REBIRTH : Chasing The Limelight-Chapter 70: Do you think I could do such a thing.
Adrian walked out of Voice vicinities without stopping. The night air was cool, but it did nothing to change the calm unreadable look on his face.
As he reached the car, Harris was already in the driver’s seat, leaning back in a way that looked like he had almost fallen asleep but was still fighting for his eyes to stay awake. When he saw Adrian, he quickly straightened up and pushed the door open from inside.
Adrian got in without a word.
Harris turned to greet him, but his gaze suddenly dropped to Adrian’s hand. He blinked repeatedly, like he was trying to confirm if his eyes had been playing on him. "Wait... don’t tell me Miss Elara rejected the phone."
Silence.
Harris stared at the bag in his hand, then slowly looked up at his face. "...She actually rejected it." He muttered unbelievably.
Adrian said nothing.
"Boss... this is serious... This is surely the first time in history you gifted someone, and also the first time you got rejected." Harris said letting out a long breath.
Still no reply.
He then shook his head. "If it were Miss Relanie, she wouldn’t refuse something you gave her." He said again.
Adrian’s hand paused for a brief second before resting on his lap, but his face did not change.
Harris, of course, did not notice anything. "Miss Relanie would probably accept it with both hands, say thank you with that gentle smile, and maybe even keep the box. Very respectful. Very elegant. Very...beautiful."
He nodded to himself, clearly impressed with his own description. "Honestly, Miss Relanie is really amazing. She understands you, she doesn’t argue, she doesn’t make things difficult. Everything about her is amazing. No stress or troubles." He paused and gave an exaggerated sigh. "Unlike some peo—"
"Enough."
Adrian muttered quietly, though it sounded more like it had came out through gritted teeth.
Harris froze immediately. He looked completely lost.
What had he said wrong.
He blinked and slowly turned his head toward Adrian, his mouth still open from the sentence he did not get to finish.
"...Okay." He nodded and turned back to the steering wheel immediately. He started the car without another word.
Adrian leaned back in his seat, his gaze falling forward before shifting to the side window. The city lights passed by one after another reflecting in his silvery eyes...
–
Livienne stepped out of the car and walked straight to the back without waiting. The driver followed behind her slowly. Like he was in no hurry at all. When he got to the boot, he opened it and started bringing down her luggage one after the other.
Livienne kept tapping her foot impatiently on the ground. "Hurry," she said in an annoyed tone.
The driver shut the boot with a thud and dusted his hands. Livienne reached into her bag, pulled out some cash, and slapped it against the side of the car.
The man looked at the money and then at her, his brows pulling together. "Girl, do you even have respect for elders at all? I have a granddaughter your age."
Livienne scoffed and lifted the corners of her lips in a mocking smile as she looked him up and down. "Do you even know who I am?" she asked.
The driver snorted, not impressed.
Livienne paused for few seconds, then she pointed at him. "Wait... you said you have a granddaughter my age?" she repeated, looking at him over again. "Did you have her when you were twelve?"
The man pointed at her in disbelief. His mouth opened and closed like he could not decide which insult to use first. In the end, he simply spat to the side in frustration, got into the car, and drove off without another word. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Livienne watched the car leave, then let out a small "hmph," folding her arms. "He didn’t even help me carry the luggage to the door. Why is everyone in this world so cruel. It hurts." she muttered.
She brought out her phone and dialed Riven’s number, pressing it to her ear. It rang and rang and rang. But there was no answer.
"This idiot," she scoffed, lowering the phone. "Useless."
Dragging one of her bags behind her, she walked to the door and pressed the bell. She waited. Nothing. Her foot began tapping against the floor, faster and faster.
She pressed the bell again. Still nothing. Her patience snapped and she started pressing the bell repeatedly, like she was trying to break it. Just as she raised her hand again for what felt like the hundredth time, the door suddenly swung open.
"Which idiot is trying to destroy my doorbell? Are you stupid or—" an irritated voice rang out from inside and the words stopped halfway. Riven froze immediately.
Livienne stood in front of him, her hand still raised mid-air. Her eyes widened for a second before turning dangerous.
Then—
"Fuck your ass," she yelled while Riven’s entire posture straightened immediately as if someone had just poured cold water on him.
"...Ah. You’re here." he said, his tone taking a full three sixty degree turn.
Livienne stared at him for a long moment, then dragged her luggage past him without another word, her shoulder brushing against his on purpose.
Riven watched her enter. Then he slowly closed the door, rubbing the back of his neck. "...I should have looked first," he muttered to himself...
Livienne walked straight into the living room like she owned the place and dropped herself onto the couch without caring about anything else. Not even glancing at Riven, she waved her hand toward the door. "Go bring the rest of my luggage." she said.
Riven was still standing near the entrance, his mind trying to catch up with everything. He looked at her, then at the door, then back at her again.
Livienne slowly turned her head and shot him a sharp glare. Riven did not wait for a second glare before he rushed out. "Right. I’m going," he said quickly.
A few minutes later, he returned dragging in the rest of her bags. He shut the door with his foot and turned immediately. Without wasting time, he walked over to Livienne and bent down in front of her, his expression full of concern. "What happened?" he asked.
Livienne did not answer him. Instead, she lifted her chin and said, "Get me a handkerchief."
Riven blinked at her in confusion, then he nodded quickly and turned around to get it. He came back immediately and stretched it toward her.
Livienne snatched it from his hand and brought it to her nose. She then started sobbing.
Riven froze for a second before quickly sitting beside her and pulling her into his arms, trying to comfort her. "What’s wrong? Did someone steal your money or—"
"Shut up!" Livienne snapped, pulling back to glare at him.
Riven closed his mouth instantly.
"Okay, okay... what’s wrong?" he asked calmly.
Livienne sniffed and wiped her tears with the handkerchief, her expression full of grievance as if the whole world had wronged her. "Can you believe that they sent me away from Rye. All because of that bitch, Elara." she said in a shaky voice.
Riven’s eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
Livienne turned her head and looked at him again.
"I mean... that’s serious." Riven said, clearing his throat before straightening up.
She let out a heavy tired sigh and leaned back again, her exaggerated sobs growing louder as she pressed the handkerchief to her face.
Riven’s lips turned downwards. He thought for a moment before choosing his words carefully, "Didn’t anyone do anything about it? What about Mr Diero or—"
Livienne shook her head immediately, her expression turning more annoyed than sad. "They did nothing. Of course they can’t do anything. Adrian Vale gave the order, so those idiots had no choice but to obey him."
Riven let out a small snort. "Those men are useless."
Livienne paused for a second and glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. Like she was asking how exactly he was any different from the same group of useless men.
After a moment, she suddenly turned back to him with narrowed eyes. "I surely didn’t know she can’t swim. And even if I do, do you think I would have pushed her. Do you think I could do something as cruel as that?"
Riven did not even think before nodding. "Of course yes, you can do that. How won’t you be able—"
His voice slowly faded when he noticed that the air around him seemed to have drop in temperature. He stiffened and carefully lifted his eyes. He was met with Livienne’s cold, dagger like stare.
"...Oh," he muttered quietly the moment he realized the truth had slipped from his tongue. He then quickly corrected himself. "I mean, no. You can’t do that. How would you even do such a thi—"
Before he could finish, Livienne grabbed a pillow and threw it straight at his face.
"Fuck off..."
