y. She arrived carrying a bouquet of expensive, fr

erfect mask of sympathy. "Oh, Ava, you poor thing," she cooed, placing the flowers on the be

o itch, her throat tightening. She subtly tri

earing. "Ethan is so worried about you," she said, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "He

his career, and then he has to worry about you and your... accidents." She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper

Someone like Vivienne

dable. The itching in her nose was getting w

't look so down," she said, patting Ava's hand with a condescending touch. "I

te, designed to wound.

shifted. She stood up and "accidentally" knocked over the glass

s showed no remorse. She then let out a small,

nvisible scratch was welling with a single d

t a glance: the spilled water, Vivienne holding her "

her side, completely ignoring Ava. He exam

slightly. "I was just trying to help Ava, and I slipped.

rd Ava. His face was dark

, reaching for her notepad. Bu

g but trouble. First, you injure yourself, and now you're hurting Vivien

He grabbed her by the arm, his grip painfully t

n clung to her unpleasantly. The pain in her head t

ze," he

eart a block of ice. She

on't have, you'll use actions." He pushed her down, forcing her to her

extreme humiliation. Do you require interve

lve hardening. I will fin

, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders, murmuring words of comfort. "Let's get

ing on the cold hos

lped her back into bed. Later that evening,

ake you home," the driver said, his t

Vivienne in the main living room, laughing together over a bottle of wine. Vivi

he announced, his voice cold. "She's feeling unwell because of the shock you gave he

ed. Ava simply turned and walked away to do as he asked, her movements stiff and ro