Chapter 96: The humiliation
Vivian’s face turned deathly pale.
The thought of those recordings being released onto the dark web sent a chill through her entire body.
The next second, she thrashed violently against the ropes.
"Mm..." Her muffled cries echoed through the room.
"Angry?" Elias asked with a cold scoff. "You tried to destroy another woman’s life. Tell me, how does it feel to be in the same position? Do you finally understand what fear and helplessness feel like?"
He stepped forward and ripped the tape from her mouth.
Vivian gasped for air before glaring at him.
"Why?" she screamed, her eyes blazing with fury. "You humiliated me for her? For that, nobody?"
"She is my wife." Elias’s voice exploded through the room. "She is a Rowan. Hurting her means offending the Rowan family. Did you really think I would let that slide?"
But Vivian was too blinded by jealousy to listen.
"She is just an orphan," she shouted. "She lived with another man for five years. How is she worthy of you?"
She couldn’t understand what Elias saw in Elena.
"She is nothing," Vivian continued bitterly. "If the Sinclair family hadn’t taken pity on her and brought her home, she would have grown up in an orphanage. She would never have lived the luxurious life she had. She doesn’t belong among people like us."
A mocking laugh escaped her. "Even Noah Sinclair knew that. That’s why he never married her."
"Enough." Elias’s voice thundered through the room yet again.
His icy gaze locked onto hers. "Don’t test my patience."
He took another step closer. "And don’t assume I won’t strike a woman."
Vivian fell silent. She no longer shouted. She simply glared at him, her fingers tightening around the ropes until her knuckles turned white.
"For her..." she whispered hoarsely. "You would even hit me. We’ve known each other since childhood."
Her emotions finally burst. "How could you do this to me?"
Sobs shook her body. "She has nothing. No status. No family. No wealth. And me?"
Tears filled her eyes. "I come from one of the most prestigious families in the city. I’m beautiful. Single. I’ve always loved you. I can give you far more than she ever could."
Elias let out a chuckle. He slipped both hands into his pockets.
"Do you really think your family background is what I care about? Grow up, Vivian. I never loved you. I never considered marrying you. The only person I ever wanted was Elena. She has been in my heart since childhood."
His eyes softened slightly at the mention of Elena.
"I searched for her for years. And when I finally found her, I married her."
His expression immediately turned cold again. "And I won’t allow anyone to come between us."
Every word pierced Vivian’s heart. She refused to believe it.
How could she lose to someone she considered beneath her?
"What does she have that I don’t?" she screamed hysterically. "Why is she better than me?"
Elias answered without hesitation. "She is kind, sensible, and respects others. And you..."
His eyes narrowed. "You are consumed by obsession."
Vivian stared at him in disbelief. Only then did she realize he had just called her insane.
"You..."
"You can’t force someone to love you," Elias interrupted. "It’s a lesson you still haven’t learned. This is my final warning."
His voice became frighteningly calm. "Stay away from my wife."
Then he pointed at the camera. "If you ever try to hurt her again, every recording and every piece of evidence I have will be sent directly to your parents."
Vivian felt as though her head would explode. "How could you do this?" she cried. "Our families have been friends for years. You humiliated me, and now you are threatening me?"
"You should be grateful." Elias’s voice remained ice-cold. "I made sure nothing happened to you. Those men didn’t rape you."
His eyes bored into hers. "But Elena was in real danger."
His jaw tightened when he remembered Elena lying half naked on that bed, two men hovering over her.
"If I hadn’t arrived in time, those men would have violated her. You arranged all of it. And now you expect me to pretend nothing happened?"
Vivian’s anger slowly dissolved into fear. Looking into his eyes, she knew he wasn’t bluffing.
He meant every word.
"You claimed you’ve only ever loved me." Elias gave a humorless laugh. "Did you think I knew nothing about you?"
He tossed a stack of photographs onto the bed. "They are proof of your affairs overseas. I also know what you did last night."
The photographs were scattered across the blanket. Vivian lowered her eyes.
Every photograph carried the story of the countless casual relationships she had kept hidden over the years. Her face lost every trace of color.
"I was never serious with any of them," she hurriedly explained. "They meant nothing. My heart has always belonged to you. Please... believe me..."
"Enough." Elias cut her off. "Stop pretending you are devoted to me."
His gaze was razor sharp. "You don’t love me. You love my family’s status. You love my wealth."
"No..." Vivian cried desperately. "That’s not true. I really do love..."
"I don’t care." His interruption was swift. "You can date whoever you want. It has nothing to do with me."
He looked at her without the slightest emotion. "The only thing that concerns me is my wife. Stay away from her. Otherwise..." His voice dropped lower. "I’ll expose every secret you’ve tried so hard to hide."
Vivian’s breathing became erratic. If her affairs became public, her reputation would be destroyed.
The Sterling family’s precious princess would become the laughingstock of high society.
"No..." Fresh tears rolled down her face. "Please... Don’t ruin me."
"You still don’t understand who I am." A dangerous glint flashed across his eyes. "I’m not the gentleman you imagined. If anyone hurts the people I love, I’ll destroy them without mercy."
Vivian’s heart trembled. For the first time, she truly feared him.
He was fully capable of carrying out every word he had spoken.
Her pride completely collapsed. "Please. Let me go. I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t go after Elena again."
She looked at him pleadingly. "Please don’t tell my parents."
Elias didn’t believe a single word.
Someone as stubborn as Vivian wouldn’t change overnight. If anything, today’s humiliation might only deepen her hatred.
Still, he decided to give her one final chance.
"Those men have already confessed. They’ve testified that you hired them to destroy Elena. That evidence is enough to put you behind bars."
Vivian’s stomach twisted.
"But this time, I’m choosing not to report you," he added. "I’m giving you one opportunity to change."
Relief washed over Vivian’s face. For a brief moment, she convinced herself he still cared about her.
That illusion lasted only seconds.
"If you ever target Elena again, I’ll hand every piece of evidence to the police. I won’t hesitate."
He pulled a folding knife from his pocket.
Vivian froze. Her blood ran cold. She thought he was about to stab her.
Instead, he sliced through the ropes binding her wrists.
The restraints fell away. Vivian immediately grabbed the blanket and wrapped it tightly around herself.
Elias didn’t spare her another glance. "I hope you remember today’s lesson. The next time, I won’t show any mercy."
Dropping that warning, he left. The door slammed shut behind him.
Tears streamed endlessly down Vivian’s face. No matter how many she wiped away, more kept falling. She trembled with humiliation.
Never in her life had anyone dared treat her this way. And the man she had loved most had become the one who shattered her pride.
The love she had clung to for years died in that room. In its place, hatred took root.
"Elias, you’ve destroyed my love. If I can’t have you, then neither will Elena."
Her eyes filled with malice. "I’ll never let you have a happy life."