Luzia had been taken away by her mother, leaving Vivian standing alone in a corner. Her gaze swept over the people drinking champagne, each face wearing a smile. They were allworking, even conducting business, oblivious to the fact that behind this engagement ceremony, a girl was about to lose her lifelong happiness.


    As one of the protagonists of the engagement banquet, Joseph was surrounded by sessful individuals, all praising andplimenting him, waiting for Vilem’s arrival.


    Suddenly, Vivian remembered that she hadn’t seen Vilem in a long time. Thest time she asked jos, she only knew that he was safe, but she had no idea what he had been up to.


    Vivian decided to go and greet Vilem. Just as she took a step, she saw Vilem angrily grabbing Joseph by his suit cor.


    They were quarreling!


    But why?


    Of course, Joseph wouldn’t tolerate any disrespect from Vilem. He forcefully grabbed Vilem’s wrist, pulling his hand down with a fierce expression, ring coldly at his brother.


    Vivian staggered. She knew Joseph truly wanted to harm Vilem. That selfish and indifferent demon didn’t care about Vilem, his own brother. Vilem was going to be at a huge disadvantage.


    Vivian wanted to step forward to intervene, but jos stopped her. “This is an internal struggle in Los Angeles. We can’t get involved.”


    “But they are my brothers,” Vivian reminded him.


    jos cruelly informed her, “You are already married to me. You are now Vivian Hargrave.”


    Vivian was furious, but she couldn’t argue with jos.


    The engagement ceremony was about to begin. Joseph let go of Vilem and headed towards Luzia, led by Luzia’s parents, to announce their engagement to the attendees. Vivian heard the same enthusiastic apuse as the day of her own engagement.


    Vivian felt suffocated. She couldn’t bear it any longer and turned to leave the banquet hall.


    A breeze brought a cool air, and Vivian breathed deeply, suppressing the nausea rising from her stomach.


    The banquet officially started. Gentlemen led their partners onto the dance floor, swaying to the melodious piano tunes. jos was surrounded by people discussing business and temporarily didn’t notice Vivian.


    After taking two deep breaths, Vivian turned and walked out, leaving the music and lights behind.


    Luzia’s parents were interesting people, emphasizing a high-quality life andfortable surroundings. They had personally arranged and designed everything in the mansion.


    Vivian particrly liked the small courtyard outside the vi. A winding path of cobblestones disappeared into knee-high flowerbeds. Artfully shaped stone formations resembled small mountains, and the sound of flowing water filled the air.


    Luzia’s mother had ced a swing in the courtyard, apanied by rustic lighting.


    Vivian sat on the swing. The piano music from the banquet hall became soothing, and as she looked up at the stars, she pushed her feet, causing the swing to gently sway.


    The cool evening breeze eased her troubled mind, and Vivian began to feel calmer. However, she knew it was only temporary. Once she returned to the bright banquet hall, she would still feel sorry for Luzia.


    Suddenly, she heard rustling behind her. Someone was walking along the cobblestone path covered with small flowers. Vivian thought it might be josing for her. She kept her eyes closed and didn’t move.


    But soon, she caught a scent that wasn’t jos’s cologne, a scent as cold as snow.


    Vivian abruptly opened her eyes and felt a push. The swing unexpectedly began to sway.


    “Ah!” Vivian was startled and instinctively grabbed the ropes of the swing to prevent herself from being thrown off by the inertia.


    However, the swing didn’t sway as violently as she had imagined. It just gently rocked back and forth, lifting her feet off the ground for only a second.


    Regardless, Vivian was genuinely frightened. She had barely managed to calm her nausea, but she couldn’t think too much about it. As soon as her feet were back on the ground, she quickly jumped off.


    “You really have no sense of danger, Miss Vivian.”


    The person behind her finally revealed herself. Vivian widened her eyes. “Benoist?”This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    “Hello, Miss Vivian.” Shelley unceremoniously upied Vivian’s spot. “We meet again, not an easy feat.”


    “Was it you who pushed me?” Vivian couldn’t see anyone else besides Shelley.


    “It’s more dangerous for you to sneak out here alone,” imitating Vivian, Shelley gave the swing a light push. “Do you know how many Bratva might be lurking around here? Their eyes are all on you, waiting for the moment when you are alone so they can capture you.”


    Only then did Vivian realize how improper her behavior had been. She cautiously nced around. Darkness enveloped arge area, and the tree shadows swayed in the night, resembling human figures.


    Just as Vivian felt a shiver down her spine, Shelley chuckled. Startled, Vivian red at her in embarrassment. “Aren’t you sneaking out as well? Aren’t you afraid of Bratva?”


    “No, I’m not alone.” Shelley pointed behind her towards the ss door leading from the banquet hall to the courtyard. At the border between light and darkness, two tall and sturdy figures stood silently. Vivian couldn’t see their faces, but she could feel their gaze directed towards them.


    “They are the bodyguards my father assigned to me, to protect me and prevent me from escaping.”


    “Escape?” Vivian blinked, puzzled.


    “I have a brother, his name is Hanson.” Shelley looked up at Vivian, her tone gentle and unhurried, in stark contrast to theirst encounter. “He was my father’s outstanding heir, but he’s dead.”


    The name Hanson sounded familiar to Vivian.


    “My father lost his heir. Uncle Richard’s family hoped John could rece my brother as the new heir of the Benoist family.”


    Vivian was bewildered. How did this rte to her?


    “That… ” Shelley continued, “my father won’t allow that. Uncle Richard has always wanted to rece my father as the head of the Benoist family. Once John bes the heir, my father will lose absolute control over the Benoist family.”


    It was inevitable. Those who have tasted power would never easily let go, especially those who have fallen from grace never had a good ending.


    “I heard that…” Vivian nervously fidgeted, “John was sent back to Ennd. He didn’t be the heir of the Benoist family.”


    Of course, this information was from her inquiry with Vilem, who also heard it, but it wasn’t confirmed. However, judging from Shelley’s expression, Vivian thought that perhaps Vilem’s information was urate.


    Indeed, John had been sent back to Ennd by Shelley’s father-so as not to let John take away his power.


    “My brother is dead, and my father only has me, a daughter. But I am not the heir of my father.”