Vivienne
The black Rolls-Royce pulled up to the gates of Hope Orphanage, but it looked like we had come to the wrong place.
I stared in awe because I could barely recognize the place. Massive floral arrangements had obscured the peeling gray paint of the gates, and the dusty courtyard where I used to play was filled with bright, inflatable playgrounds and long tables covered in white linen and gourmet treats.
I looked down at myself, my hand on the silk dress Phoebe had picked out for me. It was a champagne-colored piece that cost more than most of my dresses. My hair was swept up in a sophisticated style, and the makeup made me gain more courage than I'd had in years.
Phoebe had taken me to the best places because she wanted me to look perfect for the event she had planned, and now that we were at the orphanage, I couldn't help but stare in shock at how beautiful it looked.
"You did all this?" I whispered, my eyes stinging with tears of relief.
"I told you, dear," Phoebe said in her sweet, soft voice. "The West family doesn't do things halfway. If we are going to save this place, we must do it with style."
I smiled at her and then reached for my phone, trying to call Sister Mary again to tell her the good news. I had tried calling her all morning, but every time I called, it went straight to voicemail. I had even sent her multiple texts.
I am coming to help.
Don't worry about the eviction letter. It is all resolved.
All the messages I sent were left unread, which made me uneasy, thinking something bad might have happened, but I pushed the thought down. She was probably just busy with the children and the sudden influx of visitors.
The car came to a stop, and the chauffeur opened my door. Immediately, I was bombarded with camera flashes that nearly blinded me. Reporters were lined up in front of me, their microphones raised.
I was surprised to see them there, but what shocked me the most were the different cars in the courtyard. There were Maybachs, Rolls-Royces, and Ferraris parked all around, and even some other vehicles were pulling in after us.
They were all members of the city's wealthiest families as they stepped out, draped in furs and diamonds, posing for the cameras.
What was happening? I thought, because I never expected so many people to be gathered there.
"Do you like it, Vivienne?" Phoebe asked, stepping out beside me and placing a motherly arm around my waist for the cameras to see.
"I… I love it," I stammered, clearly overwhelmed because this wasn't what I expected, but I had to lie. "I never thought I'd see so many people here to help."
Phoebe squeezed my waist a little too hard and whispered to me. "Good, because today is going to be a day you will never forget."
The way she had said it sounded a bit suspicious, but I waved it off as we started walking further into the courtyard.
My heels clicked on the temporary wooden floor they had laid over the dirt, which was another surprise to me. I never expected that Phoebe would do this much.
All eyes turned towards us, the crowd parting as we walked in their midst, and then I raised my head and my heart skipped a beat when I saw him.
Roman was standing near a group of wealthy investors, looking every bit the powerful CEO. Beside him were Adrian and Cassandra, both dressed in custom designer outfits that screamed wealth.
But it was the woman standing next to Roman who made my smile falter. Isabella Sinclair. She was here again, I thought.
When Roman noticed us, he didn't scowl; he didn't look at me with the cold, loathing eyes he had shown in his study. Instead, his face broke into a warm smile. He walked toward me with a confidence that made the reporters scramble to get closer to us.
"Vivienne," he murmured.
And before I knew what was happening, he had slid his hand around my waist, drawing me against his side, and then he leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear in a way that looked like a tender secret to anyone watching. "You look beautiful today," he whispered.
The camera flashes were deafening as they all captured the loving husband and wife. For a split second, I wanted to believe him. I tried to think that the slap happened because he was mad at what I had said.
"Mr. West! Mrs. West!" a reporter shouted, thrusting a microphone toward us.
"Is it true that the West Corporation is making historic donations to save the crumbling orphanage in honor of the late Sister Martha?"
Another reporter pushed forward. "Vivienne, how does it feel to return to your childhood home as a benefactor rather than a ward?"
The questions were confusing, and I didn't understand what they meant or were trying to say.
Roman tightened his grip on my waist when I didn't say anything, then chuckled lightly. "My wife is too overwhelmed to speak because of the support, but I will answer on her behalf." He paused, cleared his throat before continuing. "My family and I didn't just come to donate today, but to ensure that the legacy of Hope Orphanage continues in the most spectacular way possible."
I looked at Phoebe, who was nodding and smiling at the journalists, then back at Roman.
What the hell was happening? I thought.
"So Vivienne," one of the reporters shouted, raising her microphone towards me. "How does it feel now that you helped the sisters and the children move to a better place? It's a massive upgrade, right?"
Move to a better place? That was not the case.
"Mr. West," another reporter chimed in. "The public is calling this the most romantic business move of the year. Using this land for your new luxury project while Vivienne handles the relocation of her childhood…it's poetic. How were you able to convince the sisters?"
I froze immediately, then I looked at Roman, my eyes widened with confusion and rising panic. Moving? Convincing the sisters? I didn't do all of that.
"Just say something," Roman said through gritted teeth as he pulled me closer to himself, but I had no idea what I was supposed to say when I had no idea what was happening.
"My wife has a very special relationship with the sisters here," Roman said after a few seconds of silence, when he realized I was not going to say anything. "It was my wife's support that got us this land, and also she realized that the children deserved to be moved to a better place until the project was done. We are even planning on building a new home for them right beside our big project."
"Amazing!" one of the reporters shouted excitedly. "Vivienne, how does it feel to build a proper home for the children? They are billionaires and millionaires attending today for fundraising for this project."
"I… I…. I didn't," I stammered and then looked at Phoebe, who was staring at me with a smile on her face, but there was nothing genuine about the smile this time.
Phoebe moved closer to me and placed a hand on my shoulder as she spoke up. "She's just modest." She looked at me and smiled again. "Vivienne worked tirelessly to show the sisters that the West family knows best, which is why my son has decided to build a new orphanage for the children and sisters. He is going to make this land become something grand."
Roman nodded in response. "It's all thanks to my wife for convincing the children and the sisters that we could make this land a better place and build the best building for the children."
I felt sick at their words. I never said any of that. They were telling the world that I was the traitor and I was the one who sold out the orphanage.
"Where is Sister Mary?" I managed to ask, my voice trembling as I looked away from the reporters and whispered to Roman. "What the hell are they talking about? I didn't tell anyone to leave!"
Roman leaned down, pressing his cheek against mine as if he was posing for a photo, then he whispered. "Smile, Vivienne. If you cause a scene now, I'll make sure those sisters don't get a single cent of the relocation fund. You are going to play the part of the helpful wife, or you'll watch them starve on the street tonight."
That was all it took for me to stop asking questions.