Mariah’s POV
Back in my room, I lay awake all night.
I thought about every time Viggo and I had been intimate over the years. Every single time, it was over before it even began.
I had tried initiating. Tried pleasing him. Tried warming something that always felt cold.
He always said he was just tired. That he didn’t have the energy.
Turns out it wasn’t about energy.
He just wasn’t interested in me.
I wiped the dampness from the corner of my eyes and forced them shut.
When I woke up the next morning, the house was already empty.
I didn’t bother wondering where they’d gone.
I went straight to the company under my name. I wanted everything settled cleanly.
But the moment I walked into the lobby, I saw Viggo. Beside him was Carmilla, wearing a mask. There was also Cruella, her hand held tightly between them. They were strolling through the lobby like a family.
I had never seen him look this openly triumphant.
Like a rooster showing off its prize.
All these years, everything he had, his position, his status, had come from me.
In front of me, he always had to lower his head, restrain himself, and pretend.
In front of Carmilla, he finally felt whole.
I was busy. I didn’t want to acknowledge them. I just wanted to finish my work and leave.
But Carmilla called out anyway.
“Mariah! You’re here!” She smiled. “It’s been so many years. I didn’t expect you’d still be this impressive, building a company this big with Viggo.”
In just a few sentences, she lightly brought up college, brought up dating, and casually mentioned the past.
“Back then, Viggo and I were together. Then you suddenly appeared.”
She tilted her head slightly. “Maybe… you two really were meant to be.”
“I just wasn’t lucky enough.”
In just a few sentences, she painted me as the shameless intruder.
But she misjudged her audience.
Aside from a few new hires whispering among themselves, the long-time employees, people who’d followed me for years, turned around and walked away with a blank expression.
Viggo was pleased.
He leaned in and said quietly, “Carmilla hasn’t seen the company before. I’m just showing her around.”
“Don’t overthink it.”
Cruella chimed in, too.
“Mom, don’t be jealous.”
“That’s what bitter women do.”
I didn’t look at them again.
I handed the reviewed contract to my assistant and turned to leave.
I’d just reached the end of the corridor when the floor jolted beneath my feet.
At first, it felt like a brief imbalance like an elevator misfiring.
Then the entire floor began to sway. Ceiling lights rattled violently, metal screeching.
The earthquake alert sounded.
My first instinct wasn’t to run. I turned back.
“Everyone evacuate immediately!” I shouted toward the office floor. “Follow the drill routes. Don’t push!”
The veteran employees moved almost on reflex, grabbing emergency kits, shielding one another as they headed for the stairwells.
But the new hires Viggo had brought in clearly hadn’t been trained.
They panicked, screaming and stampeding toward the exits.
“Stop running!” I tried to stabilize the chaos. “Stay against the wall! Move in order!”
But no one listened.
In the confusion, Viggo scooped up Cruella with one arm, grabbed Carmilla with the other, and bolted for the exit without looking back.
I had just taken a step when he shoved me hard.
“Move!”
I wasn’t prepared for that. I slammed into the edge of a desk. Pain tore through my lower back. Before I could steady myself, another desk was knocked over by the crowd and crashed down on my leg.
I let out a muffled groan. I was trapped in place!
Above us, a ceiling light broke free, falling straight toward Carmilla.
“Carmilla!”
Viggo reacted on instinct.
He released Cruella and lunged forward, throwing his body over Carmilla.
The light fixture smashed into his back. Blood soaked through his shirt almost instantly.
But he didn’t make a sound. He only held Carmilla tightly and said in a rushed, hoarse voice, “It’s okay. Don’t be afraid.”
Cruella, left behind when he let go and left her where she stood.
She fell to the ground, her face pale, crying without sound. Her limbs were weak; she couldn’t even stand up.
I saw her. No matter what, she was still the child I gave birth to.
My leg was pinned. My back throbbed so badly I could barely breathe. But I still clenched my teeth and dragged myself over.
“Cruella… don’t be scared.”
Panting, I pulled her into my arms. “Hold onto me.”
I dragged her toward the exit inch by inch. Dust and debris kept raining down. My throat burned from the air.
Thankfully, the shaking eased quickly.
Rescue staff rushed in and lifted the desk off my leg.
I had just steadied myself and hadn’t even had time to breathe in relief when Cruella suddenly shoved me away.
“Don’t touch me!”
