Chapter 6

Lucia's POV

After that day, Holden stopped looking for me.

Probably felt his ego was bruised.

But I could still keep tabs on his activities.

Because entertainment news was full of him and Vivienne.

Holden attended Fashion Week with Vivienne in a high-profile manner, the two walking the red carpet hand in hand, being called the fashion world's best couple.

The young women at the office were all discussing it.

"Wow, Mr. Prescott and the goddess are such a perfect match!"

"I heard they grew up together. This is like a novel come to life!"

"Vivienne must be that legendary secret ex-wife. Now they're back together. So sweet!"

Listening to these discussions, I focused on revising my design drafts.

At lunch, I'd just taken a bite of salad when my stomach churned violently.

I rushed to the restroom and dry-heaved for a long time without vomiting anything.

The familiar feeling made my heart sink.

That afternoon, I took leave and went to the hospital.

Getting the test results, I looked at the confirmed pregnancy and felt no surprise whatsoever.

Just a bit ironic.

Calculating the time, it must have been that night before Vivienne returned to the country.

That day Holden had been drinking. In the heat of the moment, he whispered in my ear,

"Lucia, let's have a baby. I want a child that belongs to us."

I didn't respond then because I didn't believe him.

I knew these were just arousing words he said in bed.

Just like three years ago.

Back then, I got pregnant for the first time.

I was ecstatic, taking the pregnancy test results home to surprise him.

But Holden was working on a design. Seeing the test results, his brows furrowed tightly.

He said coldly,

"I'm not ready for a child. Get rid of it. A baby will interfere with my creative process."

I cried and begged him to keep the child.

He stormed out in frustration, dragging his suitcase and flying abroad.

That night, I slipped in the bathroom and started bleeding.

I was in agony and called him for help.

But Vivienne answered the phone.

Before I could speak, Holden's voice came through, impatient.

"Lucia, you're just trying tricks to keep the baby, aren't you? I made myself very clear. This child comes at a bad time. Stop calling me. I'm very busy right now!"

Then the call was disconnected.

He said he was busy. I found out later that night he was busy keeping the newly heartbroken Vivienne company.

Later it was a neighbor who heard the commotion and sent me to the hospital.

The baby wasn't saved.

I stayed in the hospital for half a month. Holden never came once.

Snapping back to reality, I crumpled the test results in my hand and tossed them in the trash.

This time, I didn't plan to tell him.

This child was just an accident.

Since I'd decided to leave, there was no need to keep this burden.

Thinking this, I actually missed a step going downstairs.

My stomach hit first, and there was blood everywhere beneath me.

This child still wasn't meant to be.

The doctor told me I'd need to come back to the hospital in a few days for surgery to prevent complications from the incomplete miscarriage.

After all this, I sent my supervisor Mr. Vance a message requesting two weeks off.

Mr. Vance asked if something was wrong and whether I needed help. I just said I was handling some private matters.

I went home.

I wanted to get some clothes to change into and bring my mother's veil with me.

It was the dowry my mother left me on her deathbed, and the only thing I planned to take with me when I left.

As soon as I pushed open the door, the living room lights were glaring.

I froze in the entryway.

In the center of the living room, Vivienne stood completely naked except for a thin white veil draped over her, posing in front of Holden.

Holden held a paintbrush, his expression focused.

Hearing the door open, both turned their heads simultaneously.

Vivienne cried out and immediately threw herself into Holden's arms as if she'd suffered some great injustice.

"Oh! Why is Lucia back!"

Holden reacted extremely quickly, grabbing his suit jacket and wrapping her up tightly.

He frowned at me, his eyes full of displeasure at being interrupted.

"Why didn't you make a sound when you came back? Don't you know to knock?"

Vivienne peeked out from his embrace, her cheeks flushed, her voice coy.

"Lucia, don't misunderstand. I'm just helping Holden find creative inspiration. The human body itself is art..."

My stomach churned again.

So-called art required stripping naked and parading in front of him?

I said nothing and walked straight past them toward the bedroom.

"Lucia!"

Holden called out behind me.

"What's with that expression? Is art that dirty in your eyes?"

I ignored him and entered the bedroom, rummaging through drawers and cabinets.

My mother's veil had always been kept in a box at the bottom of the closet. I remembered very clearly.

But it wasn't there.

The box was empty.

My heart skipped a beat. I turned and rushed out of the bedroom.

"Where's my veil?"

I stared at Holden.

Before Holden could answer, Vivienne suddenly raised her hand timidly from behind him.

"Lucia... are you talking about this veil?"She was holding a ball of white lace in her hand. It was the veil my mother had left me.

At that moment, that veil was casually wrapped around her wrist, with part of it even dragging on the floor.

My mind went blank with a roar.

"Give it to me."

I held out my hand to her, my voice shaking.

"That's mine."

Vivienne looked utterly innocent.

"I saw it in the closet and thought it looked pretty, so I took it out to try on. I'll give it back to you right now."

As she spoke, she held the veil out to me.

Just as I reached to take it.

Vivienne's fingers suddenly hooked onto a piece of lace edging and yanked hard.

The lace veil tore with a huge gash.

Vivienne cried out, covering her mouth.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, Lucia! I didn't mean to! Why is this veil such poor quality? It broke with just one touch..."

She was saying sorry, but her eyes were full of provocation.

In that moment, all my rationality snapped.

I rushed over and shoved her aside, trembling as I picked up the veil from the floor.

Vivienne fell to the ground with the momentum, crying with tears streaming down her face.

"Holden! That hurt... Why did Lucia push me..."

Holden's face was dark. He strode over, helped Vivienne up, then roughly shoved me.

"Lucia! What the hell is wrong with you?"

He pointed at the torn fabric in my hands, furious.

"It's so old and you still treasure it like that? If it's ruined, I'll buy you a new one. Was it really necessary to push someone?"

I touched it, my heart feeling like something was squeezing it tight, unable to breathe from the pain.

I looked up, staring hard at Holden.

"You know."

My voice was hoarse.

"This is something my mom left me. I've told you many times how important it is to me."

Holden froze for a moment, as if remembering something, a flash of discomfort in his eyes.

But he quickly avoided my gaze, turning to check Vivienne's knee.

"That's still no reason to push someone. Vivienne is a guest, and she came here to help me."

He looked at me coldly.

"You're so emotionally unstable. Calm down. Don't act crazy at home. Vivienne doesn't want to see you."

I looked at him.

This man I'd loved for seven years.

The last trace of reluctance in my heart was finally extinguished.

I folded the veil and put it in my bag.

"Fine."

I looked at him, my tone terrifyingly calm.

"Holden, let's break up."

Holden's hand, which had been rubbing Vivienne's knee, paused.

He had his back to me and didn't even turn around, his tone full of mockery.

"Lucia, you said it. If you've got the guts to leave, don't come back."

He still thought I was throwing a tantrum like before.

Every time we fought and talked about breaking up, I was the one who eventually came crawling back to apologize.

The one who's favored always acts without fear.

I didn't say anything more. I turned around, took off the spare key, and placed it on the shoe cabinet.

I pushed open the door and the night wind rushed in.

Before leaving, I looked back one more time.

On the easel in the living room sat an unfinished design sketch.

The girl in the drawing wore a gorgeous wedding dress with a platinum necklace around her neck.

That was something Holden had specially custom-made for Vivienne.

The one around my neck was just a freebie that came with buying a necklace.

The drawing wasn't finished. The girl's face was blank.

But I knew it wasn't me.

I closed the door, shutting those four absurd years behind me.

Then I took out my phone and deducted the last remaining 10 points from my notes.

Zero points, Holden.

There's nothing left between us.