Chapter 2

Vivian's POV

Damien seemed to be in a good mood.

After the party ended, he took a shower and sat lazily on the sofa, teasing his cat with a toy.

The ragdoll cat pounced around playfully, going crazy.

I was like that cat.

He'd been toying with me using money and power for twelve years.

I brought him a glass of water and set it by his hand.

My fingers were stiff from prolonged exposure to the cold.

Damien frowned.

"Damien."

I stood to the side with my hands at my sides, my voice soft but clear.

"I want to move out."

Damien's hand didn't stop teasing the cat. He didn't even lift an eyelid.

"Because of those shoes?

"Serena is a guest, and a big star. You wouldn't want to see her embarrassed, would you?

"Tomorrow I'll have my assistant take you to pick out some new ones."

His tone was casual. He didn't even lift an eyelid.

"It's not about the shoes."

I took out a ring and laid it open in my palm.

It was from Adrian Grant, bought with three months of his savings. It was everything he could give me.

"I'm getting married."

I looked at Damien's profile and said calmly.

"He doesn't mind that I've had children... I want to marry him and live a normal life."

The air froze for an instant.

The cat toy stopped at the cat's nose. The ragdoll let out a sharp cry.

Damien finally turned his head, his gaze falling on the ring.

Two seconds later, he laughed softly.

"Marriage? With that delivery guy?"

He knew, of course.

My whereabouts had never been a secret to him.

He stood up, walked over to me, and picked up the ring with two fingers in disgust.

"Vivian, have you lost your mind? Throwing away everything the Lancasters gave you to play house with some delivery guy?"

"Could his whole paycheck even buy you one sock?"

"No, but he treats me like a human being."

I stared into his eyes without backing down.

The smile faded from Damien's face. His eyes instantly turned sinister.

He released his hand.

The ring dropped into the boiling coffee pot beside him.

The scalding water churned. That tiny silver circle was instantly swallowed by the murky coffee.

"If you want to debase yourself, suit yourself."

Damien pulled out a tissue and methodically wiped the fingers that had just touched the ring, as if they'd been contaminated by something filthy.

"You can leave if you want. Get out right now."

"But Vivian, have you forgotten something?"

He casually picked up a tablet, opened a video call, and tossed it on the coffee table.

On the screen were three identical little boys wrestling around a castle of building blocks.

Those were my sons.

Damien bent down, waved at the children on the screen, and a cruel smile curved his lips.

"Say goodbye to Mommy."

"She thinks you're a burden and is running off with another man. From now on, you won't have a mother anymore."