Chapter 71

Adrian stopped his absent-minded finger tapping on the table. With sudden enthusiasm, he grabbed the coffee pot and refilled Vivian's cup. "I'll contact the lead actor and arrange a meeting between you two to—" His words were abruptly cut off by a melodious voice floating through the doorway.

"Adrian, this place is so close to your office and absolutely charming. I think I'll start bringing lunch here so we can eat together during your breaks."

Though not loud, the voice cut through the quiet café like a knife. Vivian's heart skipped a beat. Could fate really be this cruel? She lifted her gaze through the beaded curtain and immediately locked eyes with Adrian's piercing, ice-cold stare.

"Adrian—" Serena, noticing his sudden stillness, followed his gaze and gasped. "Ms. Hartley?!"

Reacting instinctively, Vivian raised her hand but fumbled, sending the coffee pot crashing to the floor. Scalding liquid splashed across her skin, leaving an angry red mark.

Damien, oblivious to the newcomers at the entrance, immediately turned his attention to Vivian. He grabbed a nearby napkin and gently dabbed at her burned hand. "I'm so sorry! Are you hurt? That looks painful."

"What are you doing here, Vivian?" Adrian's voice was sharp with disapproval as he stepped forward. "If you're sick, you should be resting at home. Not out here... especially not with another man." His gaze darkened. "You're a married woman. You should maintain proper boundaries."

With one swift motion, Adrian pushed past the beaded curtain and inserted himself between them, pulling Vivian's hand away from Damien's gentle touch. His expression was thunderous as he sized up the unfamiliar man with silent accusation. Had he not intervened, Damien might have crossed an unacceptable line.

Adrian, whose business dealings never intersected with the entertainment industry, didn't recognize the famous producer. Likewise, Damien failed to place the media-shy billionaire.

Damien opened his mouth to explain, "We were just—"

Vivian yanked her arm free from Adrian's grasp, eyes flashing. "Watch your tone. This is my business associate, and we're here strictly for professional reasons."

Her pointed glance at Serena, who had followed Adrian inside, carried unspoken accusation. "Unlike you two." Though she aimed for sarcasm, Vivian couldn't quite mask the bitter edge in her voice. She'd been trying so hard to avoid Adrian, yet somehow they kept colliding in the same spaces. It felt like the universe was mocking her efforts.

No wonder Adrian and Serena were social media darlings. Unlike her strained interactions with Adrian, Serena seemed to complement him perfectly, moving in sync like an actual married couple. The thought twisted like a knife in Vivian's chest as she recalled her own crumbling marriage over the past two years.

Adrian bristled at Vivian's barb, his pride stung in front of another man. "So this is how you prove your independence? By clinging to other men?" His voice turned cutting. "If you needed help, you should have come to me."

Vivian responded with a cold, mocking smile. "Ask you for help? And watch you help someone else steal my role? Never." Though Adrian knew he was in the wrong, his stubborn pride won out. "What's so special about acting? You take your privileged life for granted. Do you really think success comes that easily?"

Serena, who had been silently observing their exchange, struggled to maintain her pleasant smile. She'd noticed how Adrian's gaze had lingered on Vivian since entering the café. While Adrian remained indifferent to her own interactions with other men, seeing Vivian with someone else clearly unsettled him. This realization sent a sharp pang through Serena's chest.

Stepping between them with practiced grace, Serena interjected in her signature sweet tone, "Ms. Hartley, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I invited a musician to discuss the theme song for our upcoming show. We happened to be near Adrian's office, and he joined out of concern." Her voice carried the effortless confidence of someone accustomed to being favored.