I had already published my review of Ch1, even before the release of Ch2.
It received FIVE STARS from me — and now, Ch2 keeps that same rating.
Even though there are clear differences between them.
Ch1 hit us with that explosive shock — the thrill of surprise, the visceral clash of raw reactions from each character.
Ch2, on the other hand, dives deep into Vivian.
We get her backstory, her long-repressed urges, the kind of marriage she’s in, why she chose to start a family in the prime of her youth… even the meaning behind her tattoos — permanent proof of impulsive choices that shaped her life. And they also say a lot about the man she chose to marry.
Vivian is a well of buried desire. At 45, she stands at the crossroads of a midlife crisis — a MILF caught in hormonal and emotional turmoil, much like Anna from APM.
Then along comes a man without scruples, who awakens something primal, dark, and fierce inside her.
She discovers a version of herself that both frightens and excites her.
She’s no longer the prim and proper lady she always believed she had to be...
And then there’s the alcohol — which gives her the perfect excuse to give in to lust, accelerates her downfall and loosens her grip on reason, feeding her impulses:
Like that wine she drank at the meeting — sorry, dinner — with her husband's boss, which led her to let go completely, right there in her own neighborhood, in front of her house...
...or the threesome she jumped into after too many beers — which opened more than just her mind, and left its mark forever (lol)...
...or that epic scolding she publicly gives her husband while leaving the hotel, after having downed a couple of whiskies (and a few other things — lol).
Priceless!
With each move, Vivian is tearing down her own moral boundaries.
Meanwhile, her husband is slowly unraveling, emasculated by every decision she makes.
The latest line crossed (for now): giving her number to a student.
A dangerous path — a line crossed, and maybe a door opened...
I sincerely hope Vivian and Hutch’s marriage never becomes truly open.
Better to preserve the storm, the mess, the jealousy, the guilt… and that overwhelming, regret-filled passion.
Let it burn slowly. Let it ache. Let it unravel piece by piece.
Now let’s see what Hutch’s perspective brings in the next chapter.
Can't wait!