Chapter 315

Adrian gestured toward a polished black sedan parked nearby. "The car's ready."

Vivian remained composed. "I drove myself. I can't abandon my vehicle. You go ahead—I'll follow."

Lawrence's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Margaret had clearly assumed Vivian arrived with Adrian, hence sending him to escort her back alone.

Vivian stole another glance at Adrian, but his face remained an unreadable mask.

A bitter smile twisted her lips. Was she naive enough to expect Adrian to stand against Margaret for her? The truth was painfully simple. Her ongoing tension with Margaret stemmed as much from her modest background as Adrian's indifference. Because he didn't value her, Margaret treated her as nothing more than a breeding vessel. The irony? Two years of marriage without consummation only fueled Margaret's disdain, branding Vivian as a useless tool.

Her thoughts burned as she turned away from Adrian. Without hesitation, she strode to her Maybach, movements sharp and decisive. The door clicked shut behind her with finality.

Lawrence turned to Adrian with a respectful nod. "Mr. Blackwood, I'll be leaving now."

Adrian said nothing, his mind replaying the fire in Vivian's eyes. After a beat, he asked Ethan, "Did she just glare at me?"

Ethan's stomach dropped but his expression remained neutral. "You must be mistaken, sir. Mrs. Blackwood was probably looking at Lawrence."

Adrian frowned but nodded slowly. "Right. Must've been."

At the Blackwood estate, staff informed Vivian that Adrian's grandparents had departed on vacation. The realization hit instantly—Margaret had orchestrated this timing perfectly, waiting until the elders were absent to summon her. The calculated move sharpened Vivian's unease.

In the grand living room, Margaret lounged regally on the sofa while Bianca chattered beside her, voice dripping with superiority.

Bianca's eyes locked onto Vivian the moment she entered. "How dare you show your face here?" she spat.

Margaret's expression frosted over, deliberately ignoring Vivian's presence.

Vivian met Bianca's glare head-on. "Why wouldn't I?" Her tone remained even as she turned to Margaret. "Good evening, Margaret."

Margaret didn't acknowledge her, instead examining her manicured nails with feigned interest.

Bianca lacked such restraint. Malice glittered in her eyes. "You actually convinced my cousin to bail out your family's failing business? Even with the Blackwood fortune, we can't afford parasites like you."

Vivian's mind raced. Bianca must have witnessed their presence at Dawson Enterprises earlier. Margaret's summons clearly concerned that matter. She opened her mouth to respond when a calm voice cut through.

"When exactly did the Blackwood family change its name to—"

The room froze. All heads turned as Adrian strolled in casually, his presence commanding immediate attention.

Vivian's breath caught. Adrian had actually followed her home. Coincidence? Or something more? Was he here to defend her, like in the conference room? She dismissed the thought instantly. Hope was dangerous—a fragile thread that snapped when pulled too tight.

"What are you doing here?" Margaret's voice sliced through the tension, her surprise evident as she glanced between them. Adrian visiting home uninvited was rarer than desert rain. Normally he declined even their invitations. Yet here he stood. Margaret couldn't help suspecting Vivian had dragged him along as backup.

Adrian stepped forward, blocking Margaret's view, and chuckled softly. "Mother, since when do I need an excuse to visit?"