Chapter 18

The car was thick with silence as Adrian turned his face toward the window, his subtle gesture speaking volumes to Ethan after their years of working together.

It was Adrian's silent way of giving Vivian space to fix things between them.

Ethan took a steadying breath before dialing Vivian's number.

The line rang with an eerie melody before her voice sliced through, colder than he'd ever heard. "Yes?"

The frost in her tone was a shocking departure from her usual warmth, mirroring the icy demeanor Adrian often displayed.

Choosing his words carefully while watching Adrian's impassive profile, Ethan began, "Mrs. Blackwood... Mr. Blackwood has a business trip tomorrow. Would you be able to pack his things?"

Meanwhile at the hotel, Vivian jolted awake at the ringing phone, her voice dripping with disbelief and bitterness. "Didn't he receive the divorce papers yesterday?"

Though their marriage had been one of convenience, Vivian had thrown herself into the role completely.

Now Ethan's request made her feel like nothing more than hired help in Adrian's world.

Once, her love for Adrian had made such tasks feel meaningful, even sweet.

But with divorce papers signed, Vivian couldn't fathom why she'd continue playing the devoted wife.

Her morning irritation, fueled by resentment toward Adrian, exploded violently.

She snapped sarcastically at Ethan, "You're employed by Blackwood Group, so comprehension shouldn't be an issue. Must I explain what divorce means? Once finalized, your boss and I are strangers. Contacting me now is as absurd as asking a random pedestrian for help. Can't your precious boss find someone to pack his bags? If it's truly that difficult, tell him to throw money at the problem - it's not like he's short on cash!"

"Mrs. Blackwood, I—" Ethan tried to interject, but Vivian abruptly ended the call, leaving him stunned. His next attempt to call back was blocked.

"Mr. Blackwood..." Ethan turned to Adrian, his voice laced with unease.

The car plunged into tense silence, the sharp exchange still vibrating in the air.

Adrian's expression remained unreadable in the dim light, his sharp features half-obscured by shadows. "I heard every word," he replied icily, his gaze glinting like frozen lake under winter sun.

On the other end, Vivian, now fully awake from the call, decided to get up.

She checked her bank balance and immediately regretted transferring most of her savings to Adrian in a moment of weakness.

She scolded herself for not keeping at least a million aside for emergencies.

Between rent, living expenses, and her grandmother's mounting medical bills, the financial pressure was crushing.

Over the past year, she'd neglected her acting career and made little progress on her screenplay side project.

Inspiration had been elusive, and polishing a script required time she no longer had.