"The Stand-In’s Redemption: Playing the Billionaire for Real" Chapter 12
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Chapter 12: How Can She Be So Submissive
Seeing the high-and-mighty Adrian Cross being so considerate, Tiffany Rose grew even more smug.
She glanced at Vivian Hale and pushed her glass of red wine, which she had already sipped from, toward Adrian.
"I don't like the wine from this vineyard. I'll let President Cross have it instead."
To everyone's surprise, Adrian didn't show the slightest bit of disdain; he took the glass and had a sip.
He was monitoring Vivian’s reaction in real-time, only to find her still wearing a face full of smiles, as if she were completely blind to the intimacy between the two.
Adrian’s hand tightened around the stem of the wine glass.
Was Vivian truly blind or just pretending? Her own husband was flirting with another woman right in front of her, yet she remained indifferent.
Her lack of reaction made Tiffany even more brazen, her eyes flashing with provocation.
She intentionally pulled out her laptop in front of Vivian and began discussing work with Adrian.
"President Cross, I’ve already finished the proposal you need for Qiyuan tomorrow. The code implementation for the new game region is going very smoothly. They were very impressed after reviewing it and said they want to maintain a long-term partnership with us. Would you like to look it over?"
Adrian listened with an air of nonchalance.
In the next second, Tiffany acted as if she had suddenly realized something. She turned to Vivian with a tone tinged with feigned apology.
"I forgot Mrs. Cross was still here. Technology develops so fast these days; you wouldn't understand what we’re talking about. I’m so sorry for leaving you out."
Vivian gave a light laugh and slowly set down her chopsticks.
Her gaze swept over Tiffany’s laptop screen, and she spoke softly: "You’re missing the digit '1' in that line of code. Also, if you use a different set of algorithms, the response and feedback would be much faster."
The expression on Tiffany’s face froze and then shattered instantly.
She never expected that Vivian could spot the problem with a single glance!
Adrian was also somewhat surprised.
"You haven't worked in three years. You still remember this?"
Vivian gave a modest smile, casting a meaningful look at Tiffany.
"Some things are kept in the mind; no matter how much others try to steal, they can't take them away. Miss Rose, wouldn't you agree?"
Tiffany ground her teeth in silver rage, but she couldn't let it show on her face.
She hadn't expected Vivian to still have some skill left.
But if Vivian thought she could outshine her with just that, she was mistaken!
Tiffany’s eyes darted around, and her finger "accidentally" clicked on something.
A data folder popped up. Taking advantage of the laptop facing her direction, she clicked rapidly a few times and was soon genuinely astonished.
This was data she had collected before but forgotten where it came from; she had never looked at it, but it turned out to be a gold mine!
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Tiffany shifted her waist and gave a forced, theatrical cough.
"Mrs. Cross is quite right. I’ll be sure to lecture the programming intern when I get back. What we just saw was merely the basics. My own independently developed technology is right here."
Adrian was stunned upon hearing this.
He turned his head and saw the dense data records filling the computer screen.
"Is this the technology for the new patent you’re about to apply for?"
Although he was the president of Zenith Corp, Adrian’s understanding of technical details wasn't deep.
Furthermore, with Vivian around in the past, he had never felt the need to worry.
Tiffany grew even more arrogant, talking eloquently about the document.
"Yes, President Cross. I’ve already run it secretly a few times without any bugs. However, the chip processor is currently only compatible with the Ruixing 500—the most expensive one on the market—otherwise, it can’t handle the load..."
These were all details provided in the hidden data.
Hearing this, Adrian’s brow furrowed slightly.
Vivian kept her head down, remaining silent.
Back then, when she gave him the patent, she had considered that it wasn't easy for Adrian to start a new company.
She had created two sets of programs to ensure even basic hardware could run them.
Over the past few years, whether in the company or at home.
He had taken every benefit as if it were his birthright.
Asking him to increase investment to fund a new patent might not be something he was willing to do.
Tiffany noticed this and hurried to coax him.
"President Cross, you don't need to worry about future market issues. We can bundle the game with VR glasses. It's time for our users to upgrade to a more high-end tier anyway."
Hearing this, Adrian fell into deep thought.
Tiffany’s soft hand gently stroked his chest.
"What’s the use of always letting those commoners play? A single recharge from a high-end user is worth a lifetime of theirs. With such great technology, do you really have the heart to let them get it for free?"
The two were acting so intimately that they completely ignored Vivian sitting across from them.
She held her chopsticks, watching the pair with great interest.
Everything Tiffany was saying was part of the "gift" she had meticulously prepared.
She had even added some narrow personal opinions to the mix.
If they continued with their current line of thinking, Zenith’s reputation wouldn't be far from destruction.
However, she had no intention of exposing them.
Instead, she was going to add fuel to the fire.
She held her chopsticks, her long lashes trembling, looking as lost as a fawn.
"AR... what is that?"
The two across from her went silent instantly.
"Pfft!"
Finally, Tiffany couldn't hold it back and burst into laughter, the contempt on her face no longer hidden.
"It turns out Mrs. Cross's so-called 'knowledge' stopped three years ago. No wonder today's users aren't buying it anymore."
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Adrian joined in the suppression.
"If you don't understand, just eat. Don't ask."
Vivian nodded obediently, her tone sincere.
"Miss Rose is indeed impressive. I never thought about so many things before. Now, I only know how to take good care of Adrian and this home."
Tiffany snorted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Adrian felt even more satisfied.
Clearly, whether it was people or technology, everything needed to be upgraded. The current Tiffany was no longer someone Vivian could compare to.
He couldn't help but become even more genial toward Tiffany.
Adrian jerked his chin toward Vivian.
"Since Tiffany isn't used to the red wine from this estate, go and fetch my bottle of Hennessy."
Top-tier Cognac—Adrian usually didn't even drink it himself.
It seemed Tiffany had truly coaxed him into a good mood tonight.
Vivian didn't refuse and went obediently.
Adrian sat in his seat, enjoying the full sense of control.
Both women were utterly devoted to him; what more could he possibly want?
After dinner.
Vivian once again found the right moment, saying it was about time. She went upstairs to grab her things and was ready to leave.
Adrian’s mind was entirely on Tiffany, so naturally, no one stopped her.
As she left, looking at the two being shamelessly intimate, Vivian felt nothing but irony.
Adrian was no longer the boy she once knew.
The current him was rotten to the core, and this marriage had become disgusting along with him.
Fortunately, she was about to escape.
As soon as she left the villa and got into a taxi, she took several screenshots from the surveillance footage. She found a contact on WeChat and sent them over.
"I’m sending you a headline for tomorrow—'The Devoted Husband Exposed: Zenith Corp President Cheats with Subordinate; Duo Dates Shamelessly at Home, Private Footage Leaked!'"
The recipient was a journalist she had met during a previous promotion; they had stayed in touch and were quite close.
Since they loved engaging in such shady dealings, she might as well give them a helping hand.
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