Three Years Forgotten, Why Go Crazy When I Say Goodbye? novel Chapter 54

This time, it was Willow. She had stepped forward and delivered two brutal backhands across the lackey's face. The entire corridor plunged into a stunned silence. Everyone stared at Willow in absolute disbelief. The woman clutched her burning face, her eyes practically shooting fire. "You psycho! You dare hit me?!" "I just did," Willow replied with an icy, predatory gaze. "What's the matter? Are you the only one allowed to dish it out? Can't handle it when someone hits back?" The woman opened her mouth to scream but choked on her own fury. Stomping her foot like a petulant child, she turned desperately to Vivienne. "Vivienne! Call Julian right now! Tell him to get over here and destroy this bitch!" Willow sneered inwardly. Call Julian? How easily the title slipped from their lips. She hadn't even finalized the divorce with Julian yet, and they were already acting like Vivienne was his wife. It seemed Julian was far more impatient to end their marriage than she was. But that was fine. Willow had no desire to be tied to his toxic life anymore. Vivienne didn't move, nor did she reach for her phone. She was calculating. In Julian's eyes, she had always been the gentle, innocent, and elegant goddess. It was that exact crafted persona that made him adore her. If she dragged him into a petty physical brawl at a gym, it would ruin her carefully curated image. Besides, she wasn't the one who got slapped. Changing her tune, Vivienne surprisingly didn't press the issue. She offered her humiliated friend a few fake words of comfort and declared she was going to her workout session. The slapped woman was furious at being dismissed so easily, but another friend quickly pulled her away. "Just wait," the friend hissed at Willow over her shoulder. "We have places to be today, but we aren't done with you. You're going to pay for this." Once the toxic entourage was gone, Willow quickly grabbed an ice pack from the front desk and pressed it to the receptionist's swollen cheek. "Thank you for defending me," Willow said softly. "But please, don't ever put yourself in danger like that again." The girl looked confused. Willow didn't elaborate. Some things were better left unsaid. She gently pulled her hand back, letting the girl hold the ice. "I'll write a glowing commendation for you today, but if I come back, you don't need to serve me anymore." The receptionist tried to argue, but Willow stopped her. "Just remember, the next time you want to be a hero, make sure you're safe first." The girl nodded slowly, and Willow gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before heading to the weights. Two hours later, Willow wrapped up her grueling session and walked out of the fitness center. The moment she stepped through the glass doors, she spotted a sleek Rolls-Royce Cullinan parked right out front. Julian was leaning effortlessly against the hood, a cigarette pinched between his fingers, clearly waiting for Vivienne. His imposing presence and the luxury car had drawn a crowd of whispering, starry-eyed women. A moment later, Vivienne glided out of the building. Basking in the envious stares, she smiled radiantly and threw herself into Julian's arms. As she turned, she locked eyes with Willow. Smirking, Vivienne planted a deliberate, lingering kiss on Julian's cheek, flashing Willow a triumphant glare. Willow didn't even break her stride. Acting as if they were entirely invisible, she walked right past the spectacle and disappeared down the street. Inside the luxurious cabin of the SUV, Vivienne kept her voice breathy and sweet as she recounted her workout to Julian, bragging about the new poses she learned and how much the instructor praised her. Julian listened with an affectionate smile. "Is that right?" he murmured, raising a brow. "Then I suppose I'll just have to inspect those new moves for myself tonight."