Chapter 183

The sudden noise made Adrian jolt upright. His brows furrowed as he demanded, "What are you doing here?" The ominous click of the lock echoed through the room.

Vivian gave a wry smile. "Looks like Grandma has her own plans..."

"Hmm?" Confusion flickered across her face.

Before she could process it, Beatrice's voice floated through the door. "Ethan already left, and Adrian certainly shouldn't be driving after drinking. You two should stay the night and leave tomorrow. Get some rest."

Determined, Vivian rushed to the door, rattling the knob and pounding urgently. "Beatrice? I just need some water!"

Only silence answered her. With a resigned sigh, Adrian gently closed the cabinet door and sank onto the edge of the bed. "Grandma tricked me into coming up here under false pretenses."

Frustrated yet amused, Vivian collapsed onto the facing couch. "She sent me to keep an eye on you too."

Their eyes met, and they burst into laughter, fully appreciating Beatrice's elaborate scheme.

Vivian broke the silence first. "I'll take the sofa tonight."

The relaxed atmosphere instantly turned tense. Adrian carelessly tossed his jacket over a chair. "Ever wonder what might happen if we shared the bed?" he asked, eyebrow arched.

Vivian pressed her lips together, the heavy silence speaking volumes. His recent strange behavior made the question feel completely out of character.

Noticing her discomfort, Adrian's expression turned serious. "Even if something did happen, it would be within marital bounds," he stated firmly.

"Coercion is still assault, no matter how you dress it up," Vivian countered calmly.

"Must you always twist my words?" Adrian challenged through clenched teeth.

Then his frown transformed into a smirk as he remembered her friend's joke. "Audrey said you've never enjoyed the... benefits of marriage. Now that they're available, what's stopping you?"

He leaned back against the headboard, palms propping him up. The casual pose couldn't hide his chiseled jawline or the tempting bob of his Adam's apple - undeniable proof of his rugged charm.

In that moment, Vivian realized with startling clarity that seduction knew no gender - a tactic as effective for men as it had been for women through the ages.

Completely overwhelmed, Vivian couldn't counter Adrian's relentless advances. Her cheeks burned scarlet, undoubtedly influenced by Audrey's teasing about marital privileges. Giving up, she curled into a ball on the couch and lost herself in funny videos.

The exaggerated antics on screen captured her attention completely, drawing uncontrollable laughter. She tried muffling her giggles with her hand, but they bubbled out anyway.