C3 Held at Gunpoint

The moment Celeste heard the words “cousin’s wife,” her expression darkened. She shot Vivienne a cold, warning look. Vivienne bit her lip. *Is Adrian trying to get me killed?*

Celeste dragged Vivienne into the mansion before finally letting go of her wrist. She turned around and glared at her. “That man just called you ‘cousin’s wife.’ Is he Rowan’s cousin?”

Vivienne nodded. “Yes.” Smack! Celeste’s palm landed hard across Vivienne’s face. The force of the slap made her ears ring. “Have you no shame?” Celeste shouted furiously. “On the very first day of your marriage, you’re already getting involved with your husband’s cousin! Are you trying to destroy this family? If you want to ruin yourself, don’t drag the Virement family down with you!”

Vivienne lowered her eyes and gently touched her burning cheek. Then she looked up at Celeste, her gaze cold and distant. “Why don’t you ask whether I did it willingly?” It was always the same. Whenever something happened, Celeste’s first instinct was to scold and punish her. She had never once asked for an explanation. Celeste let out a mocking laugh.

“One is a crippled man who can’t even be a proper husband. The other is a healthy, normal man. Anyone with a brain knows which one to choose.” Her eyes narrowed

“Didn’t you spend the entire night with that ‘cousin’ yesterday?” A soft feminine voice drifted down from the staircase.

It sounded gentle, but there was no mistaking the malice hidden beneath it. The moment Celeste saw Seraphina coming downstairs, her expression softened immediately. She hurried over and asked with concern, “Seraphina, are you feeling better?”

“Much better, Mom.” Seraphina smiled sweetly before turning her gaze toward Vivienne.

“Vivienne, although I can understand how you feel, you should think about the Virement family too.” Just moments ago, she had watched everything from upstairs. She had seen Vivienne sitting in the car with that man. She had even seen him kiss her.

Seraphina had never imagined that the dull, unattractive Vivienne was capable of attracting a man’s attention. After speaking, she turned to Celeste and wrapped an arm around hers. “Mom, am I right?” she asked coquettishly.

Celeste smiled affectionately “Of course you’re right.”

Vivienne clenched her hands tightly, pressing her lips together without saying a word. Anyone who didn’t know the truth would have thought that Seraphina and Celeste were the real mother and daughter.

For so many years, Celeste had done everything she could to secure her place in the Virement family, desperately trying to please every member of the household. It was as if her own biological daughter had merely been picked up off the street. Suppressing the smile on her face,

Celeste looked at Vivienne sternly. “Vivienne, now that you’ve married into the Devereux family, you must know your place. Don’t you dare humiliate the Virement family.”

Vivienne lowered her eyes, hiding the mockery in them. Her expression remained calm as she said evenly, “Thank you for the reminder. If one day I’m unhappy enough to do something reckless, I wonder whether the Devereux family will let the entire Virement family pay the price.”

Seraphina had never expected the quiet, submissive Vivienne to say something like that. She frowned “What do you mean?” “Whatever my sister heard.” Vivienne slowly raised her head. Behind her thick glasses, her expression remained as dull and lifeless as ever. Did they really think they could order her around like a servant?

In the past, she had endured everything because she still hoped her mother would one day care about her. But the moment Celeste forced her to marry into the Devereux family in Seraphina’s place... That last shred of hope died.

“You—!” Seraphina had grown so used to Vivienne’s silence and obedience that this was the first time she had ever seen her fight back. Her face darkened. She glared at Vivienne before turning to Celeste, her voice instantly softening.

“Mom, I was only trying to help Vivienne. Why is she talking to me like this?” Celeste had heard the warning in Vivienne’s words. But in her eyes, Vivienne had always been obedient. No matter how unfairly she was treated, she had always chosen to endure it.

So Celeste instinctively took Seraphina’s side.

Looking at Vivienne, she said coldly, “Vivienne, apologise to your sister.” Vivienne met Celeste’s gaze without flinching. “Apologise?” A faint, mocking smile touched her lips. “Impossible.”

In Celeste’s memory, her daughter had once been bright, beautiful, and full of life. But as the years passed, Vivienne had become quieter, duller, and hidden herself behind thick glasses and an unremarkable appearance.

This was the first time in years that Celeste had seen such sharpness in her eyes. For a brief moment... That cold, unwavering gaze sent a chill down her spine. Celeste swallowed hard before turning to Seraphina and lowering her voice. “Seraphina, let’s forget about it today. We can’t risk pushing her too far...”

Although Seraphina was unwilling, she had no choice but to let it go. If Vivienne really did something reckless and the Devereux family became furious, the entire Virement family would suffer the consequences. How could she continue living her comfortable life then? Seeing that her words had finally silenced them,

Vivienne turned around and went upstairs to pack her belongings. She had lived in the Virement residence for twenty years. Yet everything she owned fit into a single suitcase. It was as though she had never truly belonged there.

When she came downstairs with her suitcase, the hall was empty. Vivienne paused for a moment before quietly leaving through the back door of the Virement residence. Although she didn’t know why Rowan’s “cousin” seemed so interested in her, she knew one thing for certain Staying as far away from him as possible was the right choice.

Rowan waited at the front entrance of the Virement residence for a long time, but Vivienne never came out. His expression gradually darkened.

Thinking back to the information in the file he had read the night before, his handsome brows furrowed. *Is that ugly woman being bullied by her family?*

The thought had barely crossed his mind when he instinctively reached up and touched the cheek she had slapped. He let out a cold snort. She certainly didn’t seem like someone easy to bully.

“Excuse me,” Seraphina said, offering him a charming smile. “You’ve been waiting out here for quite some time. Why don’t you come inside and have a cup of tea?” A soft female voice interrupted his thoughts.

Rowan looked up. A delicate young woman stood beside the car. It was Seraphina. The moment her eyes fell on his face, she froze. From her bedroom window, she had watched Vivienne sitting in the car with a man. She had even seen him kiss her. But she had never imagined... The man would be this devastatingly handsome. His perfectly sculpted features, commanding presence, and effortless elegance made it impossible to look away. *How could such an extraordinary man be interested in that stupid, ugly woman?*

The thought filled Seraphina with jealousy.

It seemed she had made the right decision by trying her luck. Her thoughts were written all over her face. They didn’t escape

Rowan’s notice. A faint sneer curled his lips. “Who are you?” he asked coldly.

“I’m Vivienne’s sister. My name is Seraphina Virement.” She smiled sweetly, completely unfazed by his indifferent attitude. Seraphina? The name sounded familiar.

Rowan recalled the file he had read the night before. Besides Vivienne, the Virement family had two other daughters.

One of them... Was supposed to have been his fiancée. To most people, Seraphina was undoubtedly beautiful.

But in Rowan’s eyes, even Vivienne’s plain, “ugly” appearance was somehow more pleasing to look at. He had no patience to continue talking to her.

“Where’s Vivienne?” Rowan asked expressionlessly.

“S-She... she should still be upstairs packing her things,” Seraphina replied with a sweet smile.

"She asked me to come down and invite you inside for a cup of tea.” She had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away.

Anyone connected to the Devereux family was bound to have an extraordinary background. Besides... He was unbelievably handsome.

Rowan saw through her lie the moment she opened her mouth. A cold, mocking smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Vivienne invited him inside? That woman had looked at him as though he were a plague. By now, she had probably slipped out through the back door.

Without sparing Seraphina another glance,

Rowan rolled up the window and drove away.

Seraphina stood rooted to the spot. Never in her life had she been ignored so completely by a man. Humiliation washed over her as her face flushed, then turned pale with anger.

Vivienne went straight back to the small apartment she rented. Since starting university, she had rarely returned to the Virement residence. She had lived on campus during her studies, and after graduation, she rented a small apartment of her own.

If Celeste hadn’t forced her to stay at the Virement residence these past few days to pressure her into marrying, Vivienne would never have set foot in that house again. Besides, Rowan didn’t even live at the villa and clearly had no interest in seeing her. So what difference did it make where she lived?

By the time she finished unpacking her things, it was already afternoon. She decided to head out and buy a few daily necessities.

Vivienne rented a small apartment in one of Rostenvel’s older neighbourhoods. The streets were narrow, the buildings worn with age, and the area was always bustling with people.

As soon as she turned into a narrow alley Vivienne had barely turned into the alley when a sharp crack split the air.

Bang! Gunfire.

She looked up just in time to see a white van racing toward the intersection at terrifying speed. Tires screeched against the pavement as it swerved past her.

Then, without warning, the sliding door flew open. A tall man leapt from the moving van. He hit the ground, rolled across the pavement, and came to a stop at her feet. Before Vivienne could react, he was already on his feet. Cold metal pressed against her temple. “Don’t scream,” he said in a low, urgent voice. “Take me with you.” Vivienne looked up at his face. “Adrian?!” His eyes darkened. “I said don’t scream.”