Vivienne's POV
Wait!
I didn't recognize my own voice—desperate, raw, breaking.
Celeste stood there triumphant, holding her supposed evidence. Adrian stared at me with confusion and dawning horror. The world was ending, and I had seconds to stop it.
That's impossible, I said, forcing steel into my voice. Isabelle Ashford died two years ago. Everyone knows that.
Did she? Celeste's smile was pure venom. Or did someone want everyone to think she died?
Adrian stepped between us, his jaw tight. Duchess Harcourt, these are serious accusations. If you have evidence, present it to the Royal Council formally. Not in the middle of a field like common gossip.
But Your Highness
That's an order. His voice left no room for argument. You will present your claims through proper channels, or you will drop them entirely. Am I clear?
Celeste's face flushed with rage. But she couldn't disobey a direct command from the Crown Prince. Perfectly clear, Your Highness. She shot me one last poisonous look. I'll see you at the Council hearing, Lady Laurent. Or should I start calling you by your real name?
She swept away, servant scurrying after her.
The moment she was gone, Adrian turned to me. Is it true?
My throat closed. Adrian
Is any part of what she said true? His eyes searched mine, desperate. Please. Just tell me the truth.
I'm Isabelle Ashford. The girl who was exiled. The girl everyone thought died. I came here for revenge, and I've been lying to you from the start.
No, I whispered. She's wrong. She has to be.
I could see him wanting to believe me. Needing to believe me.
Then we'll prove it. He took my hand. Together. Whatever she's planning—we'll face it together.
His trust was a knife to my heart.
I pulled away and ran.
Eleanor was waiting when I burst into the townhouse, shaking and breathless.
Celeste knows, I gasped. She has a witness. She's going to expose everything at a Council hearing
I heard. Eleanor's expression was grave. Jasper sent word. But Isabelle, there's something else we need to discuss.
What could possibly be more important than
You're falling for him.
The accusation hit like a slap. What? No, I'm not
Don't lie to me. Eleanor grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to meet her eyes. I saw how you looked at him in that field. How you ran to him instead of away. This is exactly what destroys revenge plans.
I'm not falling for anyone. But my voice shook. Adrian is a tool. Nothing more.
Is he? Eleanor's eyes were hard. Then why were you staring at his portrait for an hour this morning? Why do you smile when his name is mentioned? Why
Stop! I yanked away from her. You don't understand. I have everything under control.
Do you? Eleanor's laugh was bitter. Because from where I stand, you're about to lose everything. Your revenge. Your identity. Your heart. Love makes you weak, Isabelle. It makes you hesitate. It makes you choose the wrong things.
Like you chose? The words escaped before I could stop them. Is that why you're still hiding after all these years? Because love made you weak?
Eleanor's face went white. That's not fair.
Isn't it? Anger and fear boiled over inside me. You loved the Queen Regent. You chose to run instead of fight. And now you're watching me make the same mistakes
A knock on the door interrupted us.
Jasper burst in, face pale. We have a problem.
Another one? I laughed hysterically. Add it to the list.
Celeste hired three more investigators. Jasper spread documents across the table. They're digging into everything. Your travel routes. Your finances. Every detail of Vivienne Laurent's supposed past.
How long do we have? Eleanor asked.
Two weeks. Maybe less. Jasper's expression was grim. They're thorough. Eventually, they'll find the gaps. The inconsistencies. And when they do
They'll prove Vivienne Laurent never existed, I finished. My hands clenched into fists. Then I need to move faster. Accelerate the timeline. Get the evidence I need before
Before what? Eleanor demanded. Before they expose you? Before Adrian discovers you've been lying to him from the start? Before you lose the one real thing you've found in all this mess?
It's not real! I shouted. None of it is real! It's manipulation! It's a game! It's
It's love. Eleanor's voice softened. And that terrifies you more than Celeste or Beaumont or any of them. Because if you admit you love him, you have to admit that revenge isn't enough anymore.
Tears burned behind my eyes. I don't love him.
Keep telling yourself that. Eleanor turned away. But when the time comes to choose between destroying your enemies and keeping his heart—you're going to have to decide which matters more.
I shouldn't have gone to the Royal Opera that night. Should have stayed hidden, planned my next move, prepared for Celeste's Council hearing.
But I needed to see him. Just once more. Just to prove Eleanor wrong.
I don't love him. I can't love him.
The opera house was magnificent—all gold and red velvet and glittering chandeliers. I sat in my private box, alone, trying to focus on the stage.
Then Adrian arrived.
He stood in the doorway of the box beside mine, searching the crowd. When his eyes found me, relief flooded his features.
He could have sat in the royal box. Could have sat anywhere. Instead, he entered mine.
Your Highness. I stood, curtsying. You shouldn't be here. People will talk
Let them talk. He sat beside me, closer than proper. I needed to make sure you were all right. After this afternoon
I'm fine.
Liar. But he smiled slightly. You're always lying to me, Vivienne. One day, I hope you'll trust me enough to tell the truth.
One day, when you know the truth, you'll hate me for every lie I've told.
The opera began. Beautiful music filled the air, a tragic love story about a princess and a commoner who couldn't be together.
How fitting.
I tried to focus on the stage. Tried to ignore Adrian's presence beside me, the warmth radiating from his body, the way he kept glancing at me instead of watching the performance.
Our hands rested on the shared armrest between our seats.
I told myself to move. To create distance. To remember my mission.
But I couldn't.
His fingers inched closer. Slowly. Carefully. Giving me time to pull away.
I didn't pull away.
When his hand touched mine, electricity sparked through my entire body. Every nerve ending came alive. Every wall I'd built came crashing down.
Neither of us pulled away.
We sat there, hands touching in the darkness, watching a tragedy unfold on stage while our own tragedy built around us.
Vivienne, he whispered. Whatever happens at that Council hearing—whatever Celeste claims—I'll protect you. I promise.
A tear slid down my cheek. You can't promise that.
Watch me. His thumb stroked across my knuckles. I don't care what they say. I don't care about your secrets. I just care about you.
I love you. The thought crashed through me with devastating clarity. I love you, and it's going to destroy everything.
The opera ended. The crowd applauded. Adrian still held my hand.
Come with me, he said quietly. Let me take you somewhere safe. Somewhere they can't hurt you.
I almost said yes. Almost let myself imagine a world where I could just be Vivienne, where I could forget revenge and justice and everything else.
Then Jasper appeared in the doorway, his face ashen.
Lady Vivienne. We need to leave. Immediately.
What's wrong?
Celeste's investigator just made a breakthrough. Jasper's voice shook. He found travel records. A woman matching your description left the Borderlands exactly two years ago—the same day Isabelle Ashford was declared dead.
My blood turned to ice.
He's bringing the evidence to the Council tomorrow morning. Jasper met my eyes. By noon, everyone will know that Vivienne Laurent and Isabelle Ashford appeared and disappeared at the exact same time. They'll know you're the same person.
Adrian's hand tightened on mine. Vivienne? What is he talking about?
I looked at him, this man I wasn't supposed to love, whose trust I'd betrayed, whose heart I was about to break
I'm sorry, I whispered.
Then I ran.
Again.