Chapter 1
Vivienne’s POV:
It was meant to be a wonderful week, the final stretch before summer vacation, yet here I find myself embroiled in trouble after confronting my bully, Natalie Viscount. Since my arrival at Beaumont Prestige Academy seven years ago, Natalie has been nothing but a source of distress. She has relentlessly tormented me, spreading rumors that my mother is a gold-digging opportunist who married my stepfather for his wealth. While her words sting, I can’t claim to be outraged; after all, my mother, Sarah, did leave my father, Robert, for a more secure and affluent life with Stanley.
Stan, my mother, and my father, all three of them attended Oxford University. Stan hails from Kensington, while my parents are originally from Utah. Each of them displayed exceptional intelligence and ambition, which earned them scholarships to study at this prestigious institution. Their journey to one of the world’s most renowned universities stands as a testament to their dedication and hard work. Of course, Stanley’s situation is somewhat different; he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and hardly needed a scholarship to succeed.
Back in the day, my father embodied every teenage girl’s dream, while my mother possessed a beauty that made every man she encountered turn his head. Then there’s Stanley—a somewhat nerdy British boy hopelessly infatuated with my mother. Given that my parents were the quintessential couple, all he can do is dream of a day when he and my mother might marry and build a happy family together. It seems like a distant fantasy, yet he is determined to do everything in his power to make it a reality. At the age of 21, Stan built his own company using his family's background and money, and at the age of 25, the company became a multi-million dollar company. As for My dad, his family owns a small Ski resort in Alta Utah. My parents got married at an early age, both of them were just 20 years old. My Mom was pregnant with me, that’s why.
My mother had to pause her studies while my father continued and graduated at the age of 22. After his graduation, the three of us moved back to Utah, where my father assisted my grandfather with our family-owned ski resort. This business, run by my grandparents, has been a staple of our family for years. Growing up, I spent countless hours immersed in the hustle and bustle of the resort, creating memories that would shape my childhood.
Everything seemed perfect at first, but my mother soon grew weary of the urban lifestyle and began to crave something more. She would often tell me that my father was her soulmate and that she would never leave him for Stan—unless he achieved the same level of success that Stan now has. This longing for more in life weighed heavily on her, despite her commitment to our family. Years of constant conflict ultimately led to their divorce. At the tender age of ten, I witnessed the heartbreaking separation of my parents. The memory of my father’s struggles during this time is indelibly etched in my mind, especially the day my mother and I left him. It was a profoundly traumatic moment, marked by my father’s desperate pleas for my mother to stay. While my mother is undeniably beautiful and possesses a generous spirit, she often seemed unable to find contentment with my dad, leaving a lasting impact on all of us.
