Chapter 353

Adrian cast a fleeting glance backward, his voice barely above a whisper. "Pay her no mind."

Vivian's response came firm and unwavering. "You were correct earlier. Certain conflicts simply can't be avoided."

Something shifted in Adrian's posture at her words. His shoulders straightened, the hard lines of his face softening imperceptibly. For years, he'd grown accustomed to commands met with either trembling obedience or empty compliance. But Vivian's agreement resonated differently - a genuine meeting of minds. The fragile rose he'd sheltered all this time had grown thorns of her own.

Facing Cassandra now, Vivian's composed exterior barely concealed her mounting irritation. Whether it was Cassandra's inherent volatility or Serena's manipulations at play, the relentless targeting was undeniable. Vivian wondered if this confrontation was yet another of Cassandra's calculated power plays.

"Burning bridges serves no one. Our paths may cross again."

Cassandra stepped forward with practiced confidence. "Last time, you walked away untouched. Now you've stolen my spotlight on the show."

"Must you push me to the edge?"

Her voice dripped with barely concealed bitterness. "The moment filming wrapped, three sponsors pulled their contracts. My family depends on me."

Vivian's brow furrowed in genuine confusion. "Sponsor withdrawals? Why bring this to me instead of addressing it with them directly?"

Cassandra's hands flew up in exasperation. "Honestly, Vivian! Stop playing naive. The episode was pre-recorded - those decisions couldn't have been made so quickly without inside influence. It had to be you!"

She bit her lip, casting a suspicious glance toward Adrian. "You had him do it."

Adrian turned to Vivian, his voice deceptively calm. "'Walked away untouched'? What happened?"

The silence stretched as Cassandra's mind reeled. If Vivian hadn't told him about their previous encounter, what had prompted the sponsors' sudden change of heart?

Vivian's response came crisp and unadorned. "Last time, she tried to run me down with her car. A warning, I suppose. Or perhaps just petty revenge."

She offered no justification for Cassandra's actions.

Cassandra gasped, her face a mask of theatrical shock at Vivian's bluntness. "You!"

Vivian met her gaze squarely, her voice glacial. "Am I mistaken? Isn't that precisely what occurred?"

Flustered, Cassandra stammered, "You never mentioned it before. Why now?"

Vivian's eyes narrowed slightly. "Because now, the truth deserves to be known."

The temperature seemed to drop several degrees as Adrian's expression hardened into something dangerous. His gaze lifted slowly to meet Ethan's concerned one.

Ethan already had his phone in hand. "I'll contact Ivory Phoenix Productions immediately," he said, fingers flying across the screen.

Adrian's voice cut through the tension like winter wind. "And notify the police."