Chapter 4

Vivian POV

I looked at Ethan. After a moment, I nodded.

"Fine."

With that, I stood up and walked past him and the mess on the floor toward the stairs without another word.

"Vivian..."

He instinctively moved to follow. Just then, his phone rang in his pocket.

Ethan paused, pulling out his phone.

He frowned, staring at the caller ID, then looked up toward the stairs.

After two seconds of hesitation, he answered the call.

"Hello?"

On the other end, Fiona's soft, slightly petulant voice came through.

"Mr. Shaw, why'd you leave in such a hurry? You forgot your watch at my place. Should I bring it to you?"

Ethan froze, looking at his bare wrist, his brow furrowing.

"No need. I'll come get it myself."

Upstairs in the master bedroom.

I watched him leave and let out a cold laugh.

I closed the door, walked to the bedside, and opened the hidden safe embedded in the wall, taking out what was inside.

Ethan knew about this safe and knew the password was my birthday.

But he thought it only contained my documents and some of my parents' belongings, so he never asked about it and never opened it.

What he didn't know was that besides those items, the safe also held an overseas trust fund agreement.

This was a trust fund my parents had set up for me abroad before they died. Even when the Hayes family went bankrupt three years ago, this asset wasn't affected by the liquidation.

This was the safety net my parents left me.

I held that agreement, my mind replaying my mother's earnest words before she passed.

"Vivian, remember this: no matter how much you love someone in the future, never give yourself completely... The human heart is the most unreliable thing, especially a man's heart. Sooner or later, it will always change."

I used to think loving someone meant giving everything without reservation. Only today did I understand. Mother was right.

I squeezed my eyes shut hard, pushing all my thoughts and rising bitterness back down into my heart.

Perhaps it was time for me to leave.

When I came downstairs again, the living room had been completely restored.

The maids Ethan arranged were cleaning, and new vases and furniture were being brought in piece by piece, but he himself was nowhere to be seen.

I didn't ask the maids anything and left the villa directly.

"Hello, I'd like to process immigration paperwork."

At the immigration office, I submitted all my documents. After processing everything, the staff member said,

"Your application has been submitted. You'll be notified of the results within twenty business days."

"Thank you."

After leaving the immigration office building, it was already dark. The streets were lit with colorful neon lights.

I had no desire to return to Bayshore, so I took out my phone and called a few old friends.

They were incredulous when they received my call.

"Vivian?"

"It's me."

I curved my lips slightly.

"Call the gang together. My treat. Let's all cut loose tonight."

"Wow, is the sun rising in the west? Ever since you got together with Ethan, you said you wanted to be a good woman and never go out partying again, didn't you?"

"Cut the crap. See you at the usual place."

I had only dulled all my edges for Ethan, learning to be dignified, learning to be docile, learning to be submissive, becoming what the Shaw family expected.

And yet he said I was boring and went chasing after another vibrant, bold shadow.

Now that I'd decided to give up on him, there was no need to please anyone for his sake anymore.

Two hours later, in a VIP room at the club.

Just as the atmosphere in the room reached its peak.

BANG.

The door was kicked open from outside.

The room instantly fell silent. Everyone looked toward the door in shock.

"E-Ethan?"

There stood Ethan's tall figure, his handsome face so dark it could drip water.

His gaze swept the room and finally locked onto me, surrounded by several male models.

His eyes looked murderous.

"Vivian Hayes, you actually dare come here looking for men? What the hell are you doing?"