Chapter 6

Magnus embraced his grandmother warmly, his arms wrapping around her fragile yet comforting frame. "You look radiant, Grandma Selena. The ever-gorgeous beauty of Ashford Manor," he said with a gentle smile that carried genuine warmth.

Selena chuckled softly, brushing a hand over his shoulder. "Oh, please, dear. Save your flattery for someone younger. But it’s wonderful to see you again, Magnus," she replied. Her voice, though aged, carried a strength that belied the challenges she had faced. "You know, I was thinking—what if I never get to see my Magnus’s children before I pass on?"

Magnus sighed, leading her toward the dining room. "Stop thinking like that, Grandma," he chided gently, his tone affectionate yet firm. "You’re here with us now, and you’ll be around to meet my future children when the time comes."

Selena smiled but didn’t reply, her eyes flickering with a mix of hope and concern. The dining room was bright and tastefully adorned, reflecting the elegance of the Ashford family. Magnus’s mother, Victoria, was already seated, meticulously arranging the food on her plate. Upon seeing them, she briefly glanced up and offered a polite smile before returning her focus to the meal.

Selena had recently completed her last dose of chemotherapy, marking the end of a grueling battle with a brain tumor. A month earlier, she had undergone a complex surgery to remove the tumor. The family had been terrified when her neurologist warned that the cancer could metastasize to her liver and other vital organs, but miraculously, that grim fate had been averted.

Now, Selena was on her feet again, moving with an independence that seemed miraculous given the circumstances. To celebrate her recovery, she had decided to host an extravagant lunch featuring a variety of her favorite dishes—seafood platters, fresh salads, and an elaborate charcuterie board that was the centerpiece of the table.

"Hi, my love," Victoria greeted as Magnus helped Selena into a dining chair, her voice laced with an almost performative affection.

"Hi," Magnus muttered, taking his seat beside his grandmother and pointedly avoiding eye contact with his mother. The tension between them was palpable, a silent reminder of the unresolved conflicts that had simmered since Vivienne’s departure from his life.

Victoria, for her part, had been overjoyed when Vivienne left. She had always believed that Magnus deserved someone more "suitable"—someone like Elena, whose family wealth and influence aligned with the Ashford legacy. To her, Vivienne, an orphan with no social standing, was unworthy of Magnus’s love or the Ashford name.

During Magnus and Vivienne’s marriage, Victoria had conspired with Elena to undermine Vivienne at every turn. The hostility was relentless, but Vivienne endured it silently, hoping that her love for Magnus would be enough to weather the storm.

Selena had not been a neutral observer during that time. When Vivienne had once confided in her about the cruel treatment she faced from Magnus and his family, Selena had responded with harsh criticism instead of support. "You’re not worthy to carry Magnus’s children," Selena had told her bluntly, words that would haunt Vivienne long after she walked away from the Ashford estate.

Reflecting on those years now, Magnus felt a deep and unshakable guilt. He had been an unkind husband, dismissing Vivienne’s love and devotion as trivial. He had taken her for granted, blinded by his own arrogance and the toxic influences around him.

"How is work?" Victoria asked, breaking the silence. She glanced at Magnus with an expectant look before adding, "By the way, what’s up with your phone? Every time I call, it never goes through."

Magnus didn’t bother looking up. "It’s probably the service provider," he said flatly, sidestepping her question. He knew that admitting he had blocked her calls would only escalate the tension, and he wasn’t in the mood for a confrontation.

Victoria frowned but chose not to push further. Over the years, she had noticed the growing emotional distance between her and her son, but she attributed it to his busy lifestyle rather than the choices she had made.

Selena, meanwhile, turned her attention back to Magnus. "Do you like the charcuterie?" she asked with a hopeful smile. "I specifically asked the chef to make it for you. It’s still your favorite, right?"

Magnus nodded, picking up a fork to sample the meat and vegetables. "Yes, Grandma. I really like it," he replied, though his mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t help but think back to the time Vivienne had made a charcuterie board for his birthday.

It had been two years into their marriage, and Vivienne had gone out of her way to create a special evening for him, complete with a home-cooked meal and a beautifully arranged charcuterie spread. But Magnus, exhausted and irritable from work, had ignored her efforts entirely. He had gone straight to bed without touching the food, leaving Vivienne to pack everything away in silent disappointment.

The next day, she had offered to pack the leftovers as his lunch, only for Magnus to throw the lunch bag into a nearby trash can while she watched, heartbroken. The memory now filled him with a deep sense of regret, a sharp reminder of how poorly he had treated her.

"Where is Elena?" Victoria asked suddenly, breaking Magnus’s reverie.

"Bring the cheesecake and truffles I made last night, dear," Selena interjected, directing one of the maids. The young woman nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.

"Why didn’t you bring Elena today?" Victoria pressed, her tone laced with curiosity and a hint of accusation.

"Why would he bring a homewrecker to my house?" Selena snapped, glaring at Victoria with an intensity that made her flinch.

Magnus remained silent, grateful for his grandmother’s intervention but unwilling to engage in the argument himself.

Victoria, however, was not easily deterred. "What homewrecker?" she shot back indignantly. "If anything, Vivienne came between Magnus and Elena. They were the perfect couple. Imagine if they had married right out of college."

"Shut up, Victoria," Selena said sharply, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Don’t you know how to give up and shut that mouth of yours? Why did I even invite you here?"

"I wonder myself," Victoria muttered under her breath, though Selena caught the remark and shook her head in disbelief.

"You are shameless and pathetic," Selena declared, her tone dripping with disdain. "Why do you even hate Vivienne? She’s been gone for five years, yet you’re still so bitter for no reason."

"Vivienne is nothing but a shameless gold-digger and a useless pretender," Victoria spat, her voice rising.

Magnus slammed his fork onto the table, his patience snapping. "That’s enough, Mother," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Neither you nor anyone else is allowed to insult her, am I clear?"

Victoria’s eyes widened in shock, her son’s defiance taking her aback. "What?" she stammered, unsure of how to respond.

Selena nodded approvingly, her expression softening as she turned to Magnus. "Good. It’s about time someone put her in her place," she said, her smile faint but genuine.

Magnus took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain composure. "Let’s just eat peacefully like adults, alright?" he muttered, his tone weary.

Victoria pushed her chair back abruptly and stood. "Whatever," she snorted. "I’m out of here. I can’t be with people who hate me."

"Good, and don’t ever come back here!" Selena yelled after her as she stormed out, her voice echoing through the grand dining hall.

"I don’t intend to come back either," Victoria shot back over her shoulder, slamming the door behind her.

Selena sighed, shaking her head. "That woman is such a nutcase," she muttered, and Magnus couldn’t help but agree silently.

Later that evening, after returning home, Magnus took a long shower, letting the hot water soothe his tense muscles. But even the warmth of the shower couldn’t wash away the weight of his thoughts.

Retreating to his study, Magnus sat down at his desk, a stack of documents awaiting his attention. But instead of focusing on his work, his mind wandered to Vivienne once again. Her face, her laughter, the way she used to light up a room—they were memories that refused to fade, no matter how much time had passed.

Before he realized it, he had picked up his phone and dialed Daniel’s number.

"Good Evening, sir," Daniel answered promptly.

"Evening" Magnus replied, his voice heavy with anticipation. "Have you managed to find anything related to Vivienne?"

"Unfortunately, no, sir," Daniel admitted, his tone apologetic.

Magnus sighed deeply, scrubbing his hands over his face in frustration. "Okay, thanks. You can get back to work now," he said, ending the call with a sense of despair blooming in his chest.

As the night stretched on, Magnus sat in his study, the silence of the room amplifying the emptiness in his heart.