Page 104 of Black Castle

Whatever Vivienne is planning to say gets shoved back down her throat as a resounding echo of a slap knocks her off her balance, leaving her staggering a few steps back.

Her ear is ringing, her cheek throbbing, and there is a metallic taste settling at the corner of her mouth.

“Who is he?” She prowls toward her, shoving the screen of her phone into her face. “Who did you go and see in Russia?”

“M-my friend.” Vivienne struggles out, cradling her face.

“Oh.” Her thick brow raises mockingly, tongue tucked inside her cheek. “Your friend, right?”

Vivienne nods.

“How wonderful.” She claps her hands. “A friend.”

Vivienne nods again.

“Wow.” A sinister smile touches Isadora’s lips. “This friend must be so special, isn’t he?”

Isadora sinks to the edge of the bed, her legs crossed. And then she goes ahead and burps. The stench of alcohol is just a hint but it still lingers around Vivienne’s nostril for some seconds.

“So…” Her eyes drag back to her. “Where did you get the money to go see this special friend?” She makes an air quote with her fingers.

“It’s my money,” Vivienne quickly says.

“I never said you stole it.” Isadora’s eyes darken, and her lips lost the smile which was never even real in the first place. “Where did you get the money? I am your legal guardian and I reserve every right to know.”

Vivienne stalls a little, then realizes keeping information from Isadora Rivera never ends well.

“I made a few commissions.”

Isadora’s eyes travel to Vivienne’s desktop and then to her tablet whose screen is still left on. She rises to her feet and crosses over to the study desk.

She picks up the tablet.

“So people are finally interested in your silly little doodles, huh?” It sounds more like a confirmation. And she sounds more cynical than proud of Vivienne.

“Yes.”

“So, now you are making so much money you even fly across the world now, isn’t it?” Isadora hasn’t turned her back, but her tone grows more spiteful and her grip on the tablet seems a bit too hard.

“I really needed—”

“I bet you think you are a big girl now, am I right?” She slowly turns to Vivienne. “Now you have wings, don’t you?”

“What—”

“I bet you wanna fly now, huh?” Vivienne doesn’t like Isadora’s smiles, and this one on her lips right now makes her really nervous.

“Isadora, what—”

“Tell me, how far do you wanna fly, my little swan?” She raises a devious brow. “Where do you wanna fly off to?”

“Can you stop?—”

“-Russia? Asia? Maybe the UK? Or have you thought of maybe South Korea? Yes.” She snaps her fingers. “I bet you have thought of somewhere far away from Isadora Rivera.”

“I’m not—” Vivienne licks her suddenly dry lips, wringing her now sweaty hands, and swallowing the big lump stuck in her throat. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“These lies.” Her fingers dig into the screen of the tablet. “These little lies of yours are what I hate the most. You are just like your father. You two are so good at lying to me.”

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