Chapter 247

Adrian hesitated before responding stiffly, "Understood, Beatrice."

Vivian paused, her brow furrowing. "Wait, since when does Seabreeze Villa have a dog?"

Margaret's tone was light, almost playful. "Oh, it's just a stray Adrian picked up. He might bring it home eventually."

Vivian accepted the explanation without question and ended the call after exchanging a few more pleasantries.

The moment the line disconnected, the air in the room grew thick with tension.

Adrian's piercing gaze locked onto Vivian, his expression unreadable.

Vivian remained perfectly composed.

Meeting his stare with equal intensity, she said simply, "I'm starving. If you're planning to lecture me, can it wait until after I've eaten?"

Adrian didn't rise to the bait.

Instead, his voice softened slightly, though the words still carried a sting. "Serena didn't have an easy childhood."

"She might have her flaws and occasional outbursts, but she's fundamentally good. She'd never intentionally hurt anyone."

The words hit Vivian like a physical blow.

So he wasn't oblivious to Serena's behavior - he simply chose to excuse it, leaving Vivian to suffer the consequences.

Had he ever considered her own struggles? Her own imperfect upbringing - a cold, calculating father, a life starved of genuine affection - yet she'd chosen to rise above it.

Circumstances might shape a person, but they didn't dictate character.

Adrian was testing her patience yet again.

Suppressing her rising anger, Vivian countered sharply, "What kind of twisted logic is that? How can you separate someone's temperament from their character? If my hand committed murder, would you claim only my hand should face consequences while I walk free?"

An uncomfortable silence descended.

Adrian's jaw twitched, as if he wanted to argue but found himself at a loss for words.

Finally, he exhaled and changed tactics. "Gwendolyn prepared your favorite dishes," he offered quietly.

Adrian would conjure the most absurd justifications to defend Serena.

Vivian merely nodded. "Noted," she said, moving toward the dining area.

She had no interest in wasting energy on such pointless debates.

The truth was glaringly obvious to anyone with sense. Adrian was no fool - his business acumen proved that much.

Yet when it came to Serena, his judgment became clouded beyond reason.

Given this reality, Vivian could only wait patiently, gathering undeniable evidence of Serena's deceit.

The day she presented it to Adrian, she intended to shatter his illusions once and for all.