Chapter 2

A faint smile spread across my face.

“You’re quite the joker, Julian.”

He chuckled.

“Still, Vivian, the little girl who dared to put caterpillars down my shirt would never have put up with this.”

I froze as the memories came rushing back.

Julian and I had been neighbors as children. He had always looked every inch the little heir to a wealthy family, while I had been notorious for causing trouble.

None of the other children wanted to play with me. Only him.

He never objected to my pranks. Even when I picked on him, he would just look at me and smile.

Then, in high school, his family went bankrupt. They moved out of the neighborhood, and I never saw him again.

I couldn’t resist teasing him.

“You have a good memory.”

Julian smiled.

“You don’t look well. Would you like a ride home?”

I was still hesitating when Ethan’s icy voice rang out.

“Vivian, what are you doing?”

I looked at him without expression.

His face darkened.

“Aren’t you going to explain?”

“Explain what?”

Julian adjusted his cuff at an unhurried pace.

“Vivian isn’t feeling well. I was going to take her home. Don’t read too much into it, Ethan. We’re old friends. I knew her long before you ever came along.”

Holding back his anger, Ethan ordered me,

“Wait for me in the lounge. We’ll leave together when the gala ends.”

Once, I would have obeyed. But now…

“No need. The bigger picture comes first. You should stay and entertain your guests.”

Outside the hotel.

A jacket, still warm from its owner, settled over my shoulders.

Julian stood behind me in only his shirt.

“I’ll drive you.”

I pulled the jacket closer and didn’t refuse.

“Thank you.”

“You were never this polite when we were kids.”

Back at the house.

I had barely walked through the door when my best friend Chloe called.

“Vivian, the trending posts… Have you seen them? Are you okay?”

[Carter Group CEO Ethan Carter spotted with innocent-looking beauty outside hotel. The two appeared very close.]

[Ethan Carter’s new flame revealed! Late-night hotel outing, CEO tenderly shields mystery woman from cameras.]

[Fairy-tale marriage over? Trouble in paradise for Vivian Bennett.]

Beneath the ugly headlines were photos of Ethan and Sophie, shot from suggestive angles.

The relaxed, almost doting smile on his face hurt to look at.

I had once thought he was simply cold by nature and bad at expressing himself. I had even blamed myself for not being good enough to warm his heart.

Now I understood. He was only cold to me.

Chloe’s concern turned to anger.

“Vivian, I’m so furious. What kind of marriage alliance is this? I honestly don’t get it. What are you getting out of any of this?”

“Chloe.”

I gently interrupted her, my voice calm.

“Don’t worry. I’m not putting up with it this time.”

She fell silent for a moment, clearly surprised.

“Really?”

Once, I had naively thought it was a rare blessing to marry someone I loved in an arranged business match.

I had given up my career and shaped myself into the wife he needed.

He didn’t want me directly involved in company affairs. Instead, he needed me to move effortlessly through the city’s most exclusive social circles and build him a vast, solid network.

For three years.

I had sat through boring concerts with Mrs. Walker just so she would put in a good word with her husband about Carter Group’s projects.

I had patiently endured Mrs. Lawson’s difficult temper and secured her husband’s crucial support at a board meeting.

I even remembered every society wife’s and heiress’s birthday and preferences. I quietly chose the perfect gifts and defused countless potential conflicts before they ever arose.

I thrived in those circles. Everyone praised Mrs. Carter for being gracious and thoughtful.