Chapter 147

Vivian's mind flashed back to the first time they had shared this moment—stargazing by the ocean's edge. That night, she had dozed off in the car, only to be awakened at sunrise by a vision that stole her breath. The golden sun emerged from the horizon, melting the boundary between sea and sky in a breathtaking display of light.

Those precious moments, she realized with a pang, were likely rituals he had perfected with Serena. Repeated with her. Refined with her. What felt magical to Vivian might have been mere routine for him—echoes of a love story that wasn't hers.

Vivian sidestepped him without meeting his eyes and strode toward the waiting car. Her voice carried frost. "I have a script deadline and lines to rehearse for tomorrow's shoot. Not all of us can afford your leisurely pace, Mr. Blackwood."

Adrian followed in silence, his jaw tightening. In three long strides, he closed the distance between them before she could retreat. His gaze lingered on her lips for a heartbeat before his thumb brushed the corner of her mouth—lingering just a second too long.

"You just devoured the lobster I hand-fed you," he murmured, his velvet voice laced with steel. "And now you turn away? Like a spoiled kitten biting the hand that pets it." His words wrapped around her like silk-lined chains.

Vivian's stomach twisted, the intimate gesture soured by bitter memories. She met his gaze with an icy smile. "Exactly, Mr. Blackwood. In your world, I'm just another pet. You toss treats, I perform tricks. Didn't your business partner drop half a million Sterlings on a show dog last month? Like recognizes like."

Adrian stilled. A flicker of confusion crossed his features before vanishing. This was the second cryptic reference to that story. He'd have Dominic investigate that extravagant dog purchase once they returned to Crestwood.

The streetlamps painted her defiant profile in golden light—chin lifted, eyes blazing. Moonlight transformed her into something ethereal yet untouchable, like a frost-kissed rose. Something primal surged through him, overwhelming reason. Without warning, Adrian captured her lips in a searing kiss.

Vivian froze, shock stealing her breath. This wasn't tenderness—it was possession. The weight of their unresolved tension became suffocating. Unwanted images flooded her mind: Had he kissed Serena with this same fervor? Was she merely reenacting someone else's love story?

The thought churned like acid. Memories surfaced of his legendary devotion to Serena—how he'd resisted every temptation Penelope offered. A crushing truth settled in her chest: she would always be the understudy in his life's drama.

Revulsion erupted like wildfire. Vivian shoved against his chest with all her strength. He countered by cinching an arm around her waist, eliminating all escape. Fury ignited her veins. With deliberate cruelty, she sank her teeth into his lower lip. The metallic tang of blood flooded her mouth as he jerked back with a hissed curse barely contained.

Adrian touched his bleeding lip, examining crimson-stained fingers. A bitter chuckle escaped him. "Ruthless little viper," he murmured, voice glacial.

Vivian's gaze turned arctic. "Look who's talking," she spat. The air between them crackled with unbearable tension.

Her eyes flicked to the idling car. Decision made. Staying would mean defeat.