MEANWHILE, Vivianne went to the Allamino Mansion. As soon as she entered the living room, Alfred was already there on the sofa, reading the newspaper and seemingly waiting for her arrival.
“You knew I was coming, didn’t you? Did that wench Joan report to you again?” Vivianne said before sitting on the couch across from Alfred.
“She’s a more decent conversationalist than you, so don’t talk to her like that,” her father reprimanded. “If only she were my only child, everything wouldn’t be this difficult for me,” he added.
Vivianne rolled her eyes. “Then give her the company and the mafia. Do you think I’m chasing after your wealth acquired through evil deeds?”
“It’s wealth acquired through evil deeds, but you and your mother are also using it, Vivianne,” Alfred replied. His voice was deep and menacing. “If it weren’t for this money, do you think you could afford Ella’s medical expenses? Even if you cried blood, you wouldn’t be able to gather the amount needed to keep her body functioning properly.”
Vivianne didn’t respond. She just looked to the side where their family picture hung. They looked like a perfect family, but they weren’t. It was all a façade in case any business clients visited their homes.
“Don’t act like you’re different from me, Vivianne. We’re just the same,” Alfred spoke again amid their silence.
Vivianne returned her gaze to him. At that moment, there was anger and resentment in her eyes. “I can do it. I can find a way. Just give her to me, and give all of this to Joan or whoever you want. I don’t care.”
And that was true. She believed that the reason her mother was getting sick was because she was always confined to their home. She knew they could handle everything, as long as they were together.
“Joan may be a nice person to give to the company and the mafia too, but you’re smarter than her,” Alfred replied, causing Vivianne’s lips to curl up. “I need intelligence, not loyalty.”
“Right,” Vivianne agreed. Her grin widened even more.
She knew that if Joan heard what her father said, it would surely hurt her. Joan was doing her best to please Alfred. Saying that she didn’t have even a fraction of Vivianne’s intelligence would surely hurt Joan’s ego.
“However, if you really want it, I can follow what you said,” Alfred said again before folding the newspaper and staring at Vivianne. “I’ll hand over the management of the company and the mafia to someone else, but in exchange, it will cost the life of your beloved mother.”
Vivianne’s expression quickly darkened. “Don’t involve her in this. Why do you always like dragging innocent people into this?”
“The agreement you created with me involves her, and involves anyone who will be on your side, my dear child,” Alfred said in a deep and menacing voice. “You promised me that you would fix the management of the mafia in exchange for your mother’s life and the lives of the people you protect. If you’re not going to be in charge anymore, what reason do they have to live?”
Vivianne wanted to speak so badly, but it seemed like she couldn’t find the right words. Her mind went blank with fear that Alfred might do something again. She barely managed to save Beckett before. She didn’t know what Alfred’s next move might be just to control her.
“The new supplier of our top client… That’s Beckett Clainfer.” It wasn’t a question but a statement. Vivianne just avoided eye contact again. “Did you do this to get back at me? And you didn’t even tell me right away. Don’t you think I won’t know?”
“I know you’ll find out eventually, but believe me or not, I didn’t know why Beckett did that in the first place. I’ve cut off communication with him a long time ago,” Vivianne explained. “But I’ve taken care of it. I set up a schedule to talk with him, and I’m just waiting for confirmation-”
“No need. I’ll handle this. Your plan might fail again,” Alfred interrupted Vivianne.
Alfred took his phone from his pocket. He called one of his men and ordered him. “You know Beckett Clainfer, right? I want you to dig for information about him.”
“That’s easy to do, Sir. Information about Beckett’s drug syndicate is already widespread, even among the police, but he can’t be easily touched,” the man replied.
“And why is that?”
“He’s one of the new members of the Foedus Corporation, Sir.”
Alfred raised his eyebrows at that. He couldn’t speak immediately due to surprise. When his emotions settled, he answered. “Alright. Don’t do anything for now,” he said before hanging up the phone.
“That jerk was able to be a member of the Foedus Corporation,” Alfred said before giving Vivianne a stern look. “Do you know anything about this?”
“Nothing,” Vivianne replied. She wasn’t lying because she really didn’t know anything, but soon she realized something. “Wait, Foedus Corporation? That’s the organization you want to join, right?”
Alfred didn’t respond, but his expression darkened even further. It’s a sign that she hit the spot. In those moments, Vivianne remembered something.
“Just wait. I will save you from here. I promise.”
It was the exact words Beckett told her before.
“This is why you should have been a man, Vivianne,” Alfred said, bringing Vivianne back to reality. “Because of you, I can never enter there. This is the only thing you can do for me, but you still can’t do it.”
Vivianne just sighed. It seemed like Alfred blamed her for everything that could go wrong. Even her being a woman, was it her fault too?
“Get back to the client as much as you can. We can’t lose to someone like him, Vivianne. Remember that.” Alfred stood up and straightened his clothes. “Do not come back here to the house until you solve that.”
Vivianne didn’t respond anymore. She just stood up and adjusted her clothes before walking out of the Allamino Mansion. While earlier she looked brave facing Alfred, now her knees almost turned weak.
Despite being with her father for a long time, his presence still had a different effect. Perhaps because she knew the evils Alfred was capable of doing to all of them.
That is why she needed to follow him, so her forehead furrowed as she remembered what her ex-boyfriend had done. ‘Beckett… Why do you need to make things difficult for me like this?’