Chapter 3

Vivian POV

Ethan shifted uncomfortably under my gaze. He took my hand and frowned.

"Vivian, what's wrong with you?"

"Let me ask you."

I looked directly into his eyes, not missing any emotion in them.

"Were you really at a business dinner with clients last night?"

Ethan's brow furrowed.

"What are you implying? You don't trust me?"

I didn't reveal that I'd seen everything last night. Instead, I said,

"I want to trust you, but your assistant said you didn't have any business dinner last night."

I wanted to give him a chance to confess voluntarily and show remorse.

But instead, Ethan's face darkened instantly.

"You went behind my back to ask my assistant about my schedule?"

His displeasure stunned me.

"Vivian Hayes, we're not married yet."

His tone carried obvious anger.

"You have no right to check my work schedule with my assistant!"

Those words drove into my heart like an ice pick.

In the three years we'd been together, Ethan had never shown me any displeasure, much less said such hurtful things.

My breathing hitched. I dug my fingernails into my palms to steady my trembling voice.

"That's because you lied to me first."

"What did I lie to you about?"

Ethan stood up, looking down at me from above.

"I did have a business dinner last night. My assistant just didn't know about it."

"Really? Then who were you dining with?"

Ethan pressed his lips into a hard line, his gaze even angrier and darker.

Before he could speak, I answered for him.

"It was Fiona, wasn't it?"

"How do you know?"

Ethan looked stunned and surprised for two seconds, then grew angry at being caught.

"Did you have someone follow me?"

I pulled my lips into a bitter smile.

He continued, "Yes, I was with Fiona last night. But that's because the Parker family has a project they want to collaborate with us on. She's the person in charge from their side. There were details we needed to finalize in person, that's all!"

"But you know what she did when I was at my lowest three years ago, how she brought people to humiliate me. And now you're getting involved with her?"

Even if he had fallen for someone else, why did it have to be her?

He could like anyone. Why did it have to be the woman who once stepped on me?

My eyes gradually reddened. I curved my lips in mockery.

"Or have you already forgotten what she did to me three years ago?"

Ethan froze for two seconds, looking somewhat uncomfortable and awkward.

"What she did three years ago was wrong, but it's been so long. If I refused to work with the Parker family because of that conflict, my parents would be furious when they found out. They'd accuse us of mixing personal feelings with business."

He paused, then added,

"Besides, everyone has a time when they're young and foolish. Fiona has changed. She's not like she was three years ago."

Hearing him finish, I could hardly believe my ears.

I remembered after he took me in, there was once a man who had business dealings with the Shaw family company. At a banquet, he got handsy with me and made lewd comments, telling me to be with him.

That man had his hand chopped off by Ethan in public.

Back then, Ethan hadn't worried about being accused of mixing personal with professional.

Looking at this man making excuses with his parents and even defending Fiona, I felt like I was meeting him for the first time.

"Besides, my relationship with her is purely professional. Nothing more."

Ethan looked at me, his features colder and more displeased.

"Vivian, why are you being so paranoid now? Can't you learn from those sensible, generous wives and not be suspicious about everything?"

Learn from those sensible, generous wives. Be more understanding.

I suddenly wanted to laugh, but my throat was too choked to make a sound.

I looked at the collar of his shirt. I could clearly see, near his collarbone, an intimate hickey mark, faint but visible.

That mark was vivid and glaring, like a silent mockery.

A chill spread from deep in my heart to all my limbs. My heart twisted so painfully I could barely breathe.

I thought again of every word he'd said in that office.

So this was the result of abandoning my pride, smoothing my edges, and begging for three years.

But Ethan, did you really think I couldn't live without you?