His words were so vile, so utterly self–serving, bthat /bVivian fel sick to her stomach. How had she ever found this man attractive?

“I have no interests” she spat. bMason/bb, /bstop the car and let me out.”

Mason just sneered. “bVivian/bb, /byour father approved this bmarriage/b, and it’s a business deal. After you insulted my parents at your stepmother’s party, you owe them an apology. Once byou’ve /bbgiven /bChloe your blood, I’ll take you to their house. You’ll apologize, and say whatever they want to hear. Then we can forget this whole mess and move forward with the worlding”

Tran oi

Vivian let out a dry, mirthlessugh. To her, the Quinns acted as if they were royalty.

knew you’d be happy Mason continued, misinterpreting herugh at first, the transfusion. I expect you to be a proper wife, which means youll bbe /bbquiting /byour job,”

Vivian’s eyes wide with disbelief. She didn’t expect Mason to think she was happy about this. She btook /bba /bdeep breath, and then unleashed a btorrent /bof babuse/bb. /b

b“/bbMason/b, what rock did your family crawl out from under?” she roared. “Do you really think I’m that desperate for you? I told you we were done! Are you so pathetic that you have to cling to me like this? A proper wife? In your dreams!”

Mason was so shocked by her outburst that he mmed on the bbrakes/b. bIn /bthat split second of confusion, Vivian threw open the car door band /bbolted

The realization of Vivian bcursing /bhim hit him like a ton of bricks. His fists clenched. No one had ever treated him with such contempt. “Get her,” he bsnarled /binto his phone, calling his guards.

Tworge men appeared out of nowhere, just as Vivian was trying to g down a taxi, they grabbed her and dragged her towards bMason/b.

“Let of me! Help! Somebody help me!” Vivian screamed, but people bquickly /blooked away when seeing Mason’s luxurious car, not wanting to get involved.

b“/bVivian, let’s go,” he said, grabbing her wrist and dragging her towards the nearby hospital.

“Help” Help me!” Vivian cried out.

“My girlfriend bis /bbjust /bbhaving /ba tantrum, Mason exined smoothly to anyone who stared.

And just like that, her bpleas /bwere dismissed. She was dragged helplessly into Chloe’s hospital room, where Chloe greeted her with a radiant smile.

b“/bVivian. . you’re finally here! Please, bsi/b,” said Chloe. “Im so sorry to be a hother again. It has nothing to do with Mason. He’s just worried about me. I don’t want to cause any btrouble /bbetween you two.”

chloe, what are you talking about? I love you. Vivian is just your stand–in,” Mason btook /bChloe’s hand. If she had given you your transfusion on time, you wouldn’t still be in the hospital. This bis /bball /bser fault.”

In the past, Vivian would have stood there and taken it. But she was not the same person,

“Mason, are you blind?” she said, her voice dripping with scorn. “What kind of bstand/b–in is a hundred times prettier than the original? Where, exactly, do you see a resemnce between me and her? My eyes are bigger, I’m taller, my figure is better, and my skin is fairer”

She then turned to Chloe and pressed on. “And a stand–in? Don’t make meugh. bWhy /bshould I give you my blood? Did I kill your family, Chloet What exactly, do I owe you!”

Both Mason and Chloe were stunned into silence. Chloe, in particr, eyes burning with haired. They had never seen this bsharp/b–tongued, ruthless ude of Vivian. Her words had uripped them bare, leaving them exposed and humiliated.

Yet Mason felt a strange sense of dissonance. He had to admit, Chloe wasn’t as beautiful bas /bVivian. Vivian had bthat /bsoft, ethereal beauty men dreamed of

Seeing the way bMason /bwas looking at her, Chloe knew she was losing him. She immediately copsed against him, letting out a series of weak cough

“Vivianb, /bdear,” she whispered. “I know byou /bdon’t want bto /bbdo /bthis. It’s bokay/b. I won’t force you. It’s my own fate, and you don’t owe me anything” With bthat/bb, /bshe turned to bMason/b, acting the victim. Tim the one who should be sorry. Mason, just let her go. I’ll be fine. Mason’s heart ached with pity. “Chloe, don’t worry, l

‘he promised. “I will bmake /bher give you blood, no matter what it takes” Then he looked at Vivian, as if making up his mind. “If you give Chlor a transfusion, I will agree to any condition you name.”

Chloe’s eyes flew open in panic. “No! bYou /bbcan’t/b. Mason!” she called out. “I can hold out a little longer. The doctors will find another bway/b, Don’t

sacriber yourself for me!”

What if Vivian demanded that he marry her? Chloe was afraid. She would blose /beverything. Her ultimate goal had always been to be Mrs. Quinn

Seeing the fear in Chloe’s eyes, Vivian smiled, a slow, predatory smile. She tapped a finger against her lips, feigning deep thought. “Anything, you say? Well, I’ll have to think about that.”.

Chloe knew exactly what she was thinking. “Vivian, please, she begged, b“/bbdon’t /bmake things difficult for Mason. It’s all my fault. If you’re unhappy. you can hit me, you can yell at me. I don’t mind.”

Mason stroked her bhair/b, moved by bher /bselfless devotion. “bVivian/b, you just want to bmarry /bme, right? Fine. I agree. Now, let’s go get your blood drawn.”

“No!” Chloe shrieked, her voice so sharp and shrill it startled Mason. Realizing her mistake, she bquickly /bposed herself, burying her face in his chest and squeezing out a few tears.

“No, Mason, I don’t want to be a burden” she sobbed. “If you bmarry /bher because you love her, then I have nothing to say. I will sincerely wish you a long and happy life together. But if you’re only doing this for me. I live with a guilty conscience for the rest of my life

“Chloe, my dear.” Mason whispered, deeply moved, holding her tight

They clung to each other, a perfect picture of tragic love. And Vivian, in this picture, seemed to be the viin, the evil third party trying to lear Then apart