Entangled With My Rival CEO

Chapter 58

The car came to a gentle stop in front of a pristine white house, its grandness shining under the midday sun.

Inside the car, Clarissa sat behind the steering wheel, her ear pods securely in place as she spoke to her sister, Sophia, through a hands-free call.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Clary?" Sophia's voice rang concerned and uncertain through the other side of the line.

Clarissa's hold tightened on the steering wheel as she stared at the imposing house before her.

After days of thinking, she found herself standing at the crossroads of her decision. The weight of apprehension bore down upon her, heightening her emotions.

"I have to do this, Sophia," she responded firmly, her voice tinged with determination and a touch of nervous anticipation. "I need to."

"Reynold may be tired of fighting for our marriage, but I refuse to give up," she continued her words carrying a mix of frustration and determination.

"I can't simply sit idly by and allow some bitchy childhood friend to come in and ruin my home."

"I'll call you later," Clarissa declared before finalizing the conversation.

As she hung up, she took a moment to gather her thoughts, steeling herself for what lay ahead.

"Okay... let's do this," she muttered, drawing a deep breath.

With deliberate movements, she unfastened her seatbelt and stepped out of the car, clutching her handbag tightly.

Her footsteps took her towards the front door, and her eyes wandered, admiring the meticulously manicured lawn and the elegant architecture of the house.

Upon reaching the front door, she paused momentarily, mulling over her next move, before raising her finger to press the doorbell.

The sound of the doorbell reverberated through the stillness, its melody weaving through the walls of the house.

Clarissa stood there, her gaze fixed on the door, anticipation coursing through her veins as she awaited its opening.

After a few suspenseful seconds, the door creaked open gradually, revealing an elderly woman standing in the doorway.

The woman's hair had a gentle silver hue, while her eyes showed a combination of curiosity and caution.

"May I assist you?" she asked, her voice exuding warmth yet guardedness.

Clarissa straightened her stance, exuding newfound confidence, and returned the smile.

"Good afternoon. I'm here to see Vivian... Vivian Walker. We're old friends," she replied.

The woman studied her for a brief moment, her gaze narrowing as suspicion tinged her words.

"And you are?" she inquired, her tone betraying a hint of suspicion.

Clarissa offered a charming smile. "Clarissa Becknard," she responded.

The woman nodded, though still harboring doubt.

After examining her once more, she replied, "Please wait here."

With that, she reverted into the house, closing the door behind her and leaving Clarissa waiting.

About a minute later, the door reopened, revealing a tall, slender woman with cascading waves of ginger-brown hair that beautifully complemented her smooth, pale complexion.

Her sharp facial features added a captivating charm to her overall presence.

A smile immediately adorned her face as her eyes locked onto the blue-eyed woman standing before her on the porch.

"Clarissa," she spoke, her voice devoid of hostility.

"It's wonderful to see you again," her British accent intact.

Clarissa returned the smile and extended her arms, offering a friendly hug.

"Likewise, Vivan," she replied, pulling away after a moment to observe Vivan's appearance, silently comparing it to her own.

"It's been such a long time, and you almost haven't changed at all," Clarissa commented, mustering a smile, although she loathed admitting that Vivan truly looked good.

Her physique appeared slimmer compared to the last time they had seen each other, possibly even thinner, yet she still emitted strength and confidence.

"Well, thank you," Vivan giggled, her green eyes twinkling with pleasure.

"I think we can catch up more comfortably inside," she proposed, motioning toward the interior of the house.

Clarissa nodded in agreement. "Of course," she replied, following Vivan indoors, her heels echoing with each step on the glossy marble floor.

The interior of the house was filled with warmth and welcome.

The walls were adorned in a soft, neutral hue, contributing to the serene aura.

"You have a lovely home," Clarissa complimented as they made their way into the living room.

"Thank you," Vivan acknowledged as they entered the spacious room. "This way," she gestured, pointing to a cozy couch in a corner.

"Take a seat and I'll fetch some refreshments for you, alright?"

Clarissa nodded, offering a gentle smile as she settled onto the couch, crossing her legs gracefully.

While she waited for Vivan's return, her gaze roamed along the walls of the house, scrutinizing the artwork and photographs adorning them, none of which seemed to include a child or a man.

Soon enough, Vivan reappeared, carefully holding up a tray with a glass of orange juice in one hand and a plate of cookies placed beside it.

"Here you go," Vivan announced, setting the tray down in front of Clarissa before grabbing a seat on the opposite end of the couch.

Clarissa conveyed her appreciation with a grateful smile. "Thank you," she said, picking up a cookie and savoring its sweet flavor with delicate nibbles.

Vivan leaned forward with genuine zeal, her hands clasped together, and her green eyes brimming with anticipation.

"How have you been? I imagined your modeling agency would keep you busy...I mean all the traveling and all that it entails."

A fleeting smile appeared on Clarissa's lips, lacking authenticity.

Leaning in closer, she spoke with a hint of uncertainty, "Actually, I should be on a tour, but..." Her voice trailed off, as she wavered.

Lowering her voice, Clarissa whispered conspiratorially, "I'm not sure if I should share this with you, but there's a situation between me and Reynold." She inclined back, her brows slightly creased, conveying her worry.

Vivan reacted with empathy, her expression comforting.

"Please remember that you have the freedom to share only what feels comfortable for you."

A sigh escaped Clarissa's lips, parting them.

"Well, I have a strong feeling that he's involved with someone else, and knowing that, I don't think I can go on any tours while my marriage and home are being threatened... It would simply be too careless."

Vivan observed Clarissa for a few moments, a concerned frown appearing as she pondered on her words.

After a while, she spoke softly, keeping her voice low and tentative. "You think Reynold is cheating on you?"

Clarissa shook her head firmly.

"No, I don't think, I know he's cheating. And I know exactly who he's cheating on me with," she said, narrowing her eyes as she scoured for any reaction from Vivan, whose frown deepened.

"I... find that hard to believe," Vivan responded cautiously.

"Oh...it is true," Clarissa said, her tone carrying an unwavering certainty

Vivan fell into silence, contemplating the situation before speaking again.

"Look, I may not know all the details of what you two are going through, but I'm one hundred percent sure that Reynold would never betray you like that."

"He loves you too much." She added with a hint of hurt tinged in her voice, which didn't escape Clarissa's notice.

Clarissa smiled, her eyes narrowed, briefly looking down before meeting Vivan's gaze again. "Of course. What else did I expect you to say?"

Vivan raised her eyebrows, sighing softly.

"Excuse me, is there something you're trying to tell me?" She asked, genuinely confused, her words causing the fake smile on Clarissa's face to fade away.

"Listen, let's cut the pretense of liking each other. I saw you with Reynold at a bar three nights ago."

"I know what you've been up to with my husband and I'm here simply to give you a warning, Vivan. This isn't the same old Clarissa you knew twenty years ago....I'm even more ruthless now," Clarissa declared, her expression hardening as she fixed a stern look on a visibly startled Vivan.

"So, you came here to threaten me?" Vivan finally reacted, breaking the stillness that hung between them.

"Did you really think I would come here to sit, have orange juice and cookies, and engage in friendly conversation? After all the things you did to try and ruin my relationship with Reynold back in university, just so you could have him for yourself?" Clarissa retorted, noting a fleeting glimmer of anger in Vivan's eyes before she swiftly suppressed her emotions behind a forced smile.

"Of course..." Vivan paused, shaking her head in disappointment.

"What else could I have expected? Why else would you grace my house if not because you felt threatened by my return to town?" She replied sarcastically, her tone dripping with disdain which simmered annoyance within Clarissa's chest.

Vivian kept on her smile as she continued,

"I'll tell you one truth, Clarissa..."

"Whatever is going on between you and Reynold, I have no part to play in it," She stated firmly.

"I'm not a child, Vivian! And I won't tolerate being subjected to your lies and manipulations again!" Clarissa yelled vehemently, her voice growing louder.

"You've always been obsessed with him," Clarissa continued, but Vivian interrupted, standing up, having reached her limit with the accusations.

"No!... I loved him but he gave the love I wanted to you." She retorted.

"Even after everything I did back then, I couldn't have him. So, Clarissa, what makes you think that just because something is happening between you two, he would choose me to cheat on you with?" Vivian spat out her words, her eyes darkening as she glared at Clarissa.

"Here's some advice...instead of going around to people's houses, pretending to be nice, eating their cookies, and then accusing them of having an affair with your husband, why don't you get yourself checked by a doctor for your paranoia?" Vivian said, shrugging.

"Who knows? Maybe you're the one with the problem, not him," she finished, her jaw tightly clenched.

"I trust you remember the way you came in. Make sure to close the door when you leave," she added, as Clarissa, enraged, stood up.

Choosing not to retort, Clarissa simply scowled at Vivian before storming out of her house and quickly entering her car, and driving away.

After her departure, Vivian finally took a deep breath, her hands pressed against her agitated chest, feeling her racing heartbeat.

She took out her phone, scrolled through her contacts, and clicked on Reynold's name, pressing the phone to her ear as it rang.

"Hey, Vee... what's up?" Reynold greeted cheerfully.

"We need to talk, Reynold," she said, her voice contrasting his upbeat tone, raising his concern.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, and she sighed.

"Well... we'll find out tonight at our usual spot... 7 p.m.," she said before ending the call.