Chapter 148

The crisp night air carried Vivian's sharp exhale as she turned away from Adrian's car. "I'll spare you the inconvenience, Mr. Blackwood. I prefer walking." Her heels clicked decisively against the pavement before he could respond, putting distance between them with each determined step.

Emberglow County's winters always announced themselves with icy rains, but tonight's chill held a particularly cruel edge. The biting wind sliced through her wool coat as if it were tissue paper, triggering memories of that other night - when she'd walked away from Seabreeze Villa. The same hollow ache, the same endless road stretching before her.

Vivian's pace gradually slowed until she found herself glancing back instinctively. Adrian's sleek black sedan had already disappeared down a side street, swallowed by the darkness without hesitation. A wry smile touched her lips before vanishing like smoke, leaving behind only the weight in her chest and the sting behind her eyes.

That foolish spark of hope - she couldn't deny its existence, no matter how irrational. What had she expected? That Adrian Blackwood would turn his car around for her? This harsh reality was what she'd been running from for years.

She'd always been the first to apologize, smoothing over conflicts before they could escalate. It had created an illusion of stability, of control. Now, standing her ground, she saw how fragile that illusion truly was.

Moonlight painted the world in silver, but Vivian found no comfort in its glow. Forcing her thoughts away from the emptiness inside, she focused instead on her surroundings. Her gaze drifted between shadowed trees as her mind automatically returned to her script's problems.

The production company's outline was riddled with plot holes. Though she hadn't used her pen name and this was just a commercial drama, perfectionism drove her to refine every detail.

So absorbed was she in professional calculations that Vivian completely missed her turn toward the Harbor Grand Hotel. When she finally looked up, unfamiliar storefronts surrounded her. Realizing she was lost in Emberglow County, she reached for her phone - only to find her pocket empty.

She'd left it in Adrian's car. A dimly lit convenience store beckoned from the corner. Steeling herself, Vivian hurried toward it, hoping to find directions.

Meanwhile, at the Dawson residence, an entirely different scene unfolded. Natasha lounged across a designer sofa, her silk pajamas shimmering as her fingers flew across her phone screen. Richard sat nearby, half-watching financial news detailing Crestwood's struggling economy. Small businesses were folding daily, and even Dawson Enterprises felt the strain.

"Darling," Richard paused the television, "how's the Sterling situation progressing? Our family's future hinges on this connection. If it falls through—"

"Don't be such a pessimist," Daphne interrupted, gliding into the room with her facial mask glistening. She settled beside Natasha with practiced ease. "Natasha has everything handled. Your worrying is unnecessary."

"Mom always understands me," Natasha purred, leaning into Daphne with theatrical affection. She brandished her phone like a trophy. "Maxwell's already in Emberglow County. In that provincial backwater, securing the Sterling family's cooperation will be child's play."

Richard exhaled, some tension leaving his shoulders though caution remained in his eyes. "Good. But remember, Natasha, you're not getting any younger. It's time to consider marriage seriously. If you're close to Maxwell, perhaps look within his circle? A woman's greatest asset is her charm."