Chapter 2: She Would Leave Him with Nothing

The same face.

The same intimate advances.

Vivian Hale felt a bone-chilling cold sweep over her, followed by a wave of visceral nausea.

She was certain once again.

The man who had shared her bed so many times recently was definitely not Adrian Cross.

It felt as if her heart was being ripped apart.

Adrian, however, was losing control to his desires.

One large hand wandered beneath her skirt, while the other slid up her slender waist to her chest.

The moment he touched her, his movements stiffened abruptly.

In the next heartbeat, Vivian was roughly pinned face-down onto the sofa.

In a position of utter humiliation, her skirt was yanked open.

Her mind flashed back to a night two weeks ago, under the dim yellow moonlight.

That other man had wanted her fiercely, yet he had kissed the scar on her chest with a devotion that felt almost sacred.

Every time he did that, she would tremble with an intensity she couldn't explain.

"Click!"

The sound of a metal belt buckle being undone made her scalp crawl with tension.

She gripped the edge of the sofa, bitterness and disgust warring within her, as she desperately searched for a way to refuse him.

A sharp, sudden ringtone from a cell phone interrupted Adrian’s movements.

Keeping one hand pressed firmly on Vivian’s waist, he quickly answered.

A high-pitched, coquettish female voice came through the line.

"Adrian, I made a special heart-shaped lunch for you. Why aren't you in the office?"

The clear, feminine voice hit Vivian’s heart like a sledgehammer.

It felt as though her soul was being torn. It took her several seconds to regain her composure.

She suddenly turned her head, looking at the man with calculated, bedroom eyes.

"Honey, don't stop."

"Adrian? Are you home? You promised me..."

The voice on the other end began to throw a temper tantrum in displeasure.

Adrian immediately stood up and straightened his clothes.

"I understand. See you in a bit."

He hung up quickly and reached out to affectionately ruffle Vivian’s slightly disheveled hair.

He looked like a king granting a small favor.

"There's an emergency at the company. Let’s wait until tonight."

As he rushed out the door, Vivian finally couldn't hold back. Tears fell as she covered her mouth, retching uncontrollably.

She felt dirty.

Tainted in a way she had never felt before.

She gathered the folder and ran into the bathroom, stripping off her clothes and stuffing them into the trash. She scrubbed herself with disinfectant soap several times until her skin was red and stinging.

Only then did she stop.

The water from the shower sprayed over her from head to toe.

Slowly, her emotions leveled out.

Her small hand moved to rest on her lower belly.

She had taken ovulation-inducing medication, calculating her cycle specifically for today.

She had no family left in this world.

If heaven could grant her a child, it would be the greatest encouragement for her decision to start over.

Of course, she would also secure a guarantee for herself and the child’s future.

If this man was heartless, she would be ruthless.

She would make sure he ended up with absolutely nothing.

After drying off, she changed into a loose, casual outfit and pulled out the divorce agreement hidden inside the folder.

The sections for compensation and asset division were blank. When the time came, she would make Adrian sign everything over voluntarily.

Back in college, Adrian wanted to start a business.

As his girlfriend, she had supported him wholeheartedly, giving him her patents for free as his startup capital.

Adrian had been so moved back then that he knelt before her and swore an oath.

No matter how big the company grew, half of the original shares would always belong to her.

Now, Adrian’s company was worth hundreds of millions, yet he had never mentioned that promise again.

Since she was the one who built him up, she would be the one to tear him down.

He wouldn't get to take a single cent of it.

She knew it wouldn't be easy.

But for her child and herself, she would find a way.

She had intentionally provoked Tiffany over the phone just now; Adrian would likely spend the night comforting his mistress and wouldn't return.

For now, she needed to prepare thoroughly for her plan.

First, she needed a job—a foundation for her independence once she secured the assets and left.

After a simple lunch, she sat at her computer and conducted a detailed background investigation into overseas research firms that matched her patents.

She selected one and sent off her resume.

If she was going to leave, she would go far away.

They would never see each other again.

By evening, she had finished cleaning the dining room and was heading upstairs to sleep.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of the electronic lock opening.

Was that person... back for Adrian again?

Her heart skipped a beat. She clutched the hem of her nightgown, watching the door with a mix of nerves and trepidation.

The door opened, and a tall, imposing man walked in.

He looked toward her.

The amber light cast a soft glow on her shoulders.

The delicate straps of her cotton nightgown were tied in beautiful bows at her shoulders, and the warm light made her skin look like porcelain.

Her hair fell softly over her back, looking obedient and gentle.

A strange flicker of emotion danced in the man's eyes.

For a moment, Vivian couldn't tell who he was.

She stood frozen.

The man slowly took off his coat and held it out in the air.

"Come here. What are you dazing off for?"

Vivian’s heart, which had been in her throat, finally settled.

This was Adrian.

That other man never used such a commanding tone to demand she hang his coat or bring his slippers.

She looked down and walked over, taking the coat and placing his slippers by his feet.

The man frowned slightly.

Clearly, he wasn't used to her lack of a warm welcome.

But remembering the afternoon, a smirk touched his lips. He suddenly grabbed Vivian as she set down the slippers, pinning her against the wall in the foyer.

"Vivian, are you mad at me?"

"Since I promised to have a child with you, I won't go back on my word."

As he spoke, he reached up to loosen the collar of his shirt.

His breath was a cocktail of alcohol and another woman’s scent.

Vivian could almost imagine it.

Before coming home, his mouth might have been pressed fervently against someone else's body.

Nausea surged in her stomach again, and the hole in her heart felt wider, dripping with blood.

Just as she was about to pull away, the doorbell rang repeatedly.

"Who would be here at this hour?" Adrian snapped.

Vivian took the chance to slip under his arm and open the door.

A delivery man stood there.

He was holding a massive bouquet of blue roses.

"Ms. Hale?"

Vivian nodded.

"I'm Vivian Hale."

After confirming, the delivery man thrust the flowers into her arms.

"Ms. Hale, your husband, Mr. Cross, said he has things to do tonight and can't make it back. He ordered these flowers specifically to wish you sweet dreams."

With that, he turned and left.

Vivian let out a silent sigh of relief.

She turned, clutching the flowers, and looked at Adrian, whose expression had turned bizarre and ugly. She gave him a faint, knowing smile.

"Honey, is this another surprise you prepared for me?"

She knew Adrian hadn't sent them.

Only that other man sent these kinds of flowers when he came over.

The timing was perfect.

She feigned a look of pure joy, picking up the handwritten card nestled in the roses. Her voice was honeyed and flirtatious as she read the words:

"Last night, you were like a blue rose blooming in the dark, entangling me until I was lost in you."

Finally, Adrian's face went completely ashen.

He snatched the card away. After seeing the handwriting clearly, his expression became even stranger. His jaw was set so tight his teeth might have shattered.

Vivian acted as if she were completely oblivious, tilting her head to look at him in confusion.

"Honey, did you order these for me because you didn't plan on coming home tonight?"

A stiff, forced smile appeared on the man's lips.

"Yes... but the plans were canceled at the last minute. I forgot I had already ordered the flowers."

Vivian found it utterly pathetic, but she smiled brightly while hiding her amusement behind her hand.

"Oh, I see! For a second there, I almost thought I had two husbands."

The words hit him like a physical blow, making him nearly spit blood in rage.

Coupled with the suggestive words on the card, he suddenly felt as though a very bright, very green crown of betrayal was growing on his head.