Dark Romance: A Cruel Obsession

When Vivian and Luzia emerged from the room again, an hour had already passed. Haylee was about to start preparing lunch, but they were getting ready to leave.

“Will you be back for dinner?” Haylee stood at the door with a spatula, watching Vivian change her shoes.

“Maybe…” Vivian glanced at Luzia. “We need to go to Nirupama’s bridal shop to buy a wedding dress; it might take a while…”

Haylee nodded, indicating understanding. “I’ll prepare supper then.”

“Okay, thank you, Haylee.” Vivian waved at her and then turned to walk into the elevator with Luzia and Mare.

There was a car waiting downstairs, driven by Diego as usual. Diego was very familiar with Nirupama’s bridal shop. He silently drove the car, with Mare sitting in the front passenger seat and Vivian and Luzia in the back, sitting close, their arms touching, as if in this way they could find comfort from each other’s presence.

“The weather is lovely today, Luzia,” Vivian said, looking through the car window at the blue sky and sunshine. “Try to be happy, okay?”

“I feel okay now,” Luzia smiled back at Vivian, her smile weak and listless, her light brown eyes dull.

Vivian felt very sad; she missed Luzia’s radiant smile, now gone. It’s all Joseph’s fault, that dreadful demon; he ruined Luzia!

Nirupama still showed her warmth to Vivian and Luzia.

“I heard from Catlito that you’re getting married? Who is the lucky person to have you? I can’t wait to meet him,” Nirupama hugged Luzia. “I’ve been waiting for you; I have some new designs, you’ll love them.”

“You can wait here, Vivian,” Nirupama led Vivian to the lounge area, where there was a large sofa and a single sofa, both soft and comfortable, almost like being enveloped in cotton. In front of the sofas was a round wooden table with fruits and cookies. Nirupama poured tea for Vivian.

“You look much better than the last time we met,” Nirupama squinted and smiled at her. “It seems our Capo knows how to take care of his wife, that’s a good thing.”

Vivian shyly smiled. She couldn’t confide her pain in Nirupama, but Nirupama’s kind smile reminded her of her mother back in Los Angeles.

It had been a long time since she had spoken to her mother. The staff at the Los Angeles mansion had been evasive, or her mother had been avoiding her. Whenever she called, she couldn’t reach her mother.

Worrying about her mother led to anxiety, and Vivian felt an inexplicable unease. Maybe she should ask Joseph, he had recently come from Los Angeles…

No. Vivian immediately dismissed the thought. Her intuition told her that directly asking Joseph was not a good idea; he wouldn’t tell her the truth about her mother and would ridicule and scold her, telling her to mind her own business.

Goodness, just the thought of Joseph’s detestable face made Vivian choke.

But apart from Joseph, Vivian couldn’t think of anyone else who could help her find out about her mother’s current situation. Making more calls back home would likely yield the same result.

Vivian knew without guessing that her father, for some reason, did not want her to contact her mother. She couldn’t figure out whether her father was worried that her mother might reveal the secrets of Los Angeles out of concern for her daughter’s well-being, or simply felt that after her marriage, she would have no more ties to the Jones family.

Who else could help her?ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Vivian thought of one person, her brother Vilem.

While Vivian was contemplating her next move, Luzia had already been taken by Nirupama to the dressing room to choose a wedding dress. Nirupama had prepared three wedding dresses for Luzia, each an exclusive creation of a renowned designer, handcrafted by an Italian master tailor, the epitome of luxury.

“I’ve always hoped for your happiness,” Nirupama smiled, her chubby face showing genuine blessings for Luzia.

Unfortunately, I’m about to disappoint you. While moved by Nirupama’s blessing, Luzia felt sad, her eyes downcast, her hands gently touching the pure white wedding dress, but her heart couldn’t soften.

She knew Joseph wasn’t a good husband; she was destined to never feel an ounce of happiness with him. She had a premonition that one day she would die at Joseph’s hands.

She wanted to escape.

But she couldn’t.

This marriage was an important collaboration between Houston and Los Angeles. If she fled, it would lead to war between the two cities, and vulnerable Houston would suffer once again, with many people dying.

Luzia didn’t want to die; she wanted to live.

Nirupama was the best bridal designer Luzia had ever met. Her designs were not only innovative but also exceptionally perceptive. Any gown that came out of her shop, whether personally designed by her or handpicked by her, was adored by Luzia.

This time was no exception.

Her gaze lingered for a long time on a low-cut, waist-hugging lace wedding gown with a voluminous, bejeweled skirt, reminiscent of the grandeur of ancient European royal gowns. It was a dress that would captivate any girl.

Yet Luzia just stood there, gazing at it, caressing the pure white skirt, showing no intention of trying it on.

Vivian approached her. “Why don’t you give it a try?”

“No,” Luzia shook her head.

Vivian and Nirupama exchanged a puzzled glance. “Why not? Don’t you like it?” Vivian could sense that Luzia did like it.

Nirupama pulled out another gown from a different rack, all of them pure white. “You can take a look at this one. But I believe the one you have on is more beautiful and suits you better.”

Still, Luzia shook her head, hesitating as she looked at Nirupama. “Do you have an off-white wedding dress or a light gray one?”

Vivian widened her eyes, watching Luzia; she couldn’t understand Luzia’s thoughts. “No bride dislikes a pure white wedding dress, Luzia.”

“Yes, I admit what you said is right.” Luzia turned her head away; she couldn’t look Vivian in the eyes, fearing she might start to cry. “But I need a dress that is not pure white.”

“Why?” Vivian barely got the question out before she guessed the answer. “Is it Joseph? Did he request it?”

Luzia’s face turned pale.

Vivian knew she had guessed correctly; she cursed that jerk through clenched teeth. “What is he doing? This is his wedding, and he’s asking his bride to wear an off-white or light gray wedding dress?”

“He’s humiliating someone. What a jerk!”

“Perhaps he likes those colors,” Luzia forced a smile, trying to find a reasonable explanation for Joseph’s unreasonable request.

But they both knew the real reason Joseph was doing this- to subdue Luzia, with his violence and targeted humiliation.

Vivian sighed deeply in her heart; the only thing she could do was accept Luzia’s explanation, to spare her from further embarrassment.

“I’ve never tried such a color, but maybe off-white will unexpectedly look good,” Vivian turned to Nirupama. “Can you design a beautiful wedding dress for Luzia in off-white?”