Unveiled Secret

CHAPTER 11

Vivienne was walking towards the hospital when a chill swept through the air, prickling her skin. The dim light from street lamps barely pierced the fog, and her heartbeat quickened as she thought of Phillipe's threats echoing in her mind. She quickened her pace, her breath forming small clouds in the cold air.

"Vivienne!" A voice broke through the haze, startling her.

She turned to see Henri materialising from the fog, his frame stiff, eyes blazing with concern.

"Where were you? You shouldn't be out here alone," he scolded, stepping closer. " I was about to go to the hospital." "It's nothing I can't handle," Vivienne replied, her voice steady despite the knot forming in her stomach.

Henri's brow furrowed, his gaze piercing. "Nothing? You can't be serious. You think Phillipe will just back off? He's a viper, and you're dancing right into his den."

Vivienne shook her head, crossing her arms against the cold. "I'm not afraid of him, Henri. This is my life, my choice."

Henri stepped closer, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper, laced with urgency. " "Choice? You call this a choice?" He gestured to the empty street, frustration radiating from him. "You think playing with fire won't leave you burned?"

Vivienne squared her shoulders and met his gaze head-on. "I have to go to the hospital, the patients need me." Henri clenched his jaw, the tension in his body palpable. "You're not a superhero, Vivienne. You can't save everyone, especially not with a threat like Phillipe lurking around the corner."

Silence wrapped around them, broken only by the distant clamour of a carriage passing.

Vivienne awarded to the righteousness of Henri's words but pushed those thoughts aside. "Maybe not, but I won't hide from him either. Ignoring him won't make him disappear."

"You think facing him is going to solve anything?" Henri leaned closer, his voice a low growl. "You're inviting trouble, Vivienne. Trouble that could swallow you whole."

Vivienne exhaled slowly, trying to keep her composure as the weight of Henri's words hung between them.

"I refuse to live in fear," she insisted, her voice firm as she took a step back. "I won't let him dictate my life."Henri's eyes darkened, frustration boiling beneath the surface. "You think your resolve can shield you from him? He knows how to play games, Vivienne. The stakes are too high."

Vivienne's pulse quickened, the underlying tension intertwining with a flicker of defiance. "And what do you propose I do then? Hide away, wait for him to make a move and hope he loses interest?"

Henri's gaze softened, revealing a flicker of helplessness. "I want you to be safe. Is that too much to ask?"

"Safety at the cost of my freedom? Yes, Henri, it is too much to ask."

Vivienne's words sliced through the fog, sharp and clear. She turned, desperate to escape the unease that lingered like an unwelcome spectre.

"Vivienne, don't—" But Henri grasped her arm, stopping her mid-step. The warmth of his touch ignited something deep within her, a mixture of frustration and comfort.

"Let me go," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, yet infused with a strong undercurrent.

Henri's grip faltered, and he released her arm as if it had burned him. "You can't pretend this isn't dangerous," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Vivienne turned to face him fully, the sharp night air swirling around them. "And what would you have me do? Hide in the shadows until he grows bored and walks away?"