“No, I’m fine,” Vivian shook her head, refusing, “I just had a terrible nightmare.”


    “Joseph’s face disgusts me,” Vivian said. She didn’t tell jos the entire dream, nor did she tell him the real reason that might have caused her to vomit. She needed time.


    “You should forget about these things instead of always dwelling on them,” jos sighed, feeling a headacheing on from Vivian’s stubbornness.


    “I’m just thinking, what can I do for Luzia?” Luzia’s wedding is the day after tomorrow, “Can’t we really do anything?”Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    “Waiting for the wedding toe is the only thing we can do,” jos said.


    Vivian’s eyes turned red, she said, “You are cruel.”


    jos nodded, epting Vivian’s assessment of him, “That’s why I will be a qualified Capo.”


    jos carried Vivian back to bed and pulled the covers over her, “You need to rest well. Get rid of your dark circles and don’t let Luzia worry about you anymore.”


    Vivian clutched the nket tightly around her, jos turned off the light andy down beside her.


    Vivian turned over, lying on her side facing jos, her gaze fell on jos’s handsome face, then slowly closed her eyes.


    She had always known that being a Capo was a dangerous profession. When their guns aimed at the enemy, the enemy’s guns were also aimed at them. Death could happen at any time, just like jos’ste father, Kamden.


    The wounds on jos told Vivian that he couldn’t escape this fate either, furthermore, she knew that Houston was not as powerful as before. People were dying every day, and even jos hated Los Angeles, where he had to bow his head for help.


    Vivian was very scared. Reality told her that no one is invincible, including jos. But she hoped that jos was invincible. She would lose her husband sooner orter, so why couldn’t it be at the age of eighty?


    On the day of Luzia’s wedding, Vivian was sent to the mansion of Luzia’s parents early. She walked up to Luzia, thinking she would see a tearful Luzia, but in fact, she was smiling happily.


    Vivian, however, did not feel happy at all. She held back her sadness and reached out to embrace Luzia.


    Luzia hugged Vivian back, her smile faded when she thought no one could see it, “Don’t feel sad for me, Vivian. Just like I said a long time ago, I have long epted my fate.”


    “Fate wants me to marry Joseph, to leave Houston, and live with him in Los Angeles. I cried, I resisted, but I couldn’t change my fate.” Luzia wiped away Vivian’s tears. Her eyes were red, but her lips always curved up, she was always smiling.


    “I’m willing to dedicate my marriage to my family, my parents, and my cousin, and go towards my predetermined fate. Vivian, I don’t need you to wish me happiness, just wish me good luck.”


    Vivian felt ashamed. Clearly, Luzia was already very sad, and she couldn’t offer any constion to Luzia, but instead, she neededfort from Luzia.


    “Wish you all the best, my friend.” Vivian cupped Luzia’s face and nted a kiss on her forehead, “May God bless you.”


    The hall for the wedding was familiar to Vivian, it was the same hall where she and jos got married, they set off from Luzia’s parents’ home and arrived at the hall without any hindrance.


    Vivian entered the hall ahead of Luzia’s mother, Joseph put on his tuxedo and stood next to the priest. There was a hint of triumph on his fierce face, still as sickening as ever.


    Vivian quickly averted her gaze, finding jos’s position. She was about to walk over when she happened to meet her father’s gaze.


    Vivian’s scalp tingled instantly. Honestly, she was still quite afraid of her father. But soon she noticed the problem, her mother wasn’t there…


    Vivian’s dazed gaze swept around the hall, there was no sign of her mother, her mother wasn’t there!


    This realization sent chills down Vivian’s spine. How could her mother not attend Joseph’s wedding? Could something have happened to her mother?


    Vivian didn’t know how she ended up sitting next to jos, nor did she know when the wedding started, she even missed the priest’s promation, and when jos gently nudged her awake, Luzia and Joseph had already exchanged rings, and now they were supposed to set off to the venue for the reception.


    “What’s wrong?” jos looked at her with concern. “Feeling unwell?”


    Vivian shook her head and, gritting her teeth, murmured, “I didn’t see my mother.”


    jos paused, looking around at the departing crowd. The venue was crowded, blocking his view. He couldn’t even spot Bryson, who had just greeted him.


    jos couldn’t ascertain Tasneem’s whereabouts and could only console Vivian, suggesting they leave with the crowd first and ask her fatherter.


    Vivian had no better option. Distraught, she followed jos’s footsteps.


    She gripped jos’s sleeve tightly, her lips pressed together. “My mother will be okay, won’t she?”


    jos gently patted her head. “Please, have faith.”


    Perhaps jos’s gentle reassurance or Vivian’s selfforting had an effect. Vivian gradually calmed down, following jos out of the hall and into the car, heading to the reception venue.


    It was a new venue, luxurious and grand. Champagne, red wine, and beautiful women filled the space. Men and women alike enjoyed themselves.


    As Vivian walked past the dance floor with her champagne, drunken men waltzed with their partners, their graceful movements flowing effortlessly. Over the crowd, she caught sight of her brother Joseph and Luzia.


    They were both superb actors. Perhaps, performing affection in front of others was their prerequisite, because Joseph’s gaze towards Luzia was tender and affectionate. If she didn’t know Joseph’s true nature, she might have thought he was deeply in love with Luzia.


    Luzia’s performance was equally impressive. No matter the depth of Joseph’s affection, Luzia reciprocated with equal emotion, gazing at him with admiration and love, her eyes never leaving Joseph.


    Unable to bear watching any longer, Vivian turned away. The false smile on Luzia’s face felt like a clown’s mask, causing her heart to ache.


    “If you don’t want to feel upset, then don’t watch,” jos concluded a conversation and joined Vivian.


    “Sorry, I just…” Vivian held her chest. “I just feel nauseated.”


    “This kind of pretense… you’ll get used to it, Vivian,” jos looked at Joseph and the smiling Luzia, then quickly looked away. “In important gatherings and events, such performances aremonce. Everyone knows, but no one breaks the facade.”


    “People all have secrets.”


    “You’re right.” Vivian took a sip of champagne, struggling to swallow down the nausea. “I feel terrible.”


    “Let’s go dance,” jos took the champagne from Vivian’s hand and set it aside, leading her into the dance floor.


    Vivian looked around, her thoughts scattered.


    “What are you looking at?”