Chapter 137

Vivian's instincts screamed that these veiled gestures were aimed directly at her, crafted to unsettle. But why? To revel in some imagined victory? What exactly did Serena have to boast about? Vivian had left that chapter behind without a single backward glance.

With an irritated flick of her wrist, she blocked Serena on Instagram. Engaging in this ridiculous game of cryptic social media posts wasn't worth sacrificing her tranquility.

"Vivian, the storm's passed for now, but dark clouds are gathering again," someone called out.

"Aren't they just picture-perfect together? Like they stepped out of a romance novel!" Penelope gushed, turning to Adrian with newfound confidence. "Don't you agree, Mr. Blackwood?"

Adrian's mouth twisted into a sardonic smile. "Not particularly," he replied icily, standing taller and deliberately looking away.

Penelope's eyes widened in shock. "Even someone as stunning as her doesn't interest you? What kind of woman would catch your attention, Mr. Blackwood?"

Annoyance flashed in Adrian's stormy eyes. "Someone with depth," he clipped.

Walter, remembering earlier conversations about his daughter's academic achievements, puffed up with paternal pride.

Penelope flushed pink, misinterpreting his words as personal praise.

Walter continued showering compliments. "A man of Mr. Blackwood's caliber would never be impressed by superficial beauty."

Adrian's discomfort visibly grew, and just as he opened his mouth to respond, a thunderous crash silenced everyone.

The mudslide that hit nearby brought filming to an abrupt halt. The violent sound startled the entire crew, with one staff member pointing ahead in disbelief. "Look! Our reserved lodge is completely destroyed."

Sebastian, ever the joker, raised his hands in mock surrender. "Don't blame me! I was just kidding earlier." He recalled his offhand comment upon arrival about possibly camping if another landslide occurred. The eerie accuracy of his prediction sent chills down his spine.

"Let's assess the damage," the director sighed, rubbing his temples. He gestured for the group to follow him toward the devastated property.

Upon arrival, they found the lodge owners standing shell-shocked at the entrance. The destruction was evident - thick mud and debris filled every room, though miraculously, no injuries were reported.

A crew member groaned in frustration. "There's no way we can salvage this before nightfall. Where are we supposed to sleep?"

"Sleep here? Absolutely not!" Walter pushed forward, his secretary scrambling behind him. He rounded on the lodge owner angrily. "There were landslide warnings! How could you still be operating?"

The owner wiped his muddy hands on his pants guiltily. "The weather cleared up this morning. Who could've predicted...?"

Exhausted but composed, Vivian stepped forward to take control. "First, let's retrieve our belongings and check for damage. Then we'll scout for nearby hotels or rental properties," she said calmly, her authoritative voice cutting through the panic.

The crew immediately snapped into action, rushing inside to salvage what they could from the ruined lodge.