Love After Leaving: No Regret (Agnes and Raymond) novel Chapter 357

Agnes couldn't stop laughing. "So when exactly did you two get together? I'm dying to know."

"We've... been together for years!"

"Ms. Brogdon, you seem like a completely different person tonight. What happened to all that elegance and refinement? If Neal saw you acting like this, I think he'd want even less to do with you."

Vivian was losing it. She glanced around, confirmed no one else was nearby, and decided to go all in.

She didn't care if she had to make every word up. As long as it got under Agnes's skin, it was worth it.

"What's the matter, Agnes? You don't believe me? Let me spell it out for you. He didn't come to this island for you. He came for me. We've been having a secret affair for years!"

Agnes let out a cold laugh, her voice dripping with contempt. "You're delusional. If that's the case, why was your family so desperate to arrange a marriage with the Ruells?

"Why not just marry Raymond? The Newtons are way more powerful than the Ruells."

"That's none of your business! I'll have you know, Agnes, every eligible man in Grandridge's elite is going to end up at my feet sooner or later."

Right at the peak of Vivian's bravado, Agnes pulled out her phone, smiled sweetly, and spoke into it.

"Neal, you heard all that, right? Ms. Brogdon says she's Raymond's lover. She also says she's got every wealthy bachelor in Grandridge wrapped around her finger. Sounds like she doesn't think much of you at all... She..."

Before Agnes could finish, Vivian's face went white. She lunged for the phone. Agnes held it high above her head, well out of reach.

Vivian screamed toward the phone, her voice cracking. "Neal, that's not true! I didn't say any of that! You're the only one I care about! I was talking nonsense! The Brogdons have always wanted to be with the Ruells! It's Agnes, she's making things up! Neal! Neal! Let me explain..."

Agnes relaxed her grip and let Vivian snatch the phone away.

That's when Vivian saw it. The screen was black. Agnes hadn't dialed anyone.

"You... you played me?"

Vivian's face turned the color of ash. She'd walked straight into it.

Agnes's expression went dark. She advanced on Vivian, step by step. She grabbed the phone back and fixed Vivian with a stare that could cut glass.

"If you ever go near Raymond again, I will personally break your hands. I will snap your legs. And I will rip your head off and kick it down the beach."

She turned and walked away, leaving Vivian standing there, frozen, mouth hanging open.

But before Vivian could collect herself, someone grabbed a fistful of her hair from behind and dragged her into the darkness.

"We came looking for you last night and you weren't in your room. We figured you were with Mr. Ruell. Then this morning we hear you collapsed on the beach."

"Did someone beat you up? Was it that Agnes Sinclair woman? Did she cut your hair too?"

"That's insane! Don't be scared, Vivian. We're calling the police. I don't care who's backing her, this is way too far!"

Vivian flinched at every sound, her eyes darting around the room like a cornered animal. She couldn't stop crying, couldn't stop scanning for something, or someone.

"Vivian, can you hear us? What happened to you?"

Staff arrived at the door, a whole group of them, there to investigate.

Vivian's gaze drifted to the doorway and locked with a pair of eyes watching her from outside. Terror ripped through her. She started shaking violently.

"Nothing happened," she blurted out. "I was in a bad mood last night and I drank too much. I fell. That's all."

"Ms. Brogdon, are you sure? These wounds look quite deep. And your hair...?"

"Stop asking! I fell on my own. I cut my own hair. Now get out! All of you, get out!"