Dark Romance: A Cruel Obsession

“I…” Vivian suddenly didn’t know how to respond to her.

Was she doing well? But where was the good? She was trapped within the safety boundaries allowed by Alajos, living a boring and uninteresting life day after day. She would eventually be trapped to death in such a life.

Or should she answer that she was not doing well? Vivian vaguely felt that she was unwilling to answer that way. Why? Probably because in recent days, Alajos had been accompanying her frequently, and something called warmth had appeared in her life.

“What’s wrong with you?” Luzia shook Vivian’s hand, reminding her to come back to her senses. “Did you have a fight with Alajos? It doesn’t feel like it.”

Luzia rubbed Vivian’s face, unable to analyze whether Vivian’s current expression should be called sad or happy, or something in between.

Vivian shook her head. She didn’t know whether she should let Luzia know about Alajos’s injury. After all, that was in the past. Alajos could still attend the wedding, indicating that the gunshot wound didn’t affect him much.

“I’ve been doing pretty well recently, just feeling a bit unwell physically,” Vivian said.

“Are you sick?” Luzia asked, looking a bit worried. “Have you seen a doctor?”

Vivian intended to tell Luzia her speculation, but she wasn’t sure if she was actually pregnant, so she had to give up. “I’ve seen a doctor. It’s just a common stomach discomfort. Don’t worry about it.”

Luzia grabbed her hand and sighed. “Since you came to Houston, we’ve been living together, and now I really can’t bear to be separated from you.”

Luzia sniffled. “Vivian, I’m really scared. Joseph is a complete devil, that’s our consensus.”

Both girls teared up at the same time.

This quiet corner was most suitable for silent tears and wordless embraces. Vivian and Luzia sat side by side, silently reminiscing about the joyful times they couldn’t return to, but Joseph’s appearance ruined the beauty of this moment.

He was unpleasant as soon as he opened his mouth. “Vivian, you’ve made my bride cry again.”

Joseph stood to the side like an ominous figure, enough to make one’s legs go weak and heart tremble.

Vivian had feared Joseph since childhood, a fear different from the awe and respect she held for her father Bryson, a fear mixed with deep disgust and inherent dread.

“We’re just saying goodbye,” Luzia calmly protected Vivian behind her. “You know, I and Vivian have a deep friendship. She’s my best friend.”

“Goodbyes between friends are always filled with sadness and tears, because we don’t know if there will be a chance to meet again after this separation,” Joseph said.

“Don’t feel troubled about this,” Joseph said lightly. “If you really miss Vivian, you can talk to your cousin about bringing Vivian to Los Angeles to accompany you. I’m sure your cousin would agree to this trivial request of yours.”

At the gathering, Joseph was more than happy to play the role of a gentle and considerate husband. He put his arm around Luzia, completely ignoring her sudden stiffness, affectionately kissing her forehead.

Alajos had come over with Joseph. He stood by, expressionless, watching Joseph’s performance and said, “You’re really good at arranging things for me, Joseph.”

“It’s nothing, brother-in-law,” Joseph said, dangling his sharp eyes at Alajos with an air of superiority.

Such a gaze would irk anyone, let alone Alajos. He tightly clenched his fists, so hard that his knuckles even made a cracking sound. He silently admonished himself to endure it. He detested Joseph and Los Angeles, but he did need their help right now.

However, one day, he would definitely repay this humiliation of being at someone’s mercy to the Bryson father and son.

“You should know that I won’t feel at ease letting my wife travel to Los Angeles alone,” Alajos calmly refused Joseph’s proposal.

“You could also come along on the business trip,” Joseph said with a fake smile. “We have plenty of opportunities to collaborate.”

Alajos replied with an equally fake smile, “I look forward to it.”

The conversation ended there, and Joseph took Luzia away.

Vivian leaned against Alajos, sadly watching them get into the car.

“God bless Luzia,” Vivian silently prayed for Luzia.

Until the end of the wedding, Vivian didn’t see Vilem.

She asked Alajos, “Did Vilem really attend the wedding?”

“Didn’t you see him in the church?”

“Yes, but…” the distance was a bit far, and she didn’t have time to talk to Vilem.

“Maybe he had some prior commitment,” Alajos said, patting her head.

Vivian had long, soft, golden hair, and Alajos had recently taken to touching her hair. Strands coiled around his fingertips, gently sliding through his palm like the tender embrace of lovers reluctant to part.

“Is he very busy lately?” Vivian asked with concern. She was naturally happy that Vilem was being highly regarded by Alajos, which indicated that his abilities were recognized by the organization. However, high-intensity tasks also meant high danger, and Vivian always worried about him getting hurt.

“Yes,” Alajos said. “He’s growing quickly. I’ve entrusted the drug business at the Houston port to him, and he’s been doing an excellent job.”

This was the first time Alajos had mentioned his business to Vivian, and she felt surprised and pleased, but also gained new insight into Vilem’s current occupation, which brought new worries.

Hopefully, Vilem would be a bit more cautious in exchange for a bit more safety.

God bless.

After the wedding, Alajos became busy again. He left early in the morning and didn’t return until the early hours, occasionally waking Vivian from her sleep. She would see him sitting alone on the balcony with a dim light, accompanied by the vast night sky of Houston.

Was the work very challenging? Or was the pressure too much?

Vivian had tried to inquire tentatively, but since the wedding, Alajos had reverted to his previous attitude and remained tight-lipped about his work.

Vivian had no choice but to ask Mare. Mare’s answer was simply “busy.”

It had been three days since Luzia had left, and Vivian seemed to finally grasp the reality that Luzia had departed from Houston and was now starting a new and difficult life in distant Los Angeles. Her spirits had also dwindled.

Even sitting in the living room watching her favorite show, she appeared listless.

“Perhaps we should make a change,” Vivian tried to cheer herself up, patting her face to make herself look a bit more lively. “Do you have any good ideas?”

Mare was just a dutiful bodyguard, responsible for Vivian’s safety, not adept at planning leisure activities for her. He picked from his meager knowledge of leisure activities and asked, “Shopping?”

This idea suited Vivian’s fancy, and she immediately agreed, clapping her hands. “Let’s go shopping!”

However, this shopping trip was different from all the previous ones. Vivian didn’t visit any luxury stores; instead, she went to a high-end import supermarket, where all sorts of daily necessities were available.

Mare pushed the cart behind Vivian, his gaze fixed on her. “Haylee will take care of purchasing all the daily necessities. You don’t need to come here.”