The Perfect Heiress

The Perfect Bachelor

Vivienne's POV

I erased all traces of my hangover and slid behind the wheel of my silver Aston Martin. It matched my battle mode—if I was going to Sinclair Global to demand an explanation for my dinner with Chuck Knight, I needed to arrive in style.

Before long, I pulled up to the grand headquarters and parked with precision. The security guards recognized my car instantly. They hurried forward, respectfully opening the door for me and taking my keys for valet parking.

The moment I stepped into the building, I felt the stares. Employees cast curious glances in my direction, whispering among themselves.

She actually cut her hair?

I could hear the hushed murmurs.

My breakup with Adrian had made waves, not just online, but within my family’s company as well.

No one thought our relationship would last. And now, everyone was paying attention, waiting to see how I would react.

They wanted to see if the once-mighty, perfect heiress would crumble like any other heartbroken woman.

“...Vivienne?”

A sugary voice rang out behind me. “Oh my God! I almost didn’t recognize you! You actually cut your hair?”

My smile vanished. Straightening my spine, I turned, my expression blank and indifferent.

Lilly.

My father’s bastard daughter with his first love. My half-sister.

“What do you want?” I asked flatly.

Lilly shrugged, ignoring my cold glare. “What could I possibly want from you? Everyone’s been miserable ever since you and Dad started fighting.”

She grinned, offering unsolicited advice. “Why are you being so stubborn? Moving out, cutting your hair—what’s the point of tormenting yourself? Look, I fully support you and your little celebrity boyfriend being together. Just soften your attitude a little and apologize to Dad. He loves you the most. He’ll give in eventually. Don’t be so unyielding.”

I smirked. “You seem awfully concerned about my breakup.”

Lilly’s smile stiffened. “Why would I be?”

“Of course you would. You’re dying for me to fall out with Dad over this relationship. That way, you can swoop in and pick up the pieces.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! You’re so cynical.” Lilly’s voice turned shrill. “Dad is forcing you into an arranged marriage with the Knights. I just feel bad for you—losing your love and being stuck with a man you don’t even like.”

I raised a brow, pulling off my sunglasses. “Oh? So I misunderstood you? But tell me, Lilly—Chuck Knight is handsome, charming, and heir to the entire Knight Empire. Every socialite in New York dreams of marrying him. How do you know I won’t like him?”

Lilly hesitated, disbelief flickering across her face. “...You actually agreed?”

I lifted my coffee in a teasing gesture. “Take a guess.”

She sneered. “Don’t underestimate the Knights. Chuck isn’t like your sweetheart Adrian. He’s not an easy man to control, and he certainly won’t tolerate your past with Adrian. Sis, I’m warning you—don’t walk into a trap.”

A small misstep caused coffee to slosh from my cup. Lilly shrieked as the dark liquid splattered onto her designer dress, staining it instantly.

“Oops, my hand slipped,” I said indifferently.

Casually, I pulled out my checkbook and scrawled a number. “Here. I paid for your dress. No need to go crying to Dad or your husband about me ‘bullying’ you.”

I turned and stepped into the elevator, leaving a humiliated Lilly behind.

She wouldn’t dare throw a tantrum in Sinclair Global’s building. Not when my older brother, Alexander, was in control. As a bastard daughter, she knew better than to cross Sinclair’s firstborn son.

I assumed she found her ruined dress utterly disgraceful but had to keep her mouth shut. That alone was satisfying. But I had bigger things to handle—like confronting whoever had leaked my personal contact information to Chuck Knight.

The silver elevator doors gleamed coldly as they slid shut. Through the narrowing gap, I caught a glimpse of Lilly’s face—smiling at me, as if the coffee accident never happened.

Sometimes, I had to admire how well Lilly could put on an act.

...

Standing before my brother’s office, I didn’t bother knocking. Instead, I entered my eye scan and kicked the door open.

Everyone on this floor instinctively ducked into their offices.

They knew what this meant—Alexander and I were about to fight.

Inside, he was in the middle of a global conference. At my sudden intrusion, he raised a hand, pausing the meeting. After turning off the camera, he looked up at me.

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes—then immediate displeasure.

“If you cut your hair for that little celebrity, I wouldn’t mind having someone shave him bald,” he said coldly.

Anger surged through me. “Why do you care? Are you planning to control my hair now, just like Father decided who I would marry?”

Unbothered, he lit a cigarette. “Stop being so childish, Viv. Come here—let me see that messy haircut.”

My sneer deepened. “Well? Are you going to help me get out of this ridiculous engagement or not?”

He crushed his cigarette in the ashtray, his gaze settling on me—heavy, unreadable. “Vivienne,” he murmured, voice deceptively soft, “You know I can't do it. Father had made up his mind. And you, more than anyone, know what marrying into the Knight family truly means.”

His words hung in the air like a warning.

I smilled bitterly, "I thought you, more than anyone, would understand why I refuse an arranged marriage."."

“Brother, have you ever loved someone? I mean, real love.” It was a naive question to ask someone like Alexander, and sure enough, his expression turned unreadable. I continued. “Of course, you’ve never loved anyone. Everything would be just a transaction for you.”

He said lightly. “Love is insignificant for people like us.”

Love is insignificant.

Wealth. Power. Status. Admiration. Respect.

Any of those mattered more than love.

After all these years, I should have been used to Alexander’s cold-blooded nature. But no matter how ruthless he was, to me, he was still the most important person in the world.

The most important.

Growing up, our father was constantly traveling. Sometimes, I wouldn’t see him for months. My mother was the one who stayed by my side—until the scandal of my father’s illegitimate child, Lilly, broke out. Then, she left. She moved abroad and didn’t return for three years.

At the time, I had just graduated middle school.

I still remember how Alexander held my right hand while holding Julian’s with his left. Our youngest sister, Nancy, was cradled in my arms. He had told us, “Everything will be fine. I’m here.”

Alexander became a father to us that day.

And he wasn’t even that much older himself.

“So, that’s it, then? Since when did you become like our father, treating me as nothing more than a pawn in your game?” I swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in my throat. “Chuck Knight isn’t someone you can just negotiate with. Given my situation, do you really think he’d overlook my past with Adrian?”

No powerful, influential man wanted to marry a woman whose past love affair had been laid bare for the world to see.

That kind of history never faded—it lingered, like a stain no one could ignore.

Alexander leaned back, studying me with an unreadable expression. “I know he’s difficult. But you’re Vivienne Sinclair. Is there any man you can’t handle? And after the breakup, I assumed you’d want to settle down. Let’s be honest—a low-tier, second-generation heir is beneath you. That only leaves Chuck Knight.”

My brows furrowed—but only slightly. Damn it. I was actually considering it now.

Alexander was right. I refuse to settle for a low-class heir, nor will I date anyone else anytime soon.

That leaves only the Knight.

His voice softened, laced with something dangerously close to persuasion. “You wanted to be the perfect heiress, Vivienne. That’s what you told me when you were just a little girl.” He paused, then added, “And sometimes, being the perfect heiress means marrying the perfect bachelor.”