The Discarded Wife

Chapter 1: The Discarded First Love

Vivian was still lying in Lawrence's bed when she got Julian's call.

Her phone screen lit up abruptly, the contact name "Hubby" glaring and harsh.

Lawrence thrust harder. "Focus."

Pleasure rippled through her, making her eyes roll back slightly.

Too fast.

The phone tumbled onto the pillow beside her, and she accidentally ended the call.

Afterward, Vivian saw Julian's message: "I'll give you ten minutes. Get here."

Vivian stared at the words for a moment before replying, "Got it."

Come to think of it, Vivian and Julian hadn't been in touch for a while.

The last time she'd seen news of him was in entertainment headlines—photos of him with other women, paired up like a couple.

The media had finally caught his little mistress, the one he'd been keeping hidden for three years.

For the past six months, Julian rarely came home. When he did, it was in the dead of night.

She'd wake up to his kisses, him simply using her to satisfy his urges.

Afterward, he'd leave without a backward glance.

After replying to Julian, Vivian finally looked at Lawrence beside the bed.

An awkward silence fell between them. She felt embarrassed.

After all, Lawrence was Julian's childhood best friend.

A university professor, outwardly refined, but just now—he'd been inventive and relentless, going at it with real force.

Last night, she'd been dead drunk.

On impulse, she'd wrapped her arms around his neck and refused to let go. "Lawrence, do you want to sleep with me?"

Lawrence ignored her. She muttered, "If you don't want to, I'll find someone else."

And then Lawrence had taken her to a hotel and worn her out half to death.

Vivian snapped back to reality and slowly crawled out of bed. "I have things to do. I'm leaving."

Lawrence paused as he was tying his tie, lifted his eyes to give her a cold glance, and said nothing.

At the door, Vivian stopped suddenly, turned around, and looked at him, fidgeting as she whispered, "Did you use protection last night?"

Lawrence's face was cool. "I did."

Vivian breathed a sigh of relief.

Lawrence's voice came from behind her. "Do you need me to keep last night a secret?"

Vivian mumbled, "If you want to stay alive, don't let him find out."

---

Outside the hotel, Vivian took a cab back to the Harrington residence for the family dinner.

Vivian rarely got to see Julian, and when she did, she had to play the devoted wife in front of his family.

After going through the motions of fake affection, they returned to the bedroom.

Julian loosened his tie and suddenly asked, "You went to see Elara yesterday?"

Vivian lowered her eyes, lips pressed tight. "It was a coincidence."

She added, "I didn't go looking for trouble."

Julian's hand paused on his tie. "I thought the Mrs. Harrington was going to flaunt her status."

Vivian had considered it, but Elara was Julian's precious darling now.

If she did anything to his little mistress,

Julian would never let her off.

Vivian didn't want to make things harder for herself.

She was silent for two seconds before she couldn't help herself. "You used to like me so much, but I never saw you care for me like that."

Julian walked up to her, looking down. "Dragging up old history from eight hundred years ago—what's the point?"

Then, the man added a casual warning, "Anyway, don't provoke her. Don't blame me for not saving you face."

Vivian let out a bitter laugh. When had Julian ever saved her face?

"Can't bear to part with her? Then marry her."

Julian paused, then touched her face with a mocking gesture. "Haven't you heard, Mrs. Harrington? A wife is not as good as a concubine, and a concubine is not as good as a stolen one."

He bent down and pecked her lips, then smiled at her. "Your husband enjoys the best of both worlds."

Vivian could barely breathe.

Her face pale, she turned away from his kiss.

Julian seemed to be in the mood. He grabbed her chin and kissed her more fiercely.

His palm pressed against her thigh, getting straight to the point.

Vivian was pinned against the desk behind her, her back aching. "I'm not feeling well tonight. I can't satisfy you."

Even though Julian didn't love her anymore, he was still insatiable in bed.

Hearing her refusal, Julian stopped. "What's wrong? Had your fill outside?"

Chapter 2: The Apple of His Eye

Vivian was both angry and a little guilty.

In the past, she would have tearfully explained that she wasn't as shameless as he made her out to be.

But last night, she'd slept with his best friend.

She didn't even have the confidence to argue back.

Vivian turned her face away and stayed silent.

Julian looked at her silently, then let out a mocking laugh. "What's there to be upset about? Didn't he make you feel good today?"

Vivian met his eyes, not knowing where she found the nerve. "No, he did. It was great."

Half-truth, half-lie—it sounded more like she was deliberately trying to spite him.

Julian's face was expressionless, his calm demeanor showing he couldn't care less.

Vivian couldn't find a trace of discomfort on his face. He didn't seem to take it seriously. "Well then, Mrs. Harrington is quite lucky."

Vivian's chest tightened. She pressed her lips together. "Don't you care at all?"

Julian unbuttoned his cuffs as he walked toward her, his tone indifferent. "Don't say that. It's not like I just found out you're a slut."

As he spoke, he got closer, grabbing her wrist and pressing it against the headboard.

Julian was always rough in bed, fierce and brutal, almost breaking her apart. Sometimes he'd deliberately leave his watch on, leaving bruises on her skin.

Painful and ugly.

Vivian pulled back. "I said I'm not feeling well. I'm tired. I don't want to."

She continued, "If you have needs, go find Elara."

Julian stared at her for a long time without a word, then slowly let go, as if he wasn't going to force her.

After a moment, he spoke, his words cutting. "Can't even do your job as a full-time wife right?"

Vivian's heart ached with anger.

Julian didn't seem to need her answer.

He dropped the subject and asked about something else. "Mr. Cole said he ran into you at the hospital before."

Vivian paused, slowly calming down. "Yeah, I went for a checkup."

They both seemed to have regained their composure, no longer bristling with hostility.

Julian asked casually, "What did the doctor say?"

She thought for a moment. "Everything's normal."

She dared to make it up because she knew Julian wouldn't bother to check.

Two months ago, she'd gone to the hospital without a word and aborted Julian's child.

She'd been dragging things out with Julian for years.

She figured, even if she lost everything,

at least she could still hold on to the title of Mrs. Harrington. She would never let him and his mistress have it easy. They would never get to be legitimate.

But after dragging it out until today,

she had already lost.

Vivian snapped back to reality and mentioned casually, "I ran into Elara at the hospital that day. She was in the VIP ward. Mr. Harrington really knows how to take care of a woman."

Julian glanced at her. "Is Mrs. Harrington jealous? Go find yourself a man who'll take care of you too."

Vivian's fingers turned white as she clenched them, staring straight at him. "Fine. Don't regret it."

Julian reached out, grabbed her chin, and kissed the small cut on her lip. "Why would I? I'd be celebrating for Mrs. Harrington."

Vivian finally saw how ruthless a man could be when he didn't love you.

Arguing with him only hurt herself.

She pushed him away and changed the subject. "The manager of Yanhe Real Estate came to me yesterday with a bill to sign. Is it a new house you bought?"

In truth, Julian had so many properties he couldn't count them.

He wouldn't need a top-tier apartment in the city center.

Vivian knew exactly who the apartment was for.

But she couldn't help wanting to confirm it.

Julian raised an eyebrow. "The bill came to the house? Then just sign it."

She was silent for a long time before speaking softly. "I signed it."

Then, in a normal tone, she asked, "Is it for Elara?"

Julian replied with a single word. "Yeah."

It didn't seem like something worth mentioning to him. He added casually, "She likes that area."

Chapter 3: Like Wildfire

The apartment was in a prime location in the business district.

A sprawling penthouse, hundreds of square meters.

Vivian praised him. "Mr. Harrington is very generous. That location is prime. You could flip it for a high price later."

When she'd tried to divorce him before, unable to bear the pain of betrayal,

Julian had not only used harsh words to force her to face reality but had also made it crystal clear: if she wanted a divorce, she'd leave with nothing.

Truly, comparing one person to another was infuriating.

Julian said lightly, "It's not bad."

Vivian pressed her lips together. "I remember it was quite popular."

She remembered so well because last month, her cousin had wanted to buy an apartment there for his fiancée.

But it sold out as soon as it launched, and he couldn't get one. He'd asked her to see if Julian had any extra slots.

Julian hummed in acknowledgment, then glanced at her. "You like it too?"

Before Vivian could speak,

Julian reached out and lightly touched her cheek. "Our Vivian can find a good man to buy her one too."

He paused, then suddenly smiled at her, though the smile was cold. He spoke casually, as if it were nothing. "Lawrence isn't stingy either."

Vivian felt a lump in her chest, with nowhere to release it.

Julian had suspected her of being unfaithful to him for years, of having an affair with Lawrence.

There was no other reason.

Just that she'd had a crush on Lawrence in high school.

But until last night, she'd seen Lawrence only a handful of times over the years.

Julian seemed to have run out of patience. "I have things to do tonight. I'm leaving."

Vivian wasn't surprised that Julian wasn't staying the night.

She couldn't satisfy his desires, so of course he'd leave.

---

A few days later, Vivian had just entered a café

when she received a furious text from Nina:

"Fuck. Julian took Elara to Sebastian's ski resort for a vacation."

"That shameless bitch posted photos on her social media. So disgusting."

"I'm telling you, Vivian, you can't divorce him. Don't lose him and the money! No matter how smug she is, she's still a homewrecker."

These days, homewreckers weren't really that hated.

Vivian was still surprised by Nina's message.

Sebastian was a good friend of Julian's, one of the top heirs in the capital.

Julian bringing Elara into his circle meant he really cared for her.

Nina also sent her a screenshot of a post Elara had made a few days ago: "He took me on vacation."

Vivian's eyes stopped on a corner of the photo.

A pair of slender, fair, and beautiful hands, with long, clean fingers.

The wedding ring on the ring finger was all too familiar.

Vivian's coffee suddenly tasted bland. She stared out the window at the street scene, feeling numb inside.

As evening approached, she got up to pay.

Pushing open the glass door, she collided with someone coming in.

She quickly apologized, then looked up to see a familiar, strikingly handsome face.

Lawrence taught at a nearby university. He was the youngest full professor there and had probably just finished class.

The memories of that night came flooding back.

She felt awkward. "Professor Lawrence, what a coincidence."

Lawrence closed the door casually. "Mrs. Harrington, long time no see."

In public, Lawrence usually called her Mrs. Harrington, like everyone else.

Sometimes Vivian felt he called her "sister-in-law" on purpose,

with a hint of malicious amusement.

Vivian couldn't wait to leave. "I'll be going now."

As she passed him, he suddenly grabbed her wrist. "Mrs. Harrington."

Hearing his voice, a shiver ran down her spine.

Lawrence reminded her gently, "You left something at my place last time."

Her memories of that night were hazy. "Did I?"

Lawrence nodded, his tone flat. "Your underwear is at my place."

He paused, then added, "I washed them for you."

Chapter 4: The Pearl in the Mire

Vivian's face paled. The skin where Lawrence held her felt like it was burning. She stammered, "Never mind. Just throw them away."

She regretted drinking that night.

It had been bad luck to run into Elara during the day, hearing her cooing sweetly on the phone with Julian,

completely spoiled and loved,

which made Vivian's heart ache with bitterness. She'd gotten dead drunk, and that's why she'd been so impulsive.

But her actions seemed to have landed her in trouble, and she'd become just like Julian.

Vivian kept her head down, not daring to look at Lawrence. "It's getting late. I should head home. Take your time, Professor Lawrence."

Lawrence looked at her, his tone normal. "Be careful on the road."

Vivian fled from his sight, hurried into her car, and drove home. Her heart was still pounding.

But she hadn't expected Julian to be home.

He looked like he'd just showered, wearing casual clothes that made him seem less intimidating.

Julian looked at her and asked casually, "Where have you been? Home so late."

Vivian stopped on the stairs, a little surprised. "Aren't you on vacation?"

Julian walked up to her and looked her over. "Mrs. Harrington is very well-informed."

He almost enveloped her in his shadow, reaching out to touch her flushed cheek.

Vivian's body stiffened slightly, but she pretended nothing was wrong. "Did you have fun?"

Julian said, "Not bad."

Vivian nodded. "Good. I'm going upstairs."

Her indifferent reaction displeased him.

Julian grabbed her wrist and sneered. "I really had good taste back then, marrying such a virtuous wife."

Vivian heard the heavy sarcasm and shot back, "Yes, but your taste has slipped now."

For some reason, Julian's expression softened when he heard her sharp words. "Is Mrs. Harrington jealous?"

Vivian looked at him strangely, her throat tight.

She ignored him and went upstairs without another word.

She used to be jealous.

Three years ago, when Vivian first discovered Elara's existence, she'd fought and argued with Julian.

She'd slammed a newspaper photo onto his desk. "What is this?"

Julian picked up the paper, looked at it for a moment, then said approvingly, "Nice shot."

His indifferent attitude was like an arrow through her heart.

Her friends advised Vivian to swallow her pride.

Men were all the same.

So what if she was his first love? Now she was just a worthless pearl.

He was still spending money on her. If she turned a blind eye, life would go on.

Back then, Vivian had done many stupid things to keep Julian.

She'd even stripped naked and tried to seduce him, using her body to hold on to him.

But he looked at her naked body, his face expressionless, his eyes cutting as they swept over her.

After a long time, he threw his suit jacket over her and said lightly, "Sorry, not in the mood."

Vivian wrapped herself in the jacket, trembling, her voice choked with tears.

"Am I not as pretty as her?"

"What do you like about her?"

Everyone said Julian's little mistress looked a bit like her, like the seventeen-year-old version of herself.

But Vivian didn't see the resemblance.

If Julian loved her, why would he need a substitute?

Impatience flickered in his eyes. After a moment, he said casually, "Who knows."

"Maybe because she's younger than you."

He smiled, his eyes mocking. "She's prettier too, more obedient and sensible."

"Vivian, even vases get replaced when they're old. Why should people be any different?"

Chapter 5: Tears in Her Eyes

So Vivian understood then.

To Julian, she was just an old vase.

Once he got tired of looking at her, she had no value left to be displayed in the living room.

Naturally, she'd be put away in a dark storage room, gathering dust, waiting to be forgotten.

At her worst, Vivian had fallen into depression.

She cried all day, every day.

Then came the doctor visits and medication. When she started to feel a little better, she thought about cutting ties with Julian—their childhood friendship, their youthful marriage.

She hired a lawyer and drafted divorce papers.

When she brought them to Julian, he didn't even look. He casually set the papers aside,

his almond-shaped eyes curving in a mocking smile. He said only one thing: "Vivian, you're thirty now. It'll be hard to find a man better than me after you leave me."

His gaze seemed to mock her naivety.

He paused, then reminded her coldly, "Besides, you can't have children. I can live without kids. Can they?"

The person who shares your bed knows best how to wound you.

Vivian's health was poor. Getting pregnant was difficult. The doctor said she might never be able to have children.

That was when Vivian understood.

When a man doesn't love you anymore, he won't care if you live or die. He won't care about the tears in your eyes.

Looking back on the past few years,

Vivian no longer felt sad.

How could she still be jealous?

She'd been disappointed beyond words.

Now, both love and hate had been worn away.

All that was left was a little bit of unwillingness.

Vivian knew that from Julian, the only thing she could still wring out was a little money.

Julian didn't hold back when he came home. She was half-asleep when he grabbed her hand, pinned it to the pillow, and kissed her until she couldn't breathe.

Vivian opened her eyes and kicked him.

In the dim light, Julian's face actually looked a little tender. "You don't have to move."

She struggled. "I'm sleepy."

He grabbed her ankle, his thumb brushing her thigh. "You don't have to do any work."

His fingers probed inside, then suddenly stopped. He kissed her lips. "Why is it swollen? Wasn't I gentle with you last time?"

Vivian, who had been groggy with sleep, suddenly woke up.

Her heart leaped into her throat.

Last time—a few days ago at Lawrence's place, that man had been rough and worn her out.

She looked away, pretending nothing was wrong. "I don't know. I'm really sleepy. And tired."

Julian let go of her skirt. "Fine. Get some sleep. Good night."

---

The next day, when Vivian woke up, she thought last night had been a dream.

She sat in bed for a long time, dazed. She didn't go out until the afternoon, arriving on time at the beauty salon she'd agreed to meet Nina at.

The world was full of coincidences.

Vivian and Nina had just finished their treatments when they ran into Elara in the lounge.

Her face was soft and dewy. She held a cup, biting the straw, looking adorably cute.

Her friend teased her suggestively. "Is that pearl necklace around your neck a new gift from Mr. Harrington?"

Elara didn't say yes, but she didn't say no either.

A shy smile played on her lips. "He took me skiing last week. A private resort, super luxurious. A few of his friends were there too, all with their girlfriends."

"Mr. Harrington really spoils you." But her friend hesitated. "But he's married, isn't he? Has he said when he'll get divorced?"

Elara bit down hard on the straw, her smile becoming strained.

Julian never mentioned his wife in front of her. He must not like her. That's why everyone around him kept their mouths shut.

Even at the ski resort last week, his friends had seen her and said nothing, just smiled.

The resort staff treated her with utmost respect, as if she were Julian's partner.

Elara pushed down her unease, lifted her chin, and said with arrogant confidence, "He doesn't like his wife anyway. And she's definitely not as young or pretty as I am. She's just old and worn-out."

Vivian heard the words "old and worn-out."

She wasn't particularly angry.

It was actually a very accurate description.

Wasn't she exactly Julian's old, worn-out wife? His discarded first love.

Before Vivian could react, Nina was furious. She stepped forward, looking like she was about to slap Elara.

Vivian quickly stopped her. It wasn't that she was generous.

It was that she was afraid Julian would come after her afterward.

Elara continued, "I've never heard him mention his wife in front of me. Can you imagine how much he must hate her?"

"And they used to keep their marriage a secret. I feel like it was a forced alliance."

"The marriage was forced. I'm the real love."

Vivian listened to Elara's words and felt like laughing. She couldn't help it—she actually did.

Chapter 6: Old Feelings

Vivian's laughter caught their attention.

Elara's eyes were full of wariness.

She probably didn't know who Vivian was. She just instinctively disliked the face that looked a bit like hers.

Elara snapped at the staff, annoyed. "Isn't this the VIP lounge? How did these riffraff get in?"

The staff looked embarrassed. "Miss, these two are also our honored guests."

Elara couldn't stand it. Ever since she'd latched onto Julian, she'd been walking around like she owned the place.

Before Elara could speak, Nina beat her to it, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "So now breaking up someone's family is a topic of conversation? How ridiculous."

Elara's expression soured. Her friend also looked embarrassed.

Elara's face flushed red, then white, a kaleidoscope of colors. She was so angry she was about to have a meltdown, but she couldn't find the words to argue back. Finally, she spat out, "Mind your own business!"

Nina sneered, utterly unrelenting. "I can't stand seeing a bitch like you. Is that a problem?"

Elara had never been so humiliated. She exploded. "Who are you calling a bitch!?"

Nina crossed her arms, her demeanor fierce. "I'm calling you, you shameless bitch! How long do you think you can get away with this? You're nothing but a cheap little thing that can't even be shown in public."

Elara raised her hand to slap Nina,

but Vivian caught it mid-air.

Vivian gripped her wrist, her eyes cold, her face icy. "Miss, hitting someone is against the law."

Vivian had no interest in confronting the other woman. It was embarrassing and exhausting.

At the end of the day, this was a two-way street. Elara couldn't have done it alone. The real culprit wasn't her.

There was no need to argue with a clueless little girl.

With that, Vivian let go of her hand.

But Elara didn't appreciate it. She seemed to hold a grudge against Vivian, staring at her with fury. "You two wait!"

Elara immediately called Julian to complain. Through the phone, she started whining, her soft voice tinged with pitiful tears. "I'm being bullied, boohoo..."

Her sobs came in fits and starts as she tearfully tattled to the person on the other end, asking him to come pick her up and get revenge for her.

Julian listened to her crying without any reaction. After a moment, he finally remembered to ask, "How were you bullied?"

Elara sniffled. "They called me names!"

Julian hummed calmly. "What did they call you?"

Elara stammered, unable to say it, but she was too scared not to answer him. "They called me a homewrecker."

Julian chuckled. "Isn't that the truth? They're not wrong. Deal with it."

Then, as if he'd run out of patience, he hung up.

Vivian listened to Elara's sobbing and almost felt sorry for her.

No wonder Julian had liked her for years.

When Elara acted cute, it really melted your heart.

Vivian watched Elara finish her call. The girl wiped her tears and turned back to look at her with the same hostility.

Nina had a hot temper and couldn't help herself when she saw Elara's fake innocence. "And you still have the nerve to make a call? Shameless."

Elara's friend shot back, "Do you know who her boyfriend is? I suggest you mind your own business."

Nina curled her lips, sneered, and pointed at Vivian. "Then do you know who she is?"

Chapter 7: The Deception

Elara looked at the face in front of her, which had a slight resemblance to her own, and felt disgusted. She regretted calling Julian immediately.

The woman in front of her was very beautiful.

Elara bit her lower lip until it was almost bleeding. It was fine that Julian wasn't coming.

She put on a brave front. "I'm not interested in who you are. Running into you two today is just bad luck. Minmin, let's go."

With that, Elara dragged her friend away, her back still looking arrogant.

"Two crazy weirdos. Probably bitter old housewives with unhappy marriages."

"I think so too. Can't keep their own husbands, so they take it out on others."

"Forget it, forget it. Let's not talk about them. Just pretend we got bitten by a mad dog. Didn't Mr. Harrington give you a supplementary card? Let's go buy something to cool off."

"Okay."

Their voices faded into the distance.

Beside Vivian, Nina was even angrier, looking like she was about to explode.

Vivian smiled wryly and said gently, "Stop glaring. They're gone."

Nina couldn't get over the anger in her chest. "Is Julian really in love with a substitute?"

Vivian was silent for a moment, then asked, "Does she really look like me?"

Nina thought seriously. "Just the eyes and brows are a bit similar."

Vivian managed a smile at her. "But Julian said I'm not as pretty as her, so I guess we're not that similar."

Youth was a good thing.

Full of collagen, skin so tender it could burst.

Eyes without the dimness of having seen too much, always so bright and sparkling, making people like them.

Julian said she was thirty and no longer young. He wasn't wrong.

Maybe her value was depreciating with age.

Nina fumed. "Julian is full of shit! You're the prettiest! You're way prettier than that fake innocent little slut!"

Vivian was silent for a while, then heard herself ask softly, "Nina, do I look old?"

Nina blurted out, "No way! You're still a flower at eighteen."

Vivian murmured, "Really? Sometimes I feel like I don't have the right to be willful anymore."

Julian wouldn't indulge someone he didn't like.

And she had to learn to compromise.

Life wasn't a fairy tale. She had to accept that love and marriage didn't always last forever.

Her family's business was still barely kept alive by Julian's money.

If it weren't for that, she wouldn't have to be so trapped.

Counting it, she and Julian had been together for nearly ten years, from dating to marriage.

Ten years of feelings—to tear them out by the roots was a bone-deep pain.

Now, she could only numb herself with lies, forcing herself to cling to unrealistic fantasies: that Julian still liked her, that there was a reason he treated her this way, that he had his own hidden difficulties.

Otherwise, how could she survive this hollow, suffocating, absurd marriage?

How could she force herself to keep dragging things out with Julian?

Chapter 8: Such Hatred

Vivian slowly snapped back to reality and said to Nina, as if nothing was wrong, "Let's not think about that. Come with me to buy something at the mall."

Nina was curious. "For who?"

Vivian paused for a few seconds, then said calmly, "The seventh of next month is Julian's birthday. I need to keep up appearances."

"You're buying a gift for Julian?" Nina was indignant. "Might as well buy a knife and stab him to death. That heartless bastard."

"Then I'd go to jail, or die with him. Not worth it."

"Yeah, not worth it. Anyway, you're spending his money to buy him something. No loss. So what if he likes that little slut? You just won't divorce him. Wear them both out."

Nina's rant about Julian was like a river in flood, endless.

Vivian listened quietly, not stopping her.

"I heard Julian invested in Zhao Yuandong's new tech company. He bought nearly half the shares and put them all in Elara's name." Nina probably thought Vivian had really let go, so she didn't hide anything from her. "Maybe he's afraid Elara is used to being spoiled but can't support herself. If something happens to him, those shares will keep her comfortable for life."

"But it's just a rumor. Not sure if it's true."

Vivian listened quietly, her eyelashes fluttering slightly. "Is that so? It seems Julian really loves her. He's thought of everything for her."

Nina said bitterly, "I've never seen him care so much about anyone else. Vivian, you're right not to let those two lovebirds have their way. If you divorce Julian, won't all his money go to that little bitch?"

Vivian forced a smile. "Exactly. I'm going to haunt the position of Mrs. Harrington."

Vivian and Nina walked out of the beauty salon, chatting. As they got out of the elevator, they ran into a familiar figure.

Julian was frowning, his expression serious.

He must have rushed over. He didn't have any bodyguards.

Just an assistant behind him.

Vivian looked at Julian. The man's face wasn't good.

Knowing him as she did, he was probably in a terrible mood.

Elara's place in his heart was deeper than she'd imagined.

One phone call from Elara, and Julian dropped everything to rush over and back her up.

Vivian weighed her options and decided to back down first. "Sorry, it seems Miss Elara was upset by us."

For some reason, Vivian felt that after she spoke, Julian's face got even darker, frozen in an icy expression.

Vivian hadn't expected him to be so angry. She'd already apologized humbly, but it only seemed to fuel the fire.

Left with no choice, she had to apologize sincerely again, hoping Julian wouldn't take it out on Nina.

Nina had only been standing up for her. She could have just kept quiet.

"I didn't mean to provoke her. If Miss Elara was offended, I apologize. I'm really sorry."

Vivian finished speaking and felt like Julian was about to die of anger.

After an unknown amount of time,

Julian looked at her expressionlessly, the corner of his mouth twitching. His words were calm and direct. "You didn't insult me. What's the point of apologizing to me? If you like saying sorry so much, go say it to her face."

Vivian was silent, her heart cold.

Honestly, going to Elara and groveling for an apology was a bit hard to swallow.

Chapter 9: Cold Words

Julian saw her with her head down, not speaking, and pressed on. He stepped forward, grabbed her wrist hard, and pulled her toward him.

Vivian looked up and met the cold light in his eyes.

She heard him ask, "Do you need me to give you her contact information?"

Her chest felt like it had a stitch in it. When she slowly recovered,

she looked at him calmly, her heart like a dead lake, unable to stir any ripples.

Thinking it was better to avoid trouble, she obediently followed his lead. "Julian, then I'll trouble you."

Julian let go of her hand abruptly. She was wearing high heels and stumbled back a few steps before steadying herself.

Julian looked at her, as if utterly disappointed. In the end, he said nothing and left with his assistant.

---

In the car.

The assistant held his breath, not daring to make a sound.

Just now, Miss Elara had called and been hung up on, then sent a few aggrieved photos, which happened to catch Mrs. Harrington by the sofa.

The boss had rushed over, but Mrs. Harrington was so magnanimous.

It could only mean one thing: she didn't love him at all.

The car was dead silent.

Julian's voice was calm and cold. "Back to the office."

The next second, the man said coldly, "Mr. Cole, send Miss Elara's number to Mrs. Harrington."

Mr. Cole was startled. He hesitated for a few seconds. "Sir, is that a good idea? Mrs. Harrington might have just been talking in anger."

Julian was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Does she look angry to you? She likes apologizing, so let her apologize. I don't want to say it a third time."

The latter half of his sentence was icy, a commanding tone from on high.

Mr. Cole didn't dare to argue and could only comply.

---

When Vivian received the text message, she stared at the string of numbers for a long time.

Vivian didn't know whether to say Julian had a good memory or a bad temper. It seemed he was really willing to go to great lengths for his beloved.

His little mistress suffered such a small grievance, and he went to all this trouble to get revenge for her.

Vivian knew when to back down. She emotionlessly composed an apology text: "Sorry, I was out of line just now."

To be a wife and be this pathetic—it was really humiliating.

Before sending the message, she took a screenshot and showed it to Julian first, asking him, "Will this be satisfactory?"

Julian didn't reply for a long time.

She was expressionless, unmoved.

Vivian didn't know that the moment Julian saw the screenshot, he smashed his phone.

After a long time, she finally got his reply: "Mrs. Harrington is truly flexible."

Vivian couldn't tell if he was mocking her or genuinely praising her.

She had to reply, "As long as you're not angry."

After a moment, Julian replied, "Seven words. I don't see the sincerity of Mrs. Harrington's apology."

Vivian looked down at the phone, staring at those cold words for a long time. She snapped back to reality, copied a thousand-word apology letter from the internet, and sent it to Julian.

Julian didn't reply. Maybe he didn't want to waste any more time on her.

Chapter 10: An Interlude

After that little incident, Vivian still went to the mall to buy Julian a birthday gift—a fountain pen.

As she was paying, she happened to run into a man who had just walked in. Their eyes met, and there was a moment of silence.

Lawrence seemed a little surprised to see her too.

Vivian wanted to pretend she didn't know him.

Lawrence spoke first. "Mrs. Harrington."

The last time had been a bit awkward. Vivian gave him an embarrassed smile. "Professor Lawrence."

Lawrence walked closer to her, his faint, cool fragrance filling the air. His eyes swept over the pen in Vivian's hand. "This one isn't very good. You could exchange it for another model."

She was stunned. Before she could speak, the pen was taken from her hand by the man.

He handed it back to the clerk and asked for another model.

Vivian thanked him.

Lawrence said lightly, "You're welcome."

He always gave off a gentle, calm vibe, as if nothing could disturb him.

It was the same back then, and it was the same now.

Lawrence paid for the pen. Vivian felt he was being too polite and a bit uncomfortable. "Professor Lawrence, I'll transfer the money to you later."

After all, it was a gift she was buying for Julian. Having him pay for it was just strange.

Lawrence looked at her. "As you wish."

Vivian paid and left the store.

Outside, a heavy rain was pouring down, raindrops hitting the ground with a startling sound.

Vivian's phone vibrated twice. Entertainment news showed another photo of Julian.

He had attended Elara's college graduation ceremony. The girl was holding his arm, and his profile looked gentler than spring.

Vivian's thumb holding the phone turned white. She called Julian. "Where are you?"

Julian's voice was lazy. "Isn't it a bit late for a check-in?"

He continued, "Busy. I'll hang up if there's nothing."

Vivian asked, "Are you at Jingda University?"

Julian didn't deny it.

Vivian heard her own voice. "Do you love her very much?"

Her unwillingness was like a thousand needles pricking her heart. "Julian, is there not a single bit of love left for me?"

After a few seconds, Julian replied casually, "If I left