Chapter 471

"I don't buy it!" Sophia's voice trembled with concern. She whirled to face Liam. "Do something, Liam. Now."

Vivian must have gone through something horrific. Nothing else could explain this broken version of her.

"You two might be over, but that doesn't mean you get to shut her out. You waited all night to talk when she came back, didn't you? So why the silence now?"

Sophia had always been impulsive. Without hesitation, she shoved Liam into Vivian's room and slammed the door shut. The lock clicked ominously from the outside.

Liam immediately panicked, rattling the doorknob. "Sophia, open this damn door right now!"

"Not happening. Fix whatever's eating her tonight, or you're not leaving that room," Sophia shot back. For extra security, she wedged a steel bar against the doorframe.

What else could she do? Her brother was hopeless when it came to emotions. If she didn't intervene, he'd never make a move.

Now it was just the two of them—Vivian and Liam—trapped together in the suffocating silence.

"You'll have to forgive my sister. Tact was never her strong suit." Liam shoved his hands into his pockets, feigning nonchalance. As if their explosive argument at Blackwood Group had never happened.

Vivian gave a hollow laugh. "I'm the one who should apologize. Julian's insane. I actually thought I could get answers from him. Turns out he's just a pathological liar. Wasted my time. Ruined things between us. God, I'm so stupid." Her voice cracked as she slumped before the vanity, face buried in trembling hands.

Liam's chest tightened at the sight. "You know now, don't you? Go ahead and cry. No need to pretend you're fine. There's no shame in grieving."

The moment Julian appeared, Liam had known the truth about Ethan's death couldn't stay hidden. His outburst at Blackwood Group—his desperate attempts to keep Julian away—had all been to shield Vivian from this pain.

Yet here they were.

"Ha. Know what? You're not making any sense." Vivian's weak denial only made Liam ache more.

He moved closer, resting a hand on her quivering shoulder. "Let it out. He was the love of your life. Of course you'd mourn him." His voice softened. "Just don't drown in it. Adrian and Abigail need their mother. You have to keep living."

"Stop lying to me!" Vivian jerked away, eyes blazing through tears. "Julian deceived me, and so did you! Do you all think I'm that gullible? Ethan Blackwood doesn't die easily. This is some sick joke!"

"I get it—you're not ready." Liam exhaled sharply. "Fine. Let's pretend he's still breathing if that helps. I'll say it as many times as you need: Ethan's alive. Just stop crying."

Since when did Vivian Lockhart crumble like this? The woman who faced every crisis head-on?

If denial was her armor, he'd reinforce it. That had always been the plan.

"His life or death means nothing to me. I won't waste tears on him." Vivian staggered to the bed, back turned as she collapsed onto the mattress. "Even if he died saving me, that's his own damn misfortune." A shaky breath. "I'm exhausted. Leave me alone."

Liam watched her fragile frame tremble under silent sobs. Each shudder felt like a knife twisting in his ribs.

Ethan Blackwood, if you're still breathing somewhere—show yourself. What kind of man lets the woman he loves suffer like this?