The Sprawling 158_My Coldhearted Husband’s Regret

158 Answering to Vivienne’s Voice

 158 Answering to Vivienne’s Voice

 “Ready to go?” ra asked lightly.

 She dressed carefully in a simple navy dress, appropriate for her return to work. After finally cleared her to resume normal activities, though he

 her illness, Dr. Sanders hic

 cautioned against overexertion.

 Coco nodded without looking up.

 ra sighed. “I can drive you in my car, sweetheart.”

 –

 “Is Daddy still working?” Coco asked, her blue like Damien’s–darting toward the hallway leading to his study.

 As they disappeared toward the kitchen, ra finally rose from her seat. Through the window, she watched Damien’s sleek ck car pull away from the manor. The Shanghai project was important–she knew this from the discussions she’d overheard between Damien and his board. But she also knew Vivienne was spearheading the Chinese market expansion for Thorne Industries.

 But Coco had already hit the call button and was holding the phone to her ear with a triumphant smile. After two rings, the line connected.

 Coco lit up. “Daddy!” She dashed after him, with Eleanor following close behind.

 “Of course not, sweetheart.” ra brushed a strand of hair from Coco’s forehead. “I’m not mad at you.”

 With a quick kiss to Coco’s forehead and a nod to Eleanor, he was gone. The heavy front door closed with a decisive thud.

 As they walked to the garage, ra ced a hand on Coco’s shoulder. “Who answered Daddy’s phone?”

 She had endured enough. The pretense, the lies, the constant reminders of her irrelevance in her own marriage. There had to be an end to it.

 Coco climbed out slowly, then turned back. “Vivi said she’s helping Daddy with an important meeting. That’s why she has his phone.” The exnation tumbled out, as if Coco feltpelled to defend them both.

 158 Answering to Vivienne’s Voice

 She touched the cool ss of the window, watching until his car disappeared through 

 the manor gates.

 Coco’s silence was answer enough.

 “I didn’t say anything,” Coco insisted, but her eyes darted away.

 The drive passed in ufortable silence. At the school drop–off, Coco hesitated before opening the door.

 Sleep came fitfully that night. ra woke several times, turning to find Damien’s side of the bed empty. By morning, it was clear he hadn’t returned at all.

 Coco’s cheeks pinked. “It’s not a fib if she does it today.”

 Eleanor Thorne bustled into the room, her face pinched with irritation. “That grandson of mine! Do you know what he’s doing on a perfectly fine Sunday afternoon?”

 “We’ll take my car,” ra said, her tone gentle but firm.

 Vivienne answering Damien’s phone in the early morning. The overnight bag. The Shanghai project excuse.

 He straightened, smoothing his already immacte suit jacket. “It can’t, Eleanor. The time difference with Shanghai means we need to address this now.”

 Eleanor lowered her newspaper. “He called while you were dressing. Said he’d be tied up all day and would try to make it home for dinner.”

 The “we” didn’t escape ra’s notice. Neither did the packed leather overnight bag by the door that Martha must have prepared for him.

 Downstairs, she found Coco picking at her breakfast, Eleanor reading the morning paper with a frown.

 “Good morning,” ra said, epting a cup of coffee from Martha.

 Coco’s shoulders slumped. “He promised we’d watch a movie tonight.”

 “It’s important to him,” ra replied mildly, masking the familiar ache that apanied any mention of Vivienne.

 Eleanor muttered something under her breath before turning to Coco. “Come, darling. Let’s see about that ice cream.”

 158 Answering to

 158 Answering to Vivienne’s Volco

 The kitchen fell silent. Eleanor nced between Coco and ra, confusion evident on 

 her face.

 Eleanor nodded, though concern lingered in her eyes. “Don’t overdo it on your first day back.”

 “Are you mad at Daddy? Or at Vivi?”

 Eleanor sat heavily in the armchair across from her. “Well, he should be spending time with his family. You’re barely recovered, and Coco has been asking to go riding all day? “With Vivienne!” Eleanor’s voice carried a note of distaste. “Some project they simply

 mustplete today, apparently. As if u ds mean nothing

 ra remained seated, watching through the doorway as her daughter caught up to Damien in the entryway. He paused his conversation briefly, crouching down to Coco’s level.

 “Who was that, dear?” Eleanor asked.

 “Daddy didn’te home,” Coco stated tly.

 “Tomorrow night,” Damien promised, ruffling her hair. “I’ll be backte.”

 Before ra could object, Coco had grabbed Eleanor’s phone from the table and was scrolling through the contacts.

 Theck of surprise ra felt was telling. This pattern had grown too familiar to elicit much reaction anymore.

 “Hi, Da-” Coco’s greeting died abruptly. Her eyes widened, and she nearly dropped the phone. “Oh! Vi—”

 “I’m afraid so,” Eleanor sighed.

 ra marked her ce in the book. “Working in his study, I assume?”

 Coco pushed her te away. “Mom, will you drive me to school today? In Daddy’s car?”

 Eleanor stepped forward, arms crossed. “Damien, surely whatever it is can wait until morning.”

 168 Answering to Vivienne’s Voice 

 Coco recovered quickly. “Um, wrong number! Sorry!” She jabbed at the screen frantically, ending the call.

 She found Coco in the foyer, backpack clutched to her chest, eyes downcast. 

 Eleanor’s expression softened immediately. “Just a small bowl, darling. Dinner will be ready soon.”

 “I have to go to the office, princess. Something’se up with the Shanghai project. “Will you be home for breakfast?” Coco asked, her disappointment evident.

 Coco’s step faltered. “No one. I told you, wrong number.”

 ra set her book aside. “I could watch one with you after dinner.”

 “He must have been very busy,” ra replied, spreading a thinyer of jam on her toast. ra nodded, keeping her expression neutral. “I see. Have a good day at school.” Damien’s gaze flicked to his watch. “I’ll try. Be good for your mother and grandmother.”

 unwee images: Damien and Vivienne ra started the car, her mind racing together, her phone casually picking up his calls as they shared breakfast, or perhaps something more intimate.

 “Coco, wait-” ra started.

 ra managed a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I won’t.”

 “Damien has always prioritized work,” ra said, her words practiced and hollow.

 ra focused on smoothing a dog–eared page, avoiding Eleanor’s perceptive gaze. She’d long ago learned the futility of defending herself against Vivienne’s intrusions into her marriage.

 Eleanor snorted. “This isn’t just work. That woman has him wrapped around her finger.”

 She waited until Coco disappeared through the school doors before allowing herposure to crack. Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white.

 ra sat in the sunlit window seat, turning pages of her novel without absorbing the 

 158 Answering to Vivienne’s Voice 

 words. Her recovery from illness had been slow but steady. Physically, she felt 

 stronger, but her mind remained clouded with thoughts that circled like persistent 

 vultures. 

 The door burst open as Coco charged into the room, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “Grandmother! Can we have ice cream before dinner? Martha said I have 

 to ask you.”

 “Mom? Are you mad at me?”

 But she had seen Coco’s expression–the momentary shock, the almost–spoken name. Vivienne. Answering Damien’s phone at eight in the morning.

 Protecting her from scrutiny. Keeping his marriage and daughter away from the prying eyes of colleagues andpetitors who might use that information against Vivienne. rà had pieced together Damien’s motivations long ago.

 “I should get Coco to school,” ra said, rising from her seat. “And then head to the office. Julian is expecting me back today.”

 As Coco scurried from the room, Eleanor turned to ra. “What was that about?”

 And perhaps, finally, she was ready to define that end herself.

 Before ra could respond, the study door opened down the hall. Damien emerged with his phone pressed to his ear, his voice a low murmur as he strode toward the foyer.

 “But Daddy promised.” Coco’s lower lip jutted out. “He said we’d watch the new princess movie together.”

 “Honey, you know I don’t drive your father’s car.” The sleek Mercedes was strictly off–limits to her–another unspoken boundary in their marriage.

 “It’s okay,” ra said softly, though nothing felt okay. “Let’s get you to school.”

 As she pulled away from the school, a strange calm settled over her. The pain was still there–it always would be–but something else was emerging alongside it. A rity. A decision, crystallizing with each mile she drove toward her office.

 “But everyone will see Daddy’s car in the drop–offne. Please?” Coco sped her hands together dramatically. “I’ll call him and ask permission.”

 158 Answering to Vivienne’s Voice

 Eleanor chuckled. “Well, that’s a fib, isn’t it, Coco?”

 The innocent questionnded like a physical blow. “Go on now. You’ll bete.”

 ra felt her body go cold.

 “Coco.” ra stopped, turning her daughter to face her. “I heard what you started to

 say.”

 ra knelt to her daughter’s level, meeting those familiar blue eyes. “Was it Vivienne?” 

 ra’s hands were perfectly steady as she lifted her coffee cup. “I believe she dialed the wrong number.”

 “Please?” Coco’s eyes widened pleadingly. “Jessica says her mom has a car just like Daddy’s, and I told her my mom drives one too.”

 “No one,” Coco mumbled, sliding from her chair. “I need to get my backpack.”

 Each piece fit perfectly into a picture she’d been trying not to see for years. The evidence had always been there, but this–Vivienne’s voice when Coco expected her father’s–was the clearest confirmation yet.

 “But our movie!” Coco protested.

 Case

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The Sprawling 158