Chapter 352: informing her mother I

Chapter 352: Chapter 352: informing her mother I

Vivienne stared at her call log.

Then, her eyes briefly fell on Damian’s missed calls again.

She sighed.

Her conscience was telling her it would be too inconsiderate to simply leave it at that.

Three calls.

She really should call him back.

But...

Perhaps later.

Anyhow, she had something more important to do first.

She had to call her mother.

Vivienne glanced at the time.

It was already ten-thirty.

Christopher’s match wasn’t until one.

She still had plenty of time.

She could make the call now, take a bath afterward, get ready, have something to eat, then head to the polo grounds.

Perfect.

Vivienne found her mother’s number.

Then she pressed call.

The phone rang twice.

Then—

"Hello?"

"Hi, Mother."

"Vivienne."

Her mother’s voice immediately warmed.

"Good morning, darling."

Vivienne smiled.

"Good morning."

"How are you?"

"I’m good."

"That’s good."

There was a brief pause.

Then her mother asked,

"Is anything the matter?"

"Actually..."

Vivienne sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Mother, I want to tell you something."

"Oh? What is it?"

Vivienne hesitated.

"What are you doing right now?"

Her mother laughed softly.

"Why?"

"I just want to know."

"Nothing particularly interesting. I’m in the sunroom looking through some correspondence."

"Oh."

Vivienne smiled.

"Then good."

"Good?"

"Mm."

Her mother was quiet for a moment.

Then—

"Alright. Now you’ve made me curious. What is it?"

Vivienne took a breath.

"Mother, Anthony and I have decided not to go through with the engagement."

Silence.

Then—

"What?"

Vivienne winced slightly.

"I don’t think I quite heard you."

"Anthony and I decided to break the engagement."

There was another brief silence.

"What happened?"

"Nothing happened."

"Did Anthony say something to you?"

"No."

"Did he do something?"

"No, Mother."

"Then how did this come to be?"

Vivienne tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Actually, it was a mutual decision."

"Mutual?"

"Mm."

"We both agreed that it would be better not to go through with it."

Her mother was quiet for a moment.

"When did this happen?"

"About a month ago."

"A month ago?"

"Almost."

"And you’re only telling me now?"

Vivienne gave a small, sheepish smile.

"I didn’t think it was urgent. And I thought it would have been better to say it in person."

Her mother sighed softly.

"Ok... has Anthony spoken to his parents?"

Vivienne paused.

"I don’t know."

"You didn’t ask?"

"No."

Her mother sighed again.

"I don’t really know what to say. This engagement has been set for more than a decade and both sides have been quite invested."

Vivienne shifted slightly on the bed.

"Would there be any complications because Anthony and I decided not to go through with it?"

Her mother was quiet for a moment.

"Well..."

She seemed to consider the question properly.

"Legally? No."

Vivienne listened.

"There was never a formal contract. It has always been an understanding between the families."

"Mm."

"But socially and within the family..."

Her mother paused.

"That may be another matter."

Vivienne frowned slightly.

"Because of Grandfather?"

"Your grandfather certainly won’t be expecting it."

Vivienne could already imagine that conversation.

"And I imagine Anthony’s grandfather won’t be particularly delighted either."

"Oh."

"That doesn’t mean you two can be forced to marry."

"I know."

"But there will be questions."

Vivienne nodded.

"That I expected."

Her mother went quiet again.

Then she said,

"Although, if I’m being perfectly honest..."

"Mm?"

"I’m less surprised that the engagement might end than I am that you’re also willing to end it."

Vivienne blinked.

Her mother continued,

"Darling, you’ve liked Anthony for as long as I can remember."

Vivienne looked down.

There it was.

Of course her mother would think that.

She had watched her daughter grow up.

She had seen the original Vivienne’s feelings for Anthony long before Vivienne herself had ever entered this world.

"That’s why I asked whether he’d done something," her mother continued.

"Or whether there was someone else on his side."

"No."

Vivienne shook her head.

"There’s nothing like that."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Then what changed?"

Vivienne thought about it.

That was actually a fair question.

"I think..."

She paused.

"I just grew out of it."

Her mother was silent.

Vivienne continued,

"I liked him when I was younger."

That much was certainly true of the girl whose life she had inherited.

"And I think because I liked him for so long, everyone assumed I would always feel that way."

"Including you," her mother said.

Vivienne smiled slightly.

"Maybe."

She looked down at her hand.

"But we’re older now."

"And?"

"And now that I’ve actually spent time with him again..."

Vivienne thought about Anthony.

She still thought he was a perfectly fine man, but well, things changed.

"I think I was more in love with the idea of him than with who he actually is."

Her mother considered her words.

"I see. But don’t you think this is too short of a time to decide as much?"

"I am certain, mother."

Her mother sighed.

"If you’re certain, I’ll speak to your father."

"Thank you."

"But I want you to think carefully before this goes any further."

Vivienne’s smile faded slightly.

"I already have."

"I know you believe that."

"Mother."

"Darling, listen."

Her voice remained gentle.

"Right now, this is still something between you and Anthony."

Vivienne listened.

"Once your father speaks to the Ashfords, and once your grandparents are informed, it becomes a family matter."

"Mm."

"And after that, there will be no pretending the conversation never happened."

"I understand."

"So I need to ask you once again."

Her mother paused.

"Are you absolutely certain?"

Vivienne didn’t hesitate.

"Yes."

The answer came easily.

"I’ve thought about it many times."

Her voice softened.

"I’m sure."

There was a brief silence.

Then her mother sighed.

"Alright."

Vivienne smiled.

"Alright?"

"Alright."

"I’ll speak to your father."

"Thank you, Mother."

"Don’t thank me yet. Your father may decide he wants to speak to you himself."

Vivienne grimaced.

"I expected that."

"And your grandfather..."

"I know."

Her mother laughed softly.

"Yes. I’m sure you do."

There was a brief pause.

Then she asked,

"By the way, what made you decide to tell me now?"

Vivienne bit her lip.

"Actually, Mother..."

"Yes?"

"There’s another reason."

Her mother went quiet.

Vivienne hugged the pillow against herself.

"I don’t want you and Father to hear something from other people before I have the chance to tell you myself."

"What would we hear from other people?"

Vivienne hesitated.

Then she smiled.

"I’m seeing someone."

Silence.

Then—

"You’re seeing someone?"

"Mm."

Her mother’s voice changed immediately.

"Already?"

Vivienne laughed a little.

"Well..."

"Vivienne, you just told me your engagement ended less than a month ago."

"I know."

"And you’re already seeing someone?"

"It just happened."

There was a pause.

Then her mother asked,

"Are you certain this has nothing to do with why you ended the engagement?"

"Absolutely."

Vivienne answered immediately.

"Anthony and I had already decided to end things before this happened."

"I see."

Her mother still sounded uncertain.

Then—

"What exactly do you mean by seeing someone?"

Vivienne blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"Is this young man courting you?"

"Oh."

"Or have you gone out a few times? Are you simply getting to know each other?"

"Actually..."

Vivienne’s face warmed.

"We’re already in a mutual relationship."

There was silence on the other end.

Then—

"Meaning?"

Vivienne bit her lip.

"Meaning..."

She suddenly felt ridiculously shy saying it aloud.

"He’s my boyfriend."

A pause.

"And I’m his girlfriend now."

"What?"

Vivienne winced, although she couldn’t stop smiling.

"Mother—"

"You already have a boyfriend?"

"Mm."

"But, Vivienne, who is this young man?"

Her mother sounded genuinely bewildered now.

"Do we know him? Do we know his family? What sort of man is he?"

Vivienne laughed softly.

"Actually..."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You probably know of his family."

There was a pause.

"Who?"

"Christopher."

"Christopher?"

"Mm."

"Who is Christopher?"

Vivienne smiled.

"Christopher Archibald."

--

Tbc