He looked up at Vivienne with cold, empty eyes.
"Sign it," he said flatly, his voice devoid of the affection and concern it once held.
Vivienne's face flushed with fury and despair. "Why are you doing this? I'm the daughter of the person who helped you—"
"A daughter of a criminal, I know,"
James interrupted, his voice cold. "So, before something happens to you, pick up the pen and sign it."
Vivienne fell silent, her skin prickling at the strange authority in his voice. She grasped the armrest of the sofa for support, feeling weak from his gaze, which seemed to pierce through her.
"N-No!" she said firmly, her voice trembling as she attempted to stand her ground.James loosened his necktie and approached her, the firmness in his steps intensifying her fear.
She backed away, sinking into the sofa.
"Vivienne, I know you understand the purpose of our marriage. We only married because of my mother's wish, and now that my mother is dead and your father has committed murder—"
Slap!
"Get your face away from me! Don't you ever say that in front of me! And stop calling me Vivienne! My father is innocent! You should know that!" she cried out, slapping him across the face.
James removed his glasses and leaned against the table, unfazed by the slap.
"Vivienne, don't make this harder than it needs to be. You will sign it, or else. You won't like what will happen," he said seriously, causing Vivienne to swallow hard.
She clenched her fist, closed her eyes tightly, and slowly knelt in front of him.
"I'm begging you, James, Don't do this to me... Why don't you just help my father prove his innocence than this. Didn't you love me? Didn't you feel anything for me since we were little?" she pleaded.
"Are you sure you want me to answer that?" James asked emotionlessly, his words cutting deep.
Vivienne's face crumpled. "You have no heart! Fine, I'll sign the divorce papers, but on one condition! Release my father from prison, and we'll leave!" she declared, her voice resolute even as she remained on her knees.
They stared at each other in silence. Vivienne stood up and grabbed the pen with trembling hands, signing the paper before throwing it at James. The papers scattered, and tears streamed down her face.
"There it is! We're divorced! And I expect you to release my father from prison...I hate you so much, James," she said, her voice breaking as she turned to leave.
As she exited, she unexpectedly came face-to-face with her aunt.
"Well, well, well, look who's here," her aunt said, looking her up and down. She quickly wiped her tears and was about to leave when her aunt pulled her back and pushed her.
She winced in pain And slowly stand up
"Where do you think you're going, criminal?!" her aunt sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. Without warning, her aunt slapped her hard across the face, the sound echoing in the hallway.
"You disgrace this family with your presence. Your father is a criminal, and you're no better. How dare you show your face here?" her aunt hissed, her words piercing through the woman's already fragile heart.
Tears streamed down as she clutched her stinging cheek, her body trembling with sorrow and fear.
" Father is Innocent Auntie! Please believe me! "
"Get out of here! You're nothing but a burden and a shame to us all!" her aunt continued, her voice growing louder and crueler with each word. "No one wants you here. You and your father deserve to rot in hell!"
She stood outside the office, trembling from the encounter with her aunt. Her cheek still stung from the slap, and her heart ached from the cruel words. She took a deep breath, trying to gather herself, and began to walk down the long corridor.
As she rounded a corner, she stumbled upon two familiar faces. Her cousin and her best friend. Her cousin, with a smirk plastered on her face, leaned against the wall, while her best friend stood awkwardly beside her, avoiding eye contact.
"Well, if it isn't the criminal's daughter," her cousin sneered, her eyes glinting with malice. "What's wrong? Did Mother give you a good lecture?"
Her heart sank further, her eyes locking onto her best friend's face, searching for a trace of the friendship they once shared. But her best friend couldn't meet her gaze, staring at the floor instead.
"I can't believe you," She whispered, her voice trembling. "How could you betray me like this? You know my father is innocent. How could you stand as a witness against him?"
Her best friend flinched at her words, guilt flickering in her eyes, but she remained silent.
"Answer me!" Vivienne cried, her voice breaking. "We were best friends. I trusted you!"
Her cousin chuckled darkly. "Oh, come on. Did you really think she would stand by you? She knows which side to be on. Besides, everyone knows your father is guilty."
Her hands balled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "You don't know anything," she spat. "You weren't there. You didn't see what happened."
Her cousin's smirk widened. "Maybe not, but the evidence speaks for itself. And thanks to your dear best friend here, the case against your father was solid."
She turned back to her best friend, tears streaming down her face. "Please, tell me why. Why did you do it? Why did you lie?"
Her best friend finally looked up, her eyes filled with regret. "I... I didn't have a choice," she murmured.
She felt as if the ground had been pulled from under her. The betrayal cut deep, and the pain was almost too much to bear. She took a step back, shaking her head in disbelief.
"You're just like the rest of them," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought you were different. I thought you were my friend."
Her best friend reached out, but she recoiled, stepping further away. "Don't touch me," she said coldly. "You've done enough."
With that, She turned and walked away, leaving her cousin and best friend behind.