Dark Romance: A Cruel Obsession

Alajos kisses Vivian gently, his forehead against hers, his eyes filled with desire, fixed on Vivian’s hazy blue eyes, like a thin mist rising from a distant sea.

The affair ends with a deep kiss. Vivian lies weakly in Alajos’s arms, the aftermath of passion causing her body to tremble uncontrollably.

Alajos embraces her from behind, teasing her sensitive pink earlobes.

“Um…” Vivian’s earlobes are sensitive, especially when Alajos deliberately teases them with his tongue. Unable to resist his teasing, Vivian, still under the spell of desire, can only helplessly gasp and shiver in his arms, once again reaching the peak of passion.

Capo Fidelio Williams of Washington is an old acquaintance of Houston. Alajos’s father, Kamden, was close to him while he was alive. After Kamden’s death, Houston faced internal and external troubles, leading to a temporary disconnect between the two cities.

Fidelio’s visit to Houston is ostensibly to see Shelley’s fiance, Festus, but in reality, it is to rebuild the relationship and collaborate once again with Houston.

Today’s Houston is still weak. The frequent attacks by the Bratva have left Alajos’s warriors exhausted, while Los Angeles keeps a watchful eye-after sensing Bryson’s treacherous intentions, how could Alajos possibly remain inactive? Cooperation with the Washington Mafia is the first step.

Vivian is not good with alcohol, but this doesn’t hinder her pleasant interaction with the ladies at the banquet. With Lady Yazmin by her side, few dare to show disrespect to this Capo’s wife.

Just two glasses of champagne, and although Vivian doesn’t show it, her head is starting to feel a bit dizzy. She quickly exchanges a few words with Lady Yazmin and exits the circle of ladies.

Vivian intends to catch some fresh air in the small garden, but before that, she needs to get some cake.

The table with the cakes is on the other side of the dance floor. Vivian lifts her skirt and makes her way through the crowd. Along the way, people recognize her and attempt to engage her in conversation, raising their glasses. Each time, Vivian politely declines.

At this moment, the music starts again, and the elegant gentlemen lead their partners onto the dance floor. Those without partners stand alone in the crowd. People come and go, and no one notices the figure slipping quietly out of the ballroom entrance.

Vivian finally arrives at the cake table. She picks up a small plate and carefully selects the cakes she desires. Shelley and her fiance approach.

“Why aren’t you dancing?” Shelley clings to Festus’s arm, the two of them displaying an affectionate appearance.

The last time Vivian saw such false affection was at Luzia and Joseph’s wedding.

“Here’s my fiance, Festus Roscente.”

Vivian has met Festus before, and they are not strangers to each other. They exchange nods and greetings.

“My dance partner was kidnapped by his job,” Vivian complains, pursing her lips as she picks a piece of mango mousse.

Shelley looks at Vivian’s small plate, already holding three different cakes, and is momentarily speechless. “You can eat so much.”

Vivian uses a small fork to eat the mango off the mango mousse. “Today’s banquet is for you. You should be dancing instead of watching me eat.”

“We just finished dancing,” Shelley pouts, showing Vivian her heels. The area where the leather of her high heels makes contact has turned red and blistered. “High heels, they’ve made my feet hurt terribly.”

Festus and Vivian are both startled.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Festus asks her sympathetically, then refrains from blaming her. “I’ll take you to the lounge.”

Festus bends down to pick her up but is coldly rejected by Shelley, “No, it’s just a little injury, it’s not that big a deal.”

“It’s already blistered,” Festus frowns, showing his dissatisfaction with Shelley’s indifferent attitude. “You should apply some ointment.”

“It’s just a little blister, just get me a band-aid,” Shelley holds her hands across her chest, refusing Festus’s attempt to carry her. “There are so many people here, I still want to save face.”

Shelley resolutely refuses, leaving Festus with no choice but to help her to sit on the nearby sofa and quickly fetch a first aid kit.

Vivian holds her plate of small cakes, watching Festus walk away and then glances at Shelley. She suddenly realizes something, drawing out her words, “Oh…”

Shelley is given goosebumps by her “Oh”. She wanted to scold Vivian, but when she met Vivian’s mocking eyes, she couldncouldn’t help but blush.

“What are you laughing at? Stop laughing!” Shelley says gruffly.

Vivian isn’t afraid of her. She wants to show her a smile. “Does Festus like you?”

Vivian’s question reminds Shelley of Festus’s confession the night before. Shelley blushes a little more, “Who knows if it’s true or not.”

Shelley says, “Whether he likes me or not, he can only marry me. There’s no difference.”

“How is there no difference?” Vivian raises her voice slightly. She’s been trying to control it, but still inadvertently draws attention. “If your husband likes you, how is it the same as when he doesn’t like you? Which one would you choose?”

“Lower your voice,” Shelley pats Vivian’s arm, disheartened, “I would choose the one I like.”

The person Shelley likes is Alajos, isn’t it? Vivian is speechless. How can she respond to that?

Shelley realizes she misspoke, she hits herself and apologizes to Vivian, “That’s not what I meant, I just…”

Shelley grabs her hair, “If I could choose, I would want someone I like, who also likes me. It’s impossible with Alajos, he doesn’t like me.”

“Who wouldn’t want that,” Vivian tries not to dwell on Shelley and Alajos’s past, it’s nothing, who doesn’t have a past? “I want to take a walk in the garden.”

Shelley realizes she misspoke and can’t explain herself. It would be awkward to stay with Vivian any longer, “It’s very safe here, but it’s best to let Mare go with you.”

“I understand.” Vivian carries her small cake and leaves the banquet hall.

Mare follows her at a distance.

Shelley’s garden isn’t as big as Luzia’s parents’ house, but Shelley’s mother is fond of tending to flowers. There are more varieties of flowers here than in Lady Yazmin’s estate: lavender, roses, tulips, chamomile, sunflowers… Vivian can name seven or eight types of flowers. The air is filled with the fragrance of flowers and a hint of lemon.

Did Lady Celinda have a lemon tree in her garden?

Following the scent of lemon, Vivian slowly walks to the corner of the garden.

Mare reminds her to be careful, “There are no lights there, don’t go any further.”

Such quiet and dark corners are often difficult to ensure safety, and without surveillance, it is a significant security loophole.

After returning, Mare decides to remind Festus. He’s an excellent hacker, and it should be his strength to protect the security of an estate with surveillance.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

At times like this, Vivian is very obedient. Although she is tempted by Lady Celinda’s lemons, she can ask Lady Celinda to give her a few, rather than risk picking them herself.

Just as Vivian is about to return to the banquet hall with Mare, a vague and ambiguous moan can be heard.