Not So Easy After All

There was mockery in Queenie's expression, as if she were enjoying a show.

She was waiting for me to break down like before, which I had done many times in the past because of her.

On our dating anniversary, one phone call from her was enough for Victor to abandon me and go car racing with her.

Once, I was injured in an ambush and was lying in a hospital bed. Victor said he was going to deal with the traitor for me, but he flew to Glorian to watch a fashion show with her instead.

I had screamed at him in anger and even begged him to stay without a shred of dignity.

But he always had the same cold answer for me.

"Stop it. Queenie and I are just siblings."

Now, I took a deep breath to steady my roiling emotions, then turned to leave.

But Victor frowned and grabbed my arm.

There was a hint of displeasure in his eyes as he said, "You clearly followed me all the way here, but now you're leaving without eating something first?

"Are you throwing another fit because you misunderstood me and Queenie again?

"I've already tried to comfort you and even gave you a gift. Vivienne, don't push your luck just because I've been patient with you."

He rarely said so much to me in one breath.

It wasn't because he cared, but because he sensed that things were slipping out of his control.

But none of that mattered anymore.

"I'm just here to see someone," I said, trying my very best to keep my tone even. "Besides, we've already broken up. Whatever both of you do now has nothing to do with me."

Queenie's eyebrows rose. My reaction was clearly not what she had expected.

"Vivienne, don't say things out of spite," she said slowly as she looped her arm around Victor's flashily. "I was in a bad mood today, so I had Vic come to keep me company.

"Don't read too much into it. Although he and I are not related by blood, we really are just family."

Queenie was enjoying the privilege of a lover while hiding behind the title of family.

It was shameless, but it no longer had anything to do with me.

I didn't bother to defend myself and merely nodded. Then, I walked toward the neighboring private room I had reserved to meet my contact.

But before we could start our discussion, voices from the room next door slipped through the crack of the door.

It was Queenie's voice, full of hurt and complaint.

"Vic, why are you so bad at coaxing people now? You can't even soothe Vivienne, and now she has come all the way here to pick on me.

"You never used to be like this with me before. When I was 16 years old, you gave me a private island just to make me happy.

"On my 18th birthday, I wanted to play the piano, and you invited a world-class musician to accompany me.

"So why have your comforting skills gotten worse now?"

Every word she uttered was dripping with showy pretension.

Victor was silent for a moment, then he said petulantly, "Of course, she can't compare to you."

I felt a sharp pang of pain in my chest. Then, I dug my nails into my palms as I forced my attention back to the matter at hand.

I had devoted seven years of my life to him, only to get that one sentence in return.

I had wondered countless times before—why did the man who once cared for me in every way become so cold and distant after Queenie's return?

I understood it all now.

No matter how deeply I loved and devoted myself to him, I wasn't Queenie.

And it was time for me to quit Victor once and for all.