Episode 5

The soft rustling of the curtains was the only sound in the room as Vivian sat by the window, sunlight gently caressing her face. A half-finished cup of tea rested on the table beside her, forgotten. The world outside seemed peaceful, almost untouched by the heaviness that weighed on her chest.

Everything around her was beautiful—elegant, expensive, even warm in a way. And yet… it wasn’t hers. Not truly. Not when the memories didn’t belong to her.

She was Elina. A writer. A girl who slipped down the stairs one lonely night after reading a romance novel. But now, she lived in the pages of that very story—wearing the name and face of Vivian Ashford.

The sound of soft footsteps broke her reverie.

“You’ll catch a cold sitting here,” Valentine said as he walked in, his voice calm, but his eyes flickering with worry.

She didn’t look at him. “I like the light,” she murmured.

He stepped closer and placed a shawl gently over her shoulders. “Still. You have to take care of yourself now.”

Vivian glanced sideways at him. “You always say that.”

Valentine hesitated before sitting across from her. His eyes scanned her face as though searching for some sign—of familiarity, of recognition. “That’s because I mean it.”

There was a pause before she finally asked, “The engagement. It’s next month?”

“Yes,” he replied. “Your parents had chosen the date before…”

He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to.

Vivian nodded slowly. “I see. So no one changed it?”

He shook his head. “August wanted to, at first. He thought it might be too soon, too painful. But I asked him not to. I didn’t want to let go of what your parents wished for.”

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the shawl. “I don’t remember them,” she said softly. “But I still want to honor them. If this was their wish… I’ll go through with it.”

Valentine’s jaw tensed slightly. “Vivian… I don’t want you to agree because you feel obligated.”

“I’m not,” she said, looking at him directly now. “I’m doing it because… I need to start somewhere. This life, these people—I can’t pretend it’s mine. But I also can’t reject it when everyone else is trying so hard.”

He blinked, caught off guard by her honesty. “You’re still the same,” he whispered. “Different… but still you.”

Vivian didn’t know what that meant, but she let it pass.

“August has been drowning in work,” Valentine said after a pause. “Handling the company alone after your parents’ death isn’t easy. That’s why I suggested… after our engagement, you could stay with me.”

Vivian arched a brow. “Stay with you?”

“You’d have your own wing of the estate,” he clarified quickly. “It’s not about appearances. I just want to make sure you’re safe. Looked after.”

There was a long silence before she answered.

“Alright,” she said. “But first, I want to visit their graves. I want to meet them. And… ask them if it’s okay.”

His expression softened. “We’ll go tomorrow. I’ll be with you.”

For the first time, Vivian smiled—small, but sincere. “Thank you.”

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