n had already gone to bed. Vivienne made sure he

n’t sleep. She tossed

though. No matter how late she slept, she

to be taken to the shop for the night market later, and she would h

p about half an hour later, with her friend Lainey in th

. Lainey already knew where they were heading, and she pulle

cement,” Lainey commented. “Why are you fixing

d. “I don’t have that kind of money. I

iends for about ten years now. Lainey ran her own cosmetics store, and bu

back to her senses soon enough to cut herself off. She glanced at Vivienne, then smiled and changed the subject. “You’re still young, but you hate everybody I’ve introduced you to! Do you want to

acing. She shook them away. “I know you want to help, Lainey, b

d all woun

couldn’t stop talking the second she opened her mouth. “I overheard my aunt

ed her softly. “La

enly to stare at Vivienne. “What did you just say? What? You don’t even h

ight as well have risen in the

random guy, but my mom found him on a

fully stopped at the side of the ro

nterrogate her and put her hands on her hips sternly. “Don’t you

s name’s Damien. He’s local, about 30… He works f

up enough in social tiers for Lainey to be sure where she’d heard

yreach, Damien. kept himself rather low-key, neve

t dwell too

t you when I get a cha

,” Lainey said. “But, more importantly, does he have a house? How much does he make

f them. Vivienne shook her head. “I didn’t ask about his income, and I myself don’t ha

ary. We agreed to live together, and that’s pret

ave a house. You’re going to have to work so hard in the future! You’ll have your children’s education to think

sunderstand her, so she explained, “I proposed all these things. I don’t want to take advantage

ren’s education weren’t prob

ing as this. “Well… Do you want to go to the class reunion next Friday? I heard Hendrix will be there, and we’ve already

ts housing. The places down there cost millions. If you really do rec

uch. If Vivienne and Hendrix were together, V

riend was getting at. She shook he

and she should be faithful to him. Damien had been good to her so far. She’d try to live a good life

n Vivienne’s phone rang, and when Vivienne

rv

and heard his warm voice come through.

friend,” Vivienne sa

e was in a hurry t

Damien was brief. “Send me your location w

, who lowered her voice. “

ion back to the phone. “I’m done

avoid him. Now that they were legally married, Vivienne didn’t see any reason to not get along well with her new husband-regardless of whether there

ologetically. “I guess I’m not going to the nig

tically. “Fine. As your best friend, I’ll give you my blessi

“Don’t worry. He’

arrived in a cheap Chevrolet and texted her on Whatsa

the message, and Damien got out of the car to

e the aura he gave off. The clothes he was wearing made him l

, and she patted her on the shoulder. “Well, now I know wh

our date was this good-looking. But

ughed. “I won’t deny that his l

im. “This is my best friend, Lainey. We’ve known each other

y the word husband. Vivienne blu

glanced at her before turning to gree

myth.” Lainey giggled. “Vi

ary in Washington. D.C. But Vivienne knew she was just being polite-Lainey had always loved the idea of marrying int

h weren’t stupid, and beauty wasn’t worth all th

life. If she was doing well with a simple