Chapter 78

The vibration of his phone shattered the tense silence between them.

The sudden chime cut through the moment like a knife. Adrian swiped open the screen to reveal surveillance footage from the private lounge where Vivian had been. One hand trapped her restless fingers while the other tapped the video.

Vivian exhaled dramatically, slouching back with an exaggerated pout. "Work again? When do you ever relax? You and Dominic are cut from the same stone - cold and unreadable. What woman would want that?"

As the footage played, Adrian's initial fury subsided though his expression remained stormy. The video showed nothing alarming - just guests drinking and playing games. Then, near the end, a man bearing slight resemblance to Adrian appeared, sitting too close to Vivian. The so-called "escort" had dared to place a hand on her thigh.

Adrian froze the frame, screenshot it, and sent it to Dominic. Before he could type instructions, Dominic's immediate reply popped up: "Already handled, Adrian. That hand won't trouble anyone again. He's been permanently banned from Crestwood."

Meanwhile, Vivian, still teetering between tipsy and drunk, squinted at him. "That damn phone... Is the Blackwood Group really that demanding? Or are you just too preoccupied with her?"

Her voice cracked despite the sarcastic tone.

Adrian loosened his collar as if the fabric choked him. "Look at yourself," he said sharply. "You're making a scene. You're embarrassing the Blackwood name."

"Set foot in places like this again, and I'll ensure you can't walk there myself." His words were meant to sting, but Vivian, far from intimidated, fired back with drunken candor.

"Embarrassing the Blackwoods?" she scoffed bitterly. "Who even knows I'm part of this family? The world thinks she's your wife. To everyone else, I'm just your dirty little secret. The Blackwoods may be filthy rich, but what did I get? No wedding, no recognition. People probably think I'm your mistress!"

An unfamiliar pang struck Adrian's chest - sympathy perhaps - but it vanished when Vivian spat, "Adrian the Asshole."

His expression hardened. "You claimed the wedding didn't matter, yet now you throw it in my face. Seems you're the hypocrite here."

Vivian frowned, considering this before shaking her head. "Hypocrite? Hardly. I own my choices. But I do regret handing over those twenty million. He squandered it all on his precious darling's designer wardrobe!"

Adrian scoffed. "Your pocket change would be worthless to me even at my lowest."

"Broke, are you?" Vivian shrugged. "Join the club. You're quite the catch, but I'm bankrupt. Can't afford your price tag, so maybe you should leave." She reached for the car door.

In one swift motion, Adrian hauled her back. "Trying to jump out again? Didn't learn your lesson last time?"

For a moment, Vivian stayed silent in his grip. Adrian thought he'd intimidated her - but how rational could a drunk person be?