Chapter 4

"Vivian." Bryson gave her a warning look from ahead, signaling her to hurry over to his side.

Bryson's icy stare was like a bucket of cold water poured on Vivian's thoughts of escape, freezing her in place.

She couldn't run away.

Vivian knew it.

She had no ability, no job, no money; without her father's protection, she couldn't survive. And her father would never allow her to do something like running away that would harm his interests. She had no choice but to obediently walk over to her father, take a seat beside him, and listen to the priest speak.

The funeral was cumbersome and dull. Vivian sat silently next to her father, surrounded by the deliberately subdued weeping of the crowd. She stole a glance around and saw many heads bowed in tears. Among them were members of the Hargrave family and Kamden's loyal followers.

Vivian quietly withdrew her gaze, inadvertently sweeping over Alajos and the Simpson brothers. The brothers' complexions were far from pleasant; they looked dark and fearsome, with Simpson's eyes red and fierce like a wolf. He wasn't crying.

Alajos wasn't crying either, which Vivian thought she could understand. After all, Alajos was the new Capo of Houston; he needed to show his strength to his followers, not his vulnerability. Crying was seen as a weakness in the mafia, even if it was for the death of the new Capo's father.

But what truly terrified Vivian was the expression on Alajos's face, something she had seen before on her father and Joseph's—it was a relentless look, one that seemed to scream for murder to settle scores.

More ferocious than the cruelest predator.

Vivian wanted to look away out of fear, but just then, Alajos turned his head sharply, his piercing gaze with a hint of brilliance landing on her. She shuddered and quickly lowered her head, fearfully leaning towards Vilem.

Joseph stopped her, placing his hand on her shoulder to prevent her from moving. "Quite an impressive gaze, isn't it?"

Joseph was doing this on purpose. Vivian was certain.

How nasty, Joseph. Vivian was angry, but she was powerless against him and was forced to sit up straight, her heart pounding fiercely.

Vivian took a deep breath. It took all her courage to sneak a peek at Alajos, who was talking quietly with Simpson. Their covert glances intermittently fell on her, with Simpson's sullen face showing no sign of brightening.

An uncertain fate loomed over Vivian like dark clouds, but she had no other option but to anxiously await the end of the lengthy ceremony.

Vivian followed the crowd to send off Kamden's coffin, surrounded by continuous sobbing. The priest declared the ceremony complete with sorrow, and Vivian left the cemetery with her parents.

They were off to attend the post-funeral banquet at a beautiful and secluded estate, which Vilem introduced as the home of the Hargrave brothers' aunt.

In fact, several addresses had been given for the banquet, and no one knew the real location until the last minute. This was for the better protection of the new Capo's safety, as there were too many who sought Alajos's life. Any slip-up could cost him his life.

Vivian had had a similar experience—her father was also constantly in danger. Due to the betrayal of a trusted associate, their whereabouts in Los Angeles were leaked to the Bratva. If they hadn't moved quickly, they would have fallen to Bratva's gunfire long ago.

"I'm starving to death." Vivian didn't dare to say it out loud, as that would bring her the condemnation of everyone around her—it was impolite. She could only quietly slip away from her mother and Vilem, seeking a place to eat something in solitude.

Behind the banquet hall was a garden filled with roses, which Vivian loved, and it was deserted.

However, Vivian had not anticipated running into Bryson and Alajos talking there, or else she would have never come this way.

"Vivian, you're too presumptuous." Bryson pulled her into a lounge next to the garden, his eyes seeming to spit fire, "What have you eavesdropped on? Where is your upbringing, what were those lady's etiquette lessons for?"

"Uh, I'm very sorry." Vivian didn't know why she felt guilty, as she genuinely had not intended to eavesdrop, "I was just trying to get to the garden..." Vivian paused, knowing that if she dared to say she wanted to eat something in the garden, she wouldn't escape a scolding.

But she was indeed very hungry, having not eaten all day, her hands trembling with hunger.

"I'm really sorry, Father." To satisfy her hunger,Vivian could only tell the truth, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I just wanted to go to the garden..."

Vivian's pause seemed like an excuse to Bryson. His daughter breaking the rules and being seen by Alajos angered him, "Don't make excuses, Vivian, you're being rude."

"It's alright, Bryson," Alajos interjected, not minding at all, his gaze fixed on Vivian with apparent interest. "Beautiful miss, may I have a word with you alone?"

Alajos was a handsome man, but the sharp features and a fierce scar across his temple made him look intimidating. Even as he smiled, Vivian felt frightened.

Vivian wanted to say no, but Bryson responded more quickly, "Of course, you can." Bryson was cordial towards Alajos and voluntarily left the lounge, leaving them alone.

Vivian wanted to leave, too. Alajos's presence was overwhelming; his tall frame blocked everything else from her view when he stood before her.

His presence frightened Vivian.

"Are you afraid of me?" Alajos found it amusing. As a Made Man, the once heir to his father and now new Capo of Houston, many feared him—all of them timid, wretched, and ugly, which disgusted him.

Vivian was also afraid, her fear apparent in her trembling, ocean-blue eyes and shaking body. But she was neither ugly nor wretched. Her spine was straight, her face defiantly set as she glared at him, "I—I'm not scared."

Alajos laughed heartily, wanting to touch her hair, but before his hand could reach her, Vivian, who verbally denied her fear, had sprung away like a startled rabbit.

Like a frightened rabbit.

Alajos laughed even louder, not attempting to get closer. "Alright, you're not afraid of me. Then why are you standing so far away?"

"I—I'm just hungry," Vivian glanced at the closed door of the lounge. "I haven't eaten all day, I'm very hungry. May I leave now?"

Alajos observed her carefully, trying to detect any signs of lying on her face. However, Vivian's complexion was poor, making it hard for him to tell if she was frightened or truly starving.

"I'll have someone prepare some food for you," Alajos stepped forward, causing a startled step back from Vivian, forcing him to stand still. "But now, we need to have a proper talk."

"We have nothing to talk about," Vivian felt dizzy and weak in the knees, looking for something to lean on—a table, a chair, anything.

"Yes, you are a beautiful girl, you're very charming," Alajos didn't skimp on his praise. "Don't you want to know what your father and I discussed? It's about you."