Chapter 211

Maxwell's expression darkened instead of brightening. His piercing gaze locked onto Vivian as a sardonic smirk played on his lips. "Don't even consider it. Even if you miraculously slip away from this yacht, remember—we're in the middle of the ocean."

"The nearest land is hundreds of nautical miles away. You'd never survive."

Vivian released a soft, mocking chuckle. "How curious that I'm not the frightened one here, but you appear to be, Mr. Sterling."

She lifted her chin defiantly, her emerald eyes flashing with a dangerous blend of sarcasm and seduction.

To her surprise, Maxwell didn't erupt in anger. Instead, a deep laugh rumbled from his chest. "How could I possibly believe you, Vivian? Years ago, I offered your family prestige, influence, and unimaginable wealth, yet you rejected my proposal. Recently, I saved your life, yet you refused even a simple dinner. Now suddenly you're compliant? Do you think me a fool?"

With deliberate calmness, Vivian met his gaze and shrugged slightly. "My hesitation to marry you or keep my distance was never about you."

She took a measured breath before continuing with fiery intensity. "I refused to be my family's bargaining chip. My fractured relationship with them is no secret. I despise my father for his infidelity that killed my mother. I loathe my stepmother and stepsister for stealing what was rightfully mine. They cast me out, and my grandmother raised me alone. These aren't state secrets—anyone with minimal curiosity could uncover the truth."

Maxwell visibly recoiled. He'd always admired Vivian's fierce independence, never realizing how profoundly he'd misread the situation.

If only he'd been more persistent in pursuing Vivian directly—perhaps this extraordinary woman wouldn't have endured such tragic circumstances.

Each miscalculation only deepened his regret.

A flicker of remorse shadowed Maxwell's eyes—a detail Vivian didn't miss.

Seizing the moment, she made her request. "Would you untie me now, please?"

Before Maxwell could respond, a brilliant lightning bolt split the sky, heralding the storm's violent arrival. The tranquil sea transformed into a churning maelstrom under the tempest's fury.

As twilight descended, ominous clouds rolled in, unleashing torrential rains that pounded the yacht's deck.

Meanwhile, in the car, Audrey processed Isabella's revelations while desperately calling marketing firms about the accounts—all claiming the information came through anonymous Twitter DMs, not their databases.

The complexity of Vivian's predicament now exceeded Audrey's ability to handle alone, forcing her to consider involving her powerful family.

With a resigned sigh, she lit a cigarette from a long-neglected pack.

Isabella leaned forward urgently. "Miss Audrey, you must intervene for Vivian. She faced danger before in Emberglow County—though I don't know details, seeing her in the hospital was terrifying. She was so weak she couldn't even dress herself!"

The full truth about Vivian's Emberglow County ordeal had been kept from Audrey. Vivian had concealed the details to protect her.