Chapter 4

Xavier's mother didn't have a big celebration for her birthday—just a few family members.

She really liked Bridget, finding her articulate and charming.

I heard that when Xavier and I divorced the first time, she'd strongly tried to set him up with Bridget.

But Xavier hadn't agreed.

Perhaps he found sneaking around more exciting.

Today was the same. Xavier walked past me and took Bridget's hand directly. "I've been waiting for you."

"Bridget, you don't visit often. Without you here, I don't even have anyone to share my thoughts with."

She took Bridget's hand and had her sit beside her.

She didn't look at me once the entire time.

I was used to it. I calmly placed the gift on the table. "From Xavier. Miss Sullivan chose it."

Xavier's mother, who hadn't even glanced at me, surprisingly looked my way.

After a moment, she picked up the gift box to look, then had Bridget help her put it on. "You have such good taste."

"Unlike some people—no taste and no tact either."

"So unpleasant to look at."

If this were before, I definitely couldn't have tolerated it and would've left.

But now, I just stood to the side, listening quietly, reacting no more than a corpse.

Xavier frowned, suddenly feeling something was off.

It seemed that ever since Vienna had run into him and Bridget at the restaurant, she'd been like this.

Too calm.

Or rather... indifferent.

For the first time—

Xavier got drunk in his own home.

He didn't know why, but his mind kept replaying Vienna standing to the side, head down, silent, seemingly indifferent to everything.

Was she... really indifferent?

Xavier drank even more.

Unable to go back, he could only stay the night at the family estate.

Bridget stayed over too.

In the room right next to mine and Xavier's.

A deliberate arrangement.

I understood Xavier's mother's intention.

So that night, when Xavier, using alcohol as an excuse, pinned me down to kiss me, I pushed him away.

I straightened his collar and smiled. "Wait a moment."

Then I went out and called Bridget over.

Under Bridget's shocked gaze, I closed the door for her and Xavier.

Then I drove away from the Harper family estate.

Ten minutes later, I received a call from Xavier. He suppressed his voice and asked, "What do you mean by this?"

I looked at the road illuminated by headlights and said softly:

"Last time you got drunk holding me, you called Miss Sullivan's name all night. I assumed it would be the same this time."

Xavier roared into the phone, "I didn't call her name this time!"

My tone remained gentle. "I know. But what if you did halfway through? I was thinking of you."