Chapter 270

Care So Little About Me

Vivian stepped into the corridor, her gaze immediately landing on Clarissa and her mother Meredith, sitting rigidly on the bench like discarded porcelain figures. Clarissa, who had always carried herself with such elegance, now looked like a broken doll—her perfectly styled hair tangled and wild, her designer clothes smeared with dirt.

Meredith's face lit up when she spotted Vivian. She sprang to her feet, desperation lacing her voice. "Vivian, please speak to your husband. Clarissa never meant any harm! These mountain roads are dangerous—accidents happen all the time!"

Adrian and Ethan entered the hallway. Ethan stepped forward, his voice clipped and professional. "Mrs. Dawson, this was no accident. She deliberately swerved into our vehicle. When that truck approached, she panicked and accelerated, shattering our side mirror and leaving a deep scratch along the entire length of the car. The custom paintwork and interior detailing can't be repaired locally—the car will need to be shipped overseas for restoration."

Clarissa's vacant expression suddenly sharpened. She jumped up, cutting Ethan off with a trembling voice. "Mrs. Dawson? Isn't she your wife? Didn't you share a water bottle with her?" The words tumbled out, revealing her shock at discovering Vivian's connection to Adrian.

Clarissa stared at Adrian, whose handsome face was dark with anger yet still breathtakingly perfect—like some celestial being. How could someone like him be married to plain Vivian?

Ethan turned deathly pale, sweat beading on his forehead. "Miss, you can't just make accusations like that!" he blurted, stumbling over his words. "I never shared anything with Mrs. Blackwood!"

He turned to Adrian quickly, rushing to explain. "Sir, I only handed Mrs—"

Meredith froze as realization struck her like lightning. She remembered how Clarissa had spent extra time getting ready that morning. She grabbed her daughter's arm repeatedly, her voice shaking with fury and despair. "How could you? Your father and I raised you with integrity—how did we end up with a daughter who covets another woman's husband? Look at yourself! Why would Vivian's husband ever choose you over her?"

Clarissa, humiliated and cornered, finally snapped. Tears streamed down her face as she screamed, "What's wrong with me? Are you even my real mother? I've always had more suitors than Vivian since we were kids! Why am I not good enough? Why can't he want me?"

Meredith recoiled at the outburst before retorting sharply, "It's not about suitors! People didn't pursue Vivian because they were intimidated by her! She was the top student, an academic legend! Who would dare approach her? Who could possibly measure up?"

Clarissa collapsed onto the bench, the weight of her mother's words crushing her fragile ego. The truth cut deeper than she ever imagined possible.

Meredith, still trembling, tried to compose herself. But it was Vivian who broke the silence first. Her voice was calm and measured. "Let the insurance handle it," she said to Adrian. "This happened here in Willowbrook—no one outside town will know, so there's no risk of copycats. And you have the resources to keep it quiet, don't you?"

Vivian then turned to Meredith, her tone softening. "Take Clarissa home, Meredith. It's over now."

Meredith sagged with relief, thanking Vivian profusely. She grabbed Clarissa's arm and dragged her away. Clarissa cast one last longing look at Adrian, her heart twisting with bitterness. She had dreamed of standing beside him, outshining Vivian. Now she was leaving in disgrace, the punchline of her own tragic joke.

Adrian didn't even glance in her direction.