83 Ruby’s Provocation, Vivienne’s Answer
“I understand,” he replied, his tone softening slightly. “Get some rest, Elara. We’ll figure something out.”
Elara’s heart skipped a beat. She considered hanging up, but steeled herself instead. “I need to speak with Damien.”
Elara sat up straighter, her brow furrowing. “Who?”
“Victor? Is everything okay?” she answered, immediately concerned by the late hour of the call.
There was a brief pause before Vivienne responded. “Ah, you’ve heard about Ruby and Charles‘ new place. Lovely neighborhood, isn’t it?”
“If your mother is still upset about ancient history, perhaps she should consider therapy,” Vivienne suggested with mock concern. “Holding grudges is so unhealthy.”
Her phone buzzed with a text from Victor: “Any luck?”
The table fell silent. Coco’s smile faded slightly as she inspected the keychain. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Hello?” The voice was unmistakably Vivienne’s, smooth and confident.
Elara took a steadying breath. “My mother’s health is fragile. Having your family move in directly across from her is cruel, and you know it.”
Elara’s chest tightened at the suggestion. Calling Damien meant potentially dealing with Vivienne, especially at this hour. But her mother’s health had to come first.
“He’s in the shower at the moment,” Vivienne answered, the implication clear in her casual delivery. “I’d be happy to take a message.”
“I know,” Elara cut in, worry settling like a stone in her chest. Their mother’s health had been delicate since their father’s death. Any stress could trigger another episode. “Has Mom seen them yet?”
Elara felt her stomach drop. “That can’t be right. That property has been empty for
years.”
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“No, it’s not okay,” Victor’s voice crackled through the speaker, tight with anger. “You won’t believe who I just saw at the villa across from Mom’s house.”
“Of course it’s not! It’s a deliberate provocation.” Victor’s frustration vibrated through the phone. “You know how Mom gets when anything related to the Dubois family comes up. Her blood pressure-”
After ending the call with Victor, Elara stared at her phone, her finger hovering over Damien’s contact. Taking a deep breath, she pressed dial.
“I have something for you, Coco,” Shanice said, digging into her small purse. She pulled out a crystal keychain that caught the light, sending tiny rainbows dancing across the table. “It’s to add to your collection.”
Victor’s voice dropped. “Can you call Damien? He might be able to do something. Buy the property, force them out–I don’t know, but he has resources we don’t.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’ll be there first thing tomorrow.”
“Elara,” Vivienne said, a hint of amusement coloring her tone. “What a surprise. Calling so late?”
“Mmm–hmm,” Shanice nodded, taking a big sip of her apple juice.
“I’ve met her three times,” Shanice announced proudly at dinner, reaching for her glass of juice. “She’s really nice.”
“Elara? What’s going on?”
“Who’s on the phone?” Damien’s voice, distant but unmistakable.
Elara gripped her phone tighter. “This is about your family moving in across from my mother’s house.”
“I see,” Damien said, his voice carefully neutral. “And what would you like me to do
about this?”
There was a moment of silence, then shuffling sounds before Damien’s voice came through clearly..
Elara’s heart raced as she waited, wondering if Vivienne would lie or hand over the phone.
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83 Ruby’s Provocation, Vivienne’s Answer
“Not when they’re made as weapons,” Elara replied firmly.
“I’ll call him,” she agreed reluctantly. “Try to keep Mom away from the house as long as possible tomorrow morning. I’ll see what I can do.”
Elara closed her eyes, trying to process this information. “This can’t be coincidental.”
Lucas Sterling leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with interest. “Three times? And you said her name was Elara?”
She exhaled, relieved yet still tense. “Your future sister–in–law and her husband have purchased the property directly across from my mother’s house. Given the history between our families, this feels deliberately provocative.”
The feigned innocence in Vivienne’s voice made Elara’s blood boil. “We both know this isn’t a coincidence.”
There was a pause. Elara could imagine Vivienne watching Damien, waiting for his
response.
“That’s not enough,” Victor insisted. “This is calculated. They’re doing this to hurt Mom, to remind her of everything that happened. We need to do something now.”
“It’s Elara,” Vivienne answered, her voice suddenly sweeter. “Something about Ruby moving near her mother’s house. I told her you’re busy.”
Elara typed back: “Spoke to Damien. He said he’ll look into it. Coming first thing
tomorrow.”
“I’m just making conversation,” Lucas replied innocently, though his smirk suggested otherwise. “So, Shanice, what else can you tell us about this mysterious Elara?”
“No, she’s been at Aunt Josephine’s all day. But she’ll be home tomorrow, and there’s no way to hide this. The house is directly across the street, Elara.”
Vivienne smoothly changed the subject, steering the conversation toward the dessert menu, but Beck noticed how Damien’s gaze lingered on his daughter for a moment longer than usual.
As she ended the call, Elara leaned back against her headboard, exhaustion washing over her. She hadn’t anticipated Vivienne answering Damien’s phone, though she
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shouldn’t have been surprised. Their relationship was no secret, after all.
What troubled her most wasn’t Vivienne’s presence in Damien’s life–she had accepted that reality long ago. It was the calculated cruelty of the Dubois family’s move, and the uncertainty of whether Damien would actually help or side with Vivienne in this latest chapter of their families‘ bitter history.
“When what?” Vivienne interrupted. “When you’re filing for divorce? When you’re trying to make a new life for yourself? Don’t flatter yourself, Elara. Ruby’s housing decisions have nothing to do with you.”
Later that evening, Elara was reviewing documents in her hotel room when her phone rang. Victor’s name flashed on the screen.
“Of course,” Vivienne agreed, her voice silky. “Though I wouldn’t wait up. We have plans later.”
“Uncle Beck gets grumpy when I talk about her,” Shanice whispered loudly to Coco, who giggled in response.
“After sitting empty for three years, it suddenly becomes available right when—”
Damien observed the exchange quietly, his expression unreadable as he sipped his
wine.
Damien sighed. “I’ll call you tomorrow after I’ve spoken with them.”
Coco’s eyes widened as she accepted the gift. “It’s so pretty! Thank you!”
“This isn’t about grudges,” Elara fought to keep her voice calm. “It’s about basic human decency. Please, have Damien call me when he’s available.”
“Ruby Dubois. Vivienne’s uncle’s wife.” Victor spat the name like it was poison. “They’re moving in, Elara. Right across from Mom.”
“Not everything is about you, Elara,” Vivienne said coolly. “Ruby has always loved that area. When the property became available, it was a natural choice.”
“I’ll look into it,” Damien finally said. “But I can’t promise anything. Property purchases are personal decisions.”
“What do you suggest?” Elara asked, already knowing there were few options.
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“Thank you,” Elara said, genuine gratitude in her voice despite everything. She hesitated, then added, “Damien, please understand–this isn’t about me or our situation. It’s about my mother’s wellbeing.”
Beck shot Lucas a warning glance. “I don’t think we need to make a federal case out of who we met at the park.”
The phone rang twice before someone answered.
Beck cut in before Shanice could answer. “Lucas, enough. She’s just someone we met.
Leave it alone.”
“You’re welcome,” Shanice beamed. “Uncle Beck helped me pick it.” She hesitated, then added in a softer voice, “Do you think your mom would like one too?”
“It’s an urgent matter,” Elara replied, keeping her voice level. “Is Damien available?”
Before Elara could respond, there was a muffled sound on Vivienne’s end, followed by a deeper voice in the background.
She set her alarm for 6 AM, knowing sleep would be elusive tonight. As she stared at the ceiling, she couldn’t shake the memory of Vivienne’s satisfied voice answering Damien’s phone–a sharp reminder of everything she had walked away from, and everything she still had to face.
“Well, it’s not empty anymore. I saw the moving trucks this morning, and then Ruby herself this afternoon, directing the landscapers like she owns the place.” Victor’s voice rose. “Which apparently she does now,”
“I was hoping you might speak with them. This will cause unnecessary stress for my mother, and her health is already precarious.”
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