Chapter 468

Vivian arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, her lips curling in amusement. "Weekend overtime? Which corporate giant has him chained to his desk?"

"Blackwood Group," she replied, feeling Giselle's presence souring both her mood and appetite. Lately, Vivian had been battling fatigue and nausea, her stomach rejecting even her favorite dishes. Just when she thought she might manage a few bites, Giselle's incessant chatter descended like a swarm of locusts, stripping away what little appetite remained.

Giselle's manicured fingers paused mid-air, her coffee cup hovering. "Blackwood Group?" She leaned forward with sudden interest, her designer bracelets clinking. "My lover has connections there. What division does your husband work in? Perhaps they could collaborate." Her smile turned predatory. "I could put in a good word for him."

Vivian's instincts flared. She hadn't anticipated Giselle having ties to the Blackwoods. The family's influence sprawled across Crestwood like ancient roots, their numerous relatives embedded in every sector. But the real mystery was - what self-respecting Blackwood would associate with someone like Giselle?

With practiced grace, Vivian extricated her arm from Giselle's grasp. "That won't be necessary. Their paths aren't likely to cross."

Adrian had been consumed by projects outside his usual scope lately, pushing his limits to master new skills. Ethan had taken over most of his routine responsibilities at headquarters.

Giselle misinterpreted the refusal, assuming Vivian's husband occupied some insignificant position beneath notice. Undeterred, she examined her diamond-encrusted nails. "I always wondered why a socialite like you suddenly plunged into acting." Her gaze flicked to Vivian's simple gold wedding band. "Now I understand - you married beneath your station."

She leaned closer, her perfume cloying. "You were the campus beauty, the heiress. We all expected you to land a tycoon." A theatrical sigh. "Instead you settled for some corporate drone." Her eyes gleamed with malice. "But now that you're famous, you can trade up. Wealthy men won't care about your marital history."

The barb struck a memory - Giselle's humiliating rejection by a wealthy senior who'd then praised Vivian's beauty. That old resentment had festered for years.

Vivian's fingers tightened around her water glass. Most Blackwoods knew her identity, except perhaps the most distant relatives. Studying Giselle's triumphant expression, she asked coolly, "Exactly how is your lover connected to the family? Some obscure cousin twice removed?"

Giselle's face flushed crimson. "How dare you! My lover holds real power there. Even Adrian Blackwood answers to him."

The claim sent a jolt through Vivian. Her mind raced through the family hierarchy before landing on Leonard's face. A shiver crawled down her spine, and she forcefully banished the disturbing thought.