My rsentful husband

Chapter2

Vivian's POV

Then Kian turned to me with venom in his eyes.

A silent fear settles in me as I slowly step back.

He calmed down for a moment, looking around the salon. Then his eyes settled on the devices. He walks to it and picks up those devices, examining them, and with the clock ticking. He looked more amused than I feared.

“So, my little bastard sister wasn’t going to marry that Vespertine bastard just for mere amusement, it seems,” he chuckled condescendingly.

He puts the devices down, looking at me with the cruelty that I have endured for years. “Isn’t that bastard famous for being tall and handsome?” He sneered, walking closer to me. With each step he took forward, I stepped back, unable to bear his suffocating presence.

“You see, he is way out of your league,” he looked me up and down with disdain. “You should consider yourself lucky, Vivian, being the illegitimate daughter, you got yourself such a remarkable bachelor.”

My breath stayed heavy. As I stayed rooted to my place, but unexpectedly, he grabbed me by the chin. Squeezing my face tight, forcing me to look at him.

“Vivian Lotus,” his voice darkened and her finger sank into my cheeks. “Are you ignoring me?”

“I… I have nothing to say,” I said weakly. But the moment those words escape my lips.

He slammed me against the wall and grabbed my throat, giving just enough pressure to breathe, but the warning was clear. He could cut off the air if he wanted to.

“How dare you ignore me?!”

“Kian,” I muttered with courage, "you are hurting me.”

A sharp slap landed on the right cheek; the forceful impact stung as tears pricked through my eyes.

“Did you forget you are the daughter of a w***e? You can never be my real sister!!!! You aren’t even a real Lotus. You are tainted, Vivian, tainted.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Vivian. You were always filth and foolishly naïve. You think just because Father said you’ll marry that bastard you’ll actually marry him?”

His harsh words ghost on my skin as his grip tightens, blocking the air slightly.

My mind got hazy. I couldn’t breathe.

He pushed me away. I dropped to the floor, coughing violently.

“Don’t you ever dare think you’re one of us. You killed my mother and my real sister, who would have been here enjoying this luxury.”

“And you…” he trails off. “You are nothing but a bastard born out of wedlock. You are dirtier than a f*****g pig.”

He strode away, slamming the door shut.

A sore lump stuck in my throat. I wanted to cry; I wanted to scream. I wanted to die.

But this place isn’t the place. So, I closed my eyes, refusing the tears to fall.

I slowly got up to my feet, walked to the full-length mirror, and looked at my reflection.

This is what the daughter of Lotus should look like. Perfect even if hurt.

Adorned in jewelry, designer clothes, hair done well, and makeup pristine.

I stared at the mirror before practicing my smile. I must be perfect. I have to be perfect.

If I am not perfect, I will suffer.

* * * * * * * *

I walk down the hallway taking just enough steps at a time to not make a single sound, lowering my gaze on the carpeted floor. Gliding through the hallway to be invisible to the staff working.

The staff has always been hostile towards me. Their gazes still haunt me; I feel watched, a presence always there.

I had started walking on eggshells for as long as I knew. And this has become a habit.

“Vivian,”