Chapter 431

Miranda watched Serena's intense focus on her phone with growing concern. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke up. "You might want to reconsider provoking Mr. Blackwood. Pushing him too far could backfire."

"What are you implying?" Serena snapped, tossing her phone onto the seat beside her. "The truth is the truth. Vivian is the one who's careless, not me. I just exposed her. How is that my fault?"

Miranda stayed silent, though she couldn't shake the feeling that Serena was throwing away a golden opportunity.

At Silverpine Airport, Adrian stepped off the plane and checked his messages. Vivian's chat remained silent, but Ethan had sent an update: "Mrs. Blackwood went to meet a friend at Hazelnut Time Coffee Shop."

Just as he was about to close the app, a flurry of notifications from Serena lit up his screen. He hesitated, then ignored them and locked his phone.

Inside her limo, Serena stared at her screen, waiting for a response. Before, Adrian would reply instantly, no matter how busy he was. The lack of a typing indicator made her stomach twist.

Her fingers flew across the screen. "Vivian has a history of trouble. I didn’t want to say anything, but I thought you should know. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to her again."

Adrian had just stepped into the crowded terminal when the message came through. He opened it, scanning the text before tapping on the attached photos.

The images were grainy—taken from a distance in poor lighting—but Vivian’s outfit matched what she’d been wearing earlier.

He was about to reply with a curt "Noted" when another message popped up.

"Adrian, don’t worry too much. It’s near the university, so it’s probably safe, right?"

His fingers moved swiftly. "That’s not her."

Serena’s grip on her phone tightened. Even blurry, Vivian was unmistakable. Adrian was lying to protect her. The realization burned—his devotion ran deeper than she’d ever imagined.

Adrian dialed Ethan. "Who is Vivian meeting? Damien?" He remembered the last time he’d seen her at that café, sitting across from Damien Vaughn.

"I’m not sure. When I dropped her off, the other person hadn’t arrived yet." Ethan’s voice wavered slightly, sensing the tension. "I’ll find out immediately."

Adrian hung up and texted Vivian. "Where are you?"

Vivian, meanwhile, was too absorbed in grilling slices of wagyu to notice her phone. The meat sizzled, juices dripping onto the hot plate. She wrapped a perfectly seared piece in lettuce, dabbed it with sauce, and popped it into her mouth.

After a long day, the rich, savory flavor made her sigh in contentment.