Vionnet smiled darkly, her gaze drifting out to the sea.
“I want you and Barrington to die together.”
Everyone present froze, stunned by her words. They thought she was completely insane.
But Trevor didn’t flinch. He remained calm.
“I’m willing to die,” he said steadily, “but Barrington isn’t here. I can’t guarantee that.”
The blood from Xanthe’s face.
She had known Trevor loved her–but she hadn’t realized he loved her enough to die for her.
“It’s fine. He’ll be here soon. Look–he’s right behind you,”
Vionnet said with a smile, lifting her hand and pointing casually behind them.
Barrington emerged from the sea, soaked from head to toe.
With Trevor ordering a city–wide manhunt for him, this had been the only way he could sneak in.
But the moment he climbed ashore, he saw the scene unfolding and ran forward.
“Vionnet? What the hell are you doing? Let Xanthe go!”
But his words only enraged Vionnet further. The knife in her hand pressed deeper into Xanthe’s neck.
“Barry, you’re the one begging me right now. Try to understand your position. If I get even a little upset, one slip of the hand–and this bride dies.”
Barrington caught his breath, his chest tightening. Trying his best to speak carefully, he asked, “What do you want?”
That question widened Vionnet’s smile.
“You both love Xanthe, don’t you? I’ll help her figure out who loves her more. Let’s see which one of you is willing to die for her.”
Barrington’s expression changed instantly.
“Vionnet, you’re playing with fire! I know you only did all this out of a moment of confusion. Let Xanthe go. I’ll protect you!”
Vionnet scratched her ear impatiently, clearly annoyed.
“Xanthe, it looks like Barrington doesn’t love you all that much after all. He’s not willing to die for you.
“In comparison, Trevor actually is.
“Hmm. Trevor’s love for you is so deep, and he’s always treated you so well. You must’ve been blind to choose someone like Barrington.
“But too bad–since Barrington won’t die for you. That means you’ll have to die instead.”
She twisted the knife slightly in her hand, as if she might slice Xanthe’s throat at any
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second.
At that critical moment, Barrington shouted, “You’re pregnant with my child, Vionnet! Are you really willing to let that baby grow up without a father?”
Hearing that, Vionnet raised her brows and let out a cold laugh.
“Father? Oh, I forgot to mention–this baby isn’t yours. It’s from a random model I hooked up at a bar.” She giggled. “What can I say? He was good, high quality. One time and it worked. Unlike you–useless.”
Her words were like a bombshell. Everyone around them looked at Barrington differently. For the first time, a cheating scandal had unfolded so publicly. Everyone knew he’d been played.
Fury quickly surged in Barrington’s eyes. He looked like he could kill her on the spot.
But Vionnet didn’t stop.
“Don’t act like you’re the only one who’s been betrayed. You’re no saint either.
“Men like you are the worst. You want a sweet, obedient wife at home, but also go out looking for excitement and fresh thrills. In the end, you lose everything.
“You brought this on yourself, Barry.”
While Vionnet and Barrington argued, Xanthe had been quietly looking for a way to escape.
But she had nothing sharp on her and couldn’t fight back, at least not yet.
But Vionnet caught on to her ex–best friend’s intentions immediately.
The blade on Xanthe’s neck dug in deeper as Vionnet threatened, “Stay still! Try anything and I’ll kill you right now!”
Xanthe clenched her fists and said through gritted teeth, “I’ve always treated you decently, Vionnet. If you want to hate someone, hate Barrington. What good does doing this to me give you?”
Something in Vionnet’s gaze softened slightly.
“You’re right. You were good to me. If it weren’t for Barrington, maybe we could’ve been real friends. But we fell for the same man. That doomed us from the start.”
She turned to Barrington.
“I’ll give you one last chance. If you’re willing to die for Xanthe, I’ll let her go.”
Everyone held their breath, waiting for his answer.
Barrington looked at Xanthe and said, “If Xanthe still loved me, I would die for her. But now, she loves another man.”
He paused, hesitating to continue. But in the end, he dropped his answer.
“I… I’m sorry, Xanthe.”
Xanthe’s expression barely changed. It was as if she’d expected this all along.
Barrington was the textbook definition of a self–serving man. Why would he ever die for her?
Chapter 24
