From Exile To Queen Of Everything - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

His words were so vile, so utterly self-serving, that Vivian felt sick to her stomach. How had she ever found this man attractive?
"I don't want it," she spat. "Mason, stop the car and let me out."
He just sneered. "Vivian, your father approved of this marriage. It's a business alliance. After you disrespected my parents at your stepmother's party, you owe them an apology. After you give Chloe your blood, I'll take you to my parents' house. You will kneel, you will apologize, and you will say whatever they want to hear. Then, this whole incident will be forgotten, and the wedding will proceed as planned."
Vivian let out a dry, mirthless laugh. Kneel? Apologize? Who did the Quinns think they were, royalty?
"I knew you'd be happy," he said, misinterpreting her laugh. "But first, the transfusion. I expect you to be a proper wife, Vivian. Which means you'll be quitting your job."
She whipped her head around to stare at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. He thought she was happy about this? She pressed her tongue against her cheek, took a deep breath, and then unleashed a torrent of abuse.
"Mason, what rock did your family crawl out from under? Kneel and apologize to your parents? Screw you! Take a good look in the mirror! 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 slammed on the brakes. In that split second of confusion, Vivian threw open the car door and bolted.
The realization of Vivian cursing him hit him like a ton of bricks. His fists clenched. No one had ever treated him with such contempt. "Get her," he snarled into his phone.
Vivian tried to flag down a car, but two large men appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her.
"Let go of me! Help! Somebody help me!" Vivian screamed, but people quickly looked away when seeing Mason's luxurious car, not wanting to get involved.
"Vivian, let's go," he said, grabbing her wrist and dragging her towards the nearby hospital.
"Help! Help me!" Vivian cried out.
"My girlfriend is just having a tantrum," Mason explained smoothly to anyone who stared. And just like that, her pleas were dismissed.
Helpless, she was dragged into Chloe's hospital room.
Chloe greeted her with a radiant smile. "Vivian, dear, you're here! Please, sit. I'm so sorry to be a bother again. If you're going to blame someone, blame me. It's all my fault. It has nothing to do with Mason. He's just worried about me. I don't want to cause any trouble between you two."
Mason took Chloe's hand. "Chloe, what are you talking about? I love you. Vivian is just your stand-in. If she had given you your transfusion on time, you wouldn't still be in the hospital. This is all her 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 stand-in is a hundred times prettier than the original? Where, exactly, do you see a resemblance between me and her? My eyes are bigger, I'm taller, my figure is better, and my skin is fairer. And a stand-in? Don't make me laugh. Why should I give her my blood? Did I kill your family, Chloe? What, exactly, do I owe you?"
Both Mason and Chloe were stunned into silence. They had never seen this sharp-tongued, ruthless side of Vivian. Her words had stripped them bare, leaving them exposed and humiliated. Chloe, in particular, dug her nails into her palms, her eyes burning with hatred.
Mason felt a strange sense of cognitive dissonance. He actually... agreed with her. Chloe wasn't as beautiful as Vivian. Vivian had the kind of soft, ethereal beauty that men dreamed of.
Seeing the way Mason was looking at her, Chloe knew she was losing him. She relaxed her fists and collapsed against him, letting out a series of weak coughs.
"Vivian, dear," she whispered, "I know you don't want to do this. It's okay. I won't force you. Life and death are in the hands of fate," she said. "You're right. You don't owe me anything. I'm 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," he promised. "I will make her give you blood, no matter what it takes." He turned to Vivian. "Vivian, if you give Chloe a transfusion, I will agree to any condition you name."
Chloe's eyes flew open in panic. "No! You can't, Mason! My body can hold out a little longer. The doctors will find another way. Don't sacrifice yourself for me!"
What if Vivian demanded that he marry her? Chloe was afraid. She would lose everything. Her ultimate goal had always been to become Mrs. Quinn.
Vivian saw the fear in her eyes and 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, "don't make 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 hair, moved by her selfless devotion. "Vivian, you just want to marry me, 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 quickly composed herself, burying her face in his chest and squeezing out a few tears.
"No, Mason, I don't want to be a burden. If you marry her 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'll live with a guilty conscience for the rest of my life."
"Chloe," Mason whispered, deeply moved, holding her tight.
They clung to each other, a perfect picture of tragic love. And Vivian... Vivian was the villain, the evil third party trying to tear them apart.