"This apartment’s going on the market soon. So you don’t have to come here anymore."

Moonlight spilled in through the window. Vivienne Sterling lay against the man’s solid chest, looking soft and tempting, for once taking the initiative.

He froze at her words, eyes darkening with a dangerous edge. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Vivienne didn’t answer. Instead, she slid her calf against a very specific part of him.

It reacted instantly. He crushed out his cigarette in a sharp motion and flipped her beneath him.

Just as he dipped his head to kiss her lips, she dodged him with practiced ease.

"Not here," she whispered, voice light but firm.

His gaze went pitch‑black. He bit down on her smooth shoulder, irritated and punishing.

"Vivienne!" he growled, thrusting into her hard.

They were already close—too close—but she never let him kiss her.

The heated tangle dragged on for a long while.

Afterward, Vivienne’s legs were so weak she could barely stand.

"Not bad today."

She said it casually as she pulled a bank card from her bag.

Handing him the card and the password, she added, "Don’t come looking for me again."

He paused mid‑motion, the cigarette forgotten in his hand. His stare turned sharp and cold on the card.

"You’re dumping me?"

Vivienne straightened her clothes, walked up to him, brushed her fingers along his jaw, and pressed a feather‑light kiss to his ear.

"Let’s end this cleanly."

Just then her phone lit up.

Caller ID: Nathaniel Ashford.

The man shot her a cold look, his voice dropping. "A new guy, huh?"

Vivienne Sterling didn’t bother answering. She ignored that stormy expression on his face and hung up the call right in front of him.

"Take the money and quit this gig," he said.

"If you run into some clingy, stingy client, you're the one who’s gonna suffer. Totally not worth it."

She finished, turned around, and started walking off.

A sharp crack sounded behind her as he slammed his lighter and pack of cigarettes onto the nightstand. Both clattered to the floor.

He grabbed her wrist in one swift motion and yanked her into his arms.

Staring straight into her teasing, almond-shaped eyes, he asked, "Vivienne, this whole year… did you ever actually like me? Even a little?"

Vivienne paused, then flashed him a sultry smile. "Does liking you in bed count?"

I mean, he really did have stamina.

And the service was solid.

Before leaving, she glanced back at him one last time. "Don’t get too serious. I’m not exactly a good person. Whoever takes me seriously is the one who loses."

The moment the door shut, a tiny wave of guilt washed over her. She kind of felt like a walking red flag.

But the feeling faded fast.

They paid, she delivered. No one owed anyone—simple.

Back in the room, the man stared at the closed door, his face darkening as he dialed a number.

"Check someone for me."

*

Just as she stepped into the elevator, Vivienne’s phone rang again.

Nathaniel Ashford.

Her fiancé who suddenly rushed back to China.

That was the main reason she had to cut things clean with that male model in such a hurry.

The marriage pact between the Sterling and Ashford families had been set by their grandfathers.

Since she could remember, Vivienne Sterling had treated Nathaniel Ashford like her future husband, always putting him first.

In sophomore year on Valentine’s Day, Vivienne planned a sweet surprise for Nathaniel—only to walk in and see her best friend Felicity Blackwood lying in his bed.

What really froze her heart was realizing this had been going on for three whole years.

Vivienne didn’t scream or cry. She even smiled and wished them “a lifetime of happiness.”

Soon after, Gregory Sterling’s old flame showed up with a pair of kids, insisting on marrying him. Vivienne’s mother took her and moved back to the Pemberton household after the divorce.

From then on, the title of Sterling family’s young lady went to Claudia Sterling, and a new little brother, Kenneth Sterling, appeared out of nowhere.

When the Ashford family proposed an engagement, Claudia happened to be pregnant and flat‑out refused to marry.

Gregory and his daughter talked it over, then used the business ties between the Sterling and Pemberton families to pressure Vivienne, even throwing ten million at her to force her to agree.

On the night of the engagement, Nathaniel spelled things out without hesitation:

“An engagement is an engagement, but I’m not touching you.”

“Felicity and I really love each other. Love isn’t about right or wrong—what’s wrong is being the one nobody loves. And that’s you.”

“I won’t look for you, and you’d better stay out of sight when we’re together.”

“We do our own thing, no interference.” Nathaniel tossed her a card, and that same night flew off with Felicity to M Country for their honeymoon.

The two of them were all lovey‑dovey overseas, stuck together like glue, and then—out of nowhere—they suddenly came back early?

While she was still trying to figure it out, Nathaniel hung up on her first.

She was about to call him back when Felicity Blackwood’s number flashed across her screen.

The moment she answered, she heard Felicity’s pretentious, overly sweet voice.

"Vivienne, Nathaniel and I just got back to the country."

"Miss Blackwood, we’re not close. Just call me Vivienne or Miss Sterling."

"Viv… Vivienne, about what happened before, I’m really sorry. I swear I didn’t mean it."

Vivienne let out a soft, mocking laugh. "Oh? So you ‘accidentally’ betrayed our ten‑year friendship? ‘Accidentally’ climbed into Nathaniel Ashford’s bed?"

"Or what, you ‘accidentally’ offered me ten million just to keep me away from him?"

"I’m sorry…"

On the other end of the line, Felicity Blackwood was already sobbing.

Vivienne’s tone went icy. "Felicity, cut the act. I’m not Nathaniel, and I’m definitely not one of your brain‑dead fans. That fake‑sweet routine of yours doesn’t work on me."

"And as for whether I touched Nathaniel this whole year—please, you know better than anyone. So that ten million? Yeah, you can forget about ever getting it back."

Right after the engagement ceremony a year ago, Felicity had shown up with a card and told her to stay away from Nathaniel.

Vivienne didn’t even hesitate—she took the money and agreed.

After that, she dumped both of their ten‑million cards straight into her boy toy’s pocket.

And the breakup compensation she just gave the model? That came from the card Gregory Sterling and Claudia Sterling had pushed at her to force the marriage with Nathaniel.

Honestly, spending that money felt ridiculously satisfying.

Thirty million, dropping right into her lap, buying her a whole carefree year—tell her, how was that not a win?

"Miss Blackwood, if there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up."

Hearing her about to end the call, Felicity panicked. "Wait!"

"How about we grab a meal together?" Vivienne asked with a bright, almost teasing smile. "Maybe head over to the Ashford house? A nice little family dinner."

Felicity gritted her teeth. "Stop acting like you’re all that!"

"I mean, I’ve got looks, a body, money, and status. If I don’t act like I’m all that, who should?" Vivienne replied, completely unapologetic.

Felicity Blackwood couldn’t hold back anymore. “So when exactly are you planning to call off the engagement with Nathaniel?”

Vivienne Sterling let out a low, mocking laugh. “Girl, you really think a business marriage can be canceled just because someone’s in their feelings? The fallout is nasty.” She paused, voice turning razor‑sharp. “But hey, if he insists you’re the only one he wants, maybe we can talk.”

Felicity answered with full confidence. “He’ll pick me for sure. As long as you stop clinging to him.”

Vivienne suddenly narrowed her eyes, as if something clicked. “Wait… don’t tell me—you’re pregnant?”

Felicity’s voice shot up instantly. “What nonsense are you talking about?! I still have two dramas lined up!”

Sure, she planned to trap Nathaniel with a baby—just not before her schedule cleared up.

Vivienne clicked her tongue. “Wow. Tragic. Five years with him and no baby? That’s just sad. Dumb and useless.”

Dropping that last jab, Vivienne hung up with a satisfied smile, humming to herself as she got into her car.

The moment she rolled out of the underground garage, her phone lit up—Nathaniel Ashford calling.

“What now?”

“What did you just say to Felicity?!” Nathaniel sounded like he was about to explode.

Vivienne chuckled. “Not bad. Ran to complain pretty fast.”

Nathaniel snapped, “Within thirty minutes, you better show up at the old house. Otherwise, you’ll regret it.”

Vivienne’s tone turned playful. “Okay, okay, I’ll come greet His Majesty right away.”

Ignoring the stream of curses from his end, she tossed her phone onto the passenger seat.

Nathaniel kept calling again and again, but she didn’t bother picking up.

Then, at a red light, Gregory Sterling’s name flashed on the screen. Vivienne knew this wouldn’t be good, but she still answered.

“What do you want?”

Gregory’s voice came icy and forceful. “You’re bringing Nathaniel home for dinner within the next two days.”

“Just dinner?” Vivienne scoffed.

"About that land in Chengnan, you'd better get Nathaniel Ashford to settle it for me. Otherwise, I’ll go straight to the Pembertons and stir up trouble with your mom and your grandparents." Gregory Sterling’s voice dripped with threat, getting nastier by the second.

"What a pity the one who fell into the cesspit and drowned just now wasn’t you!" Vivienne Sterling spat back, her words sharp with resentment. She cut off the call with a cold laugh and headed for the Ashford residence.

Walking along the path, she couldn’t help replaying all the sacrifices she’d made for those scumbags. If sincerity couldn’t buy sincerity, then fine—she’d be a rose covered in thorns.

If hurting others was the only way to protect herself, then she’d learn fast.

Every time that pack of losers wanted something from her, they’d swarm in, forcing her hand, pushing her around. And once they squeezed out every bit of value? They’d toss her aside like trash, trying to wring out even her last drop of usefulness.

Please.

Such beautiful dreams they had.

This time, she’d make sure they truly understood one thing:

Messing with her came with consequences—big ones.

Vivienne had barely parked in front of the old Ashford villa when she looked up and met Nathaniel Ashford’s face.

He was glaring at her with open disgust. "Vivienne, can you stop showing up just to make us sick?"

A whole year had passed, and he still wore that gentle, harmless mask like some kind of saint.

Too bad she’d long since seen the creature behind that pretty exterior.

Back then she’d loved him with her whole heart. Now she could only laugh at her own stupidity.

Vivienne let out a cold chuckle, unfastened her seatbelt, and stepped out to face him.

"Funny, Nathaniel. You’ve been flaunting the ‘fiancé’ title while sneaking around with Felicity Blackwood for five years. If we’re talking disgusting, you definitely take first place."

Nathaniel’s face darkened. "Since when did you get such a sharp tongue?"

Vivienne rolled her eyes. "Pretty sure you and your little homewrecker taught me."

He choked on his words. "You…"

She tried to walk past him toward the villa, but he grabbed her hard.

"What did you just say to Flissy?"

Vivienne yanked her hand free. "Told her you’re a coward and she’s trash. Perfect match."

Nathaniel’s rage exploded. He clamped down on her wrist, his grip painfully tight. "Say that again. I dare you."