'How have I been lately?'
Vivienne smiled. Well, It was nothing new. Sarah's showing up out of the blue to check on her — atypical behavior. It happened earlier also, whenever she needed Vivienne.
In her past life, whenever Sarah asked her about her well-being, she used to be extremely happy! Sarah would sweet-talk to her, sugarcoating every word before asking for a favor. And Vivienne — as always, being the fool — would do everything she asked; gladly, without hesitation.
After all, she was always a good sister, wasn't she?
A bitterness spread inside her, but she kept up the same facade of the obedient pawn in the name of Sarah's sister, as always.
"Well, everything's fine." She smiled back.
Sarah grinned. "That's great! Um, I've heard you went shopping for the charity ball with Damien's grandma. How did it go? Show me the dress!"
"I forgot to take a picture," Vivienne smiled softly. "But it's really nice. I'll show it to you after the fittings. The dress will be delivered home."
"Okay! Well, I'm damn sure you'll look gorgeous in it."
Vivienne stared at her. The unspoken question lingered in her mind. 'What's she really here for?'
Vivienne knew her too well. Sarah never showed up without a reason. The sweet smile, the compliments, there was always something tucked beneath this syrupy voice.
What was today?
"So, tell me, how're you doing? I was so busy these days... I couldn't even talk to you properly!" Vivienne asked, in the same sweet voice.
"Ah! I'm doing good, but...."
She stopped midway.
Vivienne didn't talk back. She waited patiently, letting her to finish.
Sarah shifted a little in the bean bag a little, then, as she spoke, her voice as smooth as honey. "Viv, I need your help."
'Ah... So, there she was!'
"Help! For what?" Vivienne asked, leaning back slightly.
"Viv, you know how amazing a designer you are! Your designs are the inspiration for many of my works." Sara started sweetly.
'Inspiration!' Vivienne scoffed. 'Your best works were never inspired by my works — it was always copied — a blatant copy of the designs I lent you.'
Sarah continued. "Um, Viv, I've decided to participate in Aureates this year; but I've been struggling with ideas lately."
"So, you want me to help you to design your piece. Right?"
"I know you're busy with your wedding preparations, but... if you have some time, maybe we can brainstorm together? Like... Old times?"
Sarah replied, with a playful wink.
Old times.
Vivienne's heart clenched with just those two words. Those 'old times' — were never for her. She remembered everything; how Sarah always fawned over her, showering compliments on her sketches, only to walk away with some of her best ones.
Her idea of 'brainstorming together' was always a trap — to subtly steer their conversation, extracting ideas and claiming the best parts as her own.
Help her with the ideas for the Aureate Design Awards?
She'd done it once. Never again.
'Sarah, I've done everything I could for you. And what did you do? You stabbed me in the back. This time, I really want to see just how far you can go... without me.'
She smiled gratefully, tilting her head like a perfect sister. "That'd be a great idea! But... I'm afraid I'll not be able to help you this time."
Sarah blinked. "Why not?"
"Because..." She said slowly, "This year, I'm participating in Aureates, too."
She tilted her head in a practiced grace, meeting her eyes directly. "You understand, don't you?"
The smile on Sarah's face faltered — only for a second, but Vivienne caught it. The way she pressed her lips together before stretching it again, the way her eyes twitched for a millisecond — she was surprised.
She hadn't tasted refusal ever — not from Vivienne, at least.
"Of course!" She said cheerfully. "That's wonderful, Viv! It's just that I didn't know you were going to participate in Aureates!"
"I wasn't planning to enter at first," Vivienne said, her voice steady.
"But at the last moment, I changed my mind and put my name down. I want to take my passion seriously. Besides, I'm going to be an Ashford soon — don't you think I should have something of my own to stand out in the crowd?"
Sarah blinked, surprised. Something flickered in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with a polite smile. "Oh, of course. That's... very independent of you."
Vivienne's smile didn't waver. "I want to stand on my own two feet. This isn't just about winning for me, it's about proving who I am."
For a moment, none of them spoke. Vivienne could almost taste the bitterness that Sarah tried hard to hide under her ever-supporting sister's mask. But for Vivienne, it was loud out there.
Vivienne continued, "I'm sure, your design will be wonderful too. You've always been creative!" Her voice was soft and warm, soothing to the ears.
"Thanks", Sarah returned the smile; pressing her lips together, she stood up. "Well, I'll get going, then. All the best for you, Viv."
Vivienne stood with her, smiling ear to ear. "Thank you, sis, you're always the sweetest."
She walked towards the door; as Sarah turned to leave, she threw one last smile at her — forced, though.
Vivienne closed the door, then leaned back against it. The calm expression on her face melted off gradually.
Her eyes hardened.
'You'll never use me again.'
She walked to her desk and took out her sketchbook from her drawer. Flipping the pages, her eyes moistened. Each page was filled with sketches, intricate embroidery ideas, and design descriptions — each of them bore a story.
Her story.
She ran her hand over the sketchbook with utmost compassion — this wasn't just a copy, it was a resurrection of a self she had buried herself.
Vivienne closed the sketchbook and sat back, feeling a strange calm settling over her.
As far as now, everything was going on as per her plan. She'd kept her distance but played her part perfectly.
She leaked back.
The Aureates wouldn't just be a competition this year. It would be the moment Vivienne took back everything she'd lost.
And when the spotlight hit, Sarah wouldn't know what hit her.