CHAPTER 26: TEMPORARY PEACE

Viviane hesitated, choosing her words carefully so as not hurting both of them. Wondering what kind of words that could describe her love perfectly and genuinely.

Without lying and being perceived as an asshole by Seamus which is impossible.

She then smiled bitterly. "I do believe in love. I know it exists everywhere in the world... but it’s rarely directed at me."

"I can see people’s auras when they look at me. Do you know how disgusting it feels to see someone’s lust and desire? To see jealousy and hatred just because I exist?"

Seamus’s chest tightened. He feel disappointed since it means that they love build on lies upon lies, but he forced himself to listen. He wanted the truth, so he wouldn’t regret anything later.

"But you," Viviane continued, her voice trembling slightly, "you were different. Your aura was white. I’ve never seen anything that pure before."

"You’d blush just by looking at me, watching me from afar but never daring to approach. It was... cute."

Her smile this time was genuine, but tinged with sorrow. "I thought to myself, how happy would it be to be loved so purely? Now I know the answer."

She brushed her fingers against his cheek and kissed his temple softly. "I might not love you at first sight, but I truly love you Seamus. I hope it’s enough for you."

Seamus let out a shaky laugh. He didn’t know how to respond—no one had ever said something so sincere about him before. But he knew one thing for sure: their love was real.

"Oh Viviane, you’re my happiness... though you really test my patience sometimes," he whispered, pulling her close. "Also I’m too soft with you. I admit that."

"What’s wrong with being soft? I like how gentle you are with me. It’s impossible for you to even get angry at me."

"I don’t know. People usually equate softness with weakness..." He hesitated. "So... you didn’t know about my blood when we first met?"

"No. I didn’t." She exhaled slowly.

"I only found out after you cut yourself during that cooking class. I remember my instinct was to protect you and own you, no matter what."

Her golden eyes locked onto his, a flicker of something sharper in her expression. "As much as I hate my mother, she was right about keeping you safe here... in this manor, or even in her dream realm. At least for now."

Seamus frowned thoughtfully. "That isn’t needed, as much as I am a passive, I hate to be pathetic, I don’t want to live in the mercy of everyone else’s decisions."

"But... marrying my father just for that? Don’t you think that’s too much? You could’ve just married me instead."

Viviane scoffed, a laugh escaping her lips. "My mother would never allow it. She said you’re for every member of Velstrath. Tch, that commie bitch!"

"Hey, calm down, Vivi." Seamus chuckled nervously. "I don’t really mind, if you’re okay with it too."

"I don’t exactly have a choice... but I promise not to get angry about it anymore." She leaned in closer, her breath ghosting against his lips.

"Because you’ll be mine in the end, Seamus. No one will separate us. Not even my mother."

Her eyes darkened, and Seamus shivered at the intensity in her voice.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked quietly.

"You’ll find out later," she said with a small smile. "But for now... let’s just enjoy this peace together."

Viviane nestled her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Seamus wrapped an arm around her, though his mind was already racing, preparing himself for whatever insanity awaited him next.

Then, a knock sounded at the door.

"Master Seamus, Lady Viviane," a voice called politely, "Lady Isolde requests your presence at the dining table."

Viviane clicked her tongue while Seamus rose from the bed, putting on his clothes as neatly as possible.

Meanwhile, she strolled casually to his walking closet, pulling out one of his white shirts.

It was oversized, hanging loosely on her with nothing underneath, the hem barely covering her thighs. She looked effortlessly sexy, the red bite marks on her neck standing out deliberately.

"Are you seriously wearing that to breakfast?" Seamus asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What’s wrong with it?" Viviane tilted her head innocently. "I want everyone to know you were fucking me a moment ago."

She said it as if it were the most normal thing in the world before tugging on his arm.

Together, they headed toward the dining room, where Isolde and Andrew were already eating brunch. It was nearly noon.

"Oh! Damn, kids, you’re really going at it, huh?" Andrew grinned knowingly the moment he saw them.

"So you know, Viviane was my girlfriend first before she became my stepsister," Seamus said, dodging the awkwardness as the two of them took their seats.

"Hah! Youngsters..." Andrew shook his head with a smirk. "But it’s fine. Do your thing."

He quickly launched into stories about his ’honeymoon’ with Isolde in the Maldives—snorkeling with whale sharks, sunbathing, spa days, even gambling.

Seamus just nodded absently, not listening. None of it was real anyway; it was all a dream.

His attention was on Viviane and Isolde, their gazes sharp and tense as they silently sized each other up.

"Oh, by the way... can I call you ’dad’ now?" Viviane suddenly cooed sweetly.

"And you’re fine with me being lovey-dovey with Seamus, right? Since we’ve already done it a lot. Different poses, every room possible, plenty of kinks."

She clung to Seamus’s arm as she spoke, making him choke on his eggs and reach for his orange juice.

"We’re so dirty even rabbits would be ashamed of us," she added with a cheeky grin.

Andrew just laughed. "Nah, I’m chill. I’m just glad my son finally has a girlfriend. He’s kind of antisocial, you know?"

"Dad! I’m not!" Seamus sighed. "I have friends... and a social life."

"If you mean a forty-year-old widow named Betty from work and a fifty-year-old junkie chef, they don’t count," Andrew teased.

Seamus only rolled his eyes.

"Dad, Seamus doesn’t need anyone else," Viviane said sweetly, pressing closer to him. "He only needs me by his side. Right, honey?"

Her eyes glittered expectantly, and Seamus nodded, already knowing she was doing it to piss off Isolde.

Andrew burst out laughing. "Ah, young love... always so spirited. I’m jealous."

"Anyway, aren’t your classes starting in about thirty minutes, Seamus?" Isolde’s sudden voice cut through the mood. "Why don’t you drive him in the new car I gave you, husband?"

"Really?" Andrew and Seamus asked at the same time, exchanging confused looks.

Then it hit Seamus, and his eyes widened. He’d been absent for... how long? Days? Weeks?

"Uhh... yeah, you’re right. My attendance is already bad." He stood up quickly. "Dad, can you hurry up?"

"I don’t have class today, so I’m going shopping," Viviane said, rising as well.

She turned to Seamus and kissed him deeply, passionately, making Andrew whistle.

"Young love everyone," Andrew muttered, shaking his head. He leaned in to kiss Isolde, but she turned away smoothly.

"Seamus is late, darling," she said. "Why don’t you warm up the car first?"

"Right, right..." Andrew scratched the back of his neck awkwardly before leaving the room.

Viviane finally pulled away from the kiss and whispered sweetly, "Careful, babe. Don’t fall into any viper’s traps."

"I think you’re scarier than any viper, Viviane," Seamus muttered with a shrug.

He headed back to his room to change and grab his bag, leaving Viviane and Isolde alone at the table.

"You know," Isolde said casually, "that cheap little act won’t make me jealous."

"Yeah," Viviane smirked, crossing her arms.

"But it pissed you off, didn’t it? That you’re wrong. That Seamus still loves me even when you keep drilling into my head that I’m some ugly monster."

Isolde rose from her seat, shaking her head in disappointment. "What a foolish girl. You should be focusing on training to control your power so you don’t hurt yourself."

She paused, glancing back with a thin smile. "Or is that what you want? To destroy yourself, since that’s the only thing you’re good at?"

"You—!" Viviane’s hands clenched, ready to snap back, but Isolde was already walking away.

"What I said is the truth," Isolde added coolly. "The vampire blood-style skill is a mirror of its owner. Be proud, Viviane. At least you’re good at one thing."

She smirked one last time before leaving the room.

Viviane trembled with rage, her teeth grinding audibly. "That damned slut... Let’s see if you can talk shit about me anymore when I destroy you completely!"