Theater: NovelMaster | Language: English
Synopsis
Everyone in New York believed Sean Foster and I were the model high-society couple.
Little did they know, this marriage had been a farce from start to finish—nothing more than a shield for Sean to protect his ex-girlfriend.
Not only did Sean trick me into signing a divorce agreement, but he also had AI generate explicit, compromising photos of me.
He planned to broadcast those photos on our third wedding anniversary, utterly destroying my reputation.
What Sean didn't know, however, was that the video played that day would be footage of him cheating with his ex.
Olivia's POV
My twenty-sixth birthday happened to fall on a Saturday.
Sean said he had to work overtime at the office and wouldn't be back until late.
In the afternoon, carrying a cake I had baked myself, I went to Foster Group to surprise him and pick him up after work.
When I arrived, the company was completely deserted. No employees were working overtime.
I walked all the way to the CEO's office. The door was slightly ajar, and laughter drifted out from inside.
I recognized the voices of Sean's three friends.
Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard Tyler Vance ask:
"Sean, Vivian's flight lands tonight. How are you planning to deal with Olivia? Today is her birthday, isn't it?"
My hand froze on the handle.
Deal with me?
And who was Vivian?
Tyler was always polite and respectful whenever he saw me. I never imagined he had such an attitude behind my back.
So, I stood outside the door without moving.
Before Sean could speak, Justin Miller chimed in. He had always been loose-lipped.
"Does that even need answering? A birthday is nothing compared to picking up Vivian! Vivian is his first love. What is Olivia Vance? An arranged wife with zero feelings attached. Right, Sean?"
Sean seemed momentarily stunned by the remark.
He didn't answer. Instead, he looked down at his phone and tapped away.
A second later, my phone lit up with a text from Sean:
[Something came up with work tonight. I'll make up your birthday another day. Sorry.]
Snap. A string snapped inside my chest.
So this Vivian was his first love.
And I, his wife, was merely a tool in an arranged marriage to preserve family interests.
Three years of tenderness and consideration had all been an act.
Yet before we married, I had specifically asked him if there was an ex-girlfriend he couldn't let go of.
I refused to marry a man whose heart wasn't completely clear.
Back then, he had held my hand and said with absolute certainty that there was no one.
He lied to me!
Tears splashed onto my phone screen, blurring the words into watery streaks.
Before I could wipe them away, Tyler spoke again from inside the office.
"We've all seen it these past few years. Sean flies overseas every single month to see Vivian."
"Last year, Sean spent his birthday with Vivian, and Valentine's Day this year too. Three months ago on Vivian's birthday, Sean walked away from contracts worth hundreds of millions. If Vivian so much as sneezes abroad, Sean drops board meetings just to fly halfway across the world to take care of her!"
Travis Cross sighed heavily.
"Ah! If Sean's mother hadn't opposed it back then and forced Sean and Vivian to break up, Olivia Vance wouldn't even be in the picture! Sean and Vivian really had it rough!"
"Exactly!" Justin Miller snapped, his anger flaring. "Letting Olivia Vance occupy the nest for all these years makes me sick just looking at her! If she weren't a Vance, and if the Vance family weren't someone we can't afford to mess with, I wouldn't even bother talking to her!"
Travis asked again, "Vivian is staying for good this time, right? Sean, what are you actually planning to do about Olivia? The Vance family isn't to be trifled with."
Sean didn't say a word.
Outside the door, my head buzzed.
But Sean was the one who pursued me first!
He pursued me relentlessly for a whole year, sending flowers to my doorstep every single day and waiting downstairs after work every evening before I finally agreed.
Now, in the mouths of these people, I had become the homewrecker who came between Sean and his ex-girlfriend?
I was the one who had been deceived, yet I was the one bearing the blame.
They twisted black and white so shamelessly, standing on their moral high ground.
I clenched my phone tightly.
Sean stood with his back to the door, silent for a long time. I couldn't see his face or guess what he was thinking.
Finally, he spoke. "Vivian is pregnant."
"What?" Tyler was the first to gasp in shock. "Since when?"
"Three months ago, on her birthday."
Sean seemed to reminisce. "She wouldn't let me wear protection, said it felt uncomfortable, and I agreed. A few days ago, she told me she's pregnant, which is why she decided to return."
Justin slapped his thigh, beaming. "Oh man! Congratulations, Sean!"
Tyler gave a thumbs-up. "Impressive, Sean! One shot, one hit!"
Travis didn't laugh. "Then you really have to handle Olivia properly. But Sean, I think Olivia genuinely loves you. If she refuses to divorce, what will you and Vivian do?"
"Olivia loves me deeply. She won't agree to a divorce."
This time, Sean didn't hesitate. His tone was full of confidence and certainty.
"So a few days ago, I tricked her into signing the divorce agreement. It's sitting in the safe right now. She still has no idea."
A tremor ran through my entire body. I swayed, leaning against the wall just to keep myself from collapsing.
I remembered. A few nights ago, I had waited for him on the sofa until I was half-asleep.
When Sean came home, he brought a document for me to sign.
He claimed he was buying an oceanfront villa as my birthday present and needed my signature.
I trusted him, so I signed without even glancing at it.
The birthday present I believed in was actually a divorce agreement!
Sean Foster, you really are ruthless!
Hearing this, Justin immediately slammed the desk in approval. "Brilliant, Sean! Absolutely genius!"
Travis, however, frowned with concern. "Sean, you tricked her into signing a divorce agreement. Aren't you afraid of retaliation from the Vance family? Foster Group and Vance Group still have ongoing joint ventures, don't they?"
Before Sean could speak, Tyler smiled and answered for him.
"Travis, do you really think Sean doesn't have a Plan B? Isn't their third wedding anniversary next month? Sean is throwing a massive celebration. Invitations have already been sent to half the business elite in New York! The media has been booked too!"
Justin was confused. "If you're getting divorced, why celebrate the third anniversary?"
"Travis, you're just too soft-hearted!"
Tyler continued.
"When the time comes, the romantic video reel playing on the banquet screen will be swapped with explicit photos of Olivia Vance with other men. Of course, Sean had someone generate them using AI. But once they're shown, who at the venue could immediately tell real from fake? To minimize the fallout, the Vance family will have no choice but to swallow this bitter pill and push through a quiet divorce to bury the scandal. Otherwise, if it blows up, no matter the truth, Olivia Vance will be the only one ruined!"
Travis fell silent. "Sean, isn't that... a bit too cruel?"
Sean lit a cigarette and said nothing.
After a long pause, as the cigarette burned down to the filter, he seemed to make up his mind. "That's how high-society marriages work. If she's outplayed, she just has to accept defeat."
I clenched my fists until my nails dug deep into my palms.
We had known each other for five years and been married for three. The outside world regarded us as the pinnacle of an arranged marriage, claiming Mr. Foster kept his wife at the very center of his heart.
Even my best friend Savannah Bell often teased me, saying I had broken the curse that arranged marriages lacked true love.
And I had given him my whole heart without reservation, securing numerous projects for Foster Group and looking after every detail of his life.
Yet the man I believed to be a perfect husband had plotted against me to this extent!
There was no need to stay in a marriage this rotten.
And for a man whose heart was this foul, there was no need to show any mercy.
Since he tricked me into signing the divorce agreement, I would beat him at his own game.
I wiped away my tears and quietly slipped away from the executive floor.
Passing a trash can, I tossed the cake inside without a second thought.
I got into my car and drove straight back to the hillside villa where we lived after our wedding.
Once there, I headed straight for the safe in the second-floor study.Olivia's POV
I tried several passwords on the safe, but none worked.
I took a long, deep breath, trying to calm down and think.
Earlier, Tyler Vance said that three months ago, Sean went abroad for Vivian Hayes's birthday, even walking away from contracts worth hundreds of millions.
I remembered that date.
I entered the date of that day.
Click. The safe popped open.
Inside lay a divorce agreement, already signed by me.
I stared at my signature for a long time, my fingers almost tearing the paper to shreds.
Driving home through several red lights earlier, there were moments I tried to convince myself this was just a nightmare, not reality.
Yet the document in black and white before my eyes proved it was real.
Sean's infidelity and cold calculations were all real.
I flipped through the agreement. Surprisingly, he hadn't tampered with the asset division.
Sean wouldn't dare swindle the Vance family when it came to property.
So, I took out my phone and dialed the Vance family's attorney.
"Mr. Davis, I want a divorce."
"The divorce agreement is already signed. I'm couriering it to you right now. I need the divorce finalized as quickly as possible."
Mr. Davis was silent for a moment and didn't ask unnecessary questions.
"Ms. Vance, I will handle it for you. We will complete the process within two weeks."
"Good. Thank you, I'll leave it in your hands."
Hanging up, I tracked down Sean's social media accounts.
I scrolled all the way to the bottom of his following list, looking for the earliest accounts he followed.
Soon, I spotted an account under the name Vivian Hayes.
The moment I clicked in, I knew it was her.
Every single post had likes and comments from Sean.
I often posted updates on my Moments too, but he never liked a single one.
When I brought it up once, he brushed it off, saying those things were just for show and completely pointless.
Vivian's account was dedicated entirely to chronicling her love life. Being gorgeous, she had amassed hundreds of thousands of followers.
The very first post was published ten years ago.
In the photo, Sean was still youthful, his features slightly softer than now, smiling warmly with his arm around Vivian.
Over the past decade, Vivian's updates had never stopped, becoming especially frequent in the last five years.
I scrolled down, post by post.
Over the past five years, nearly every single date Sean had been absent from my life found its answer right here with Vivian.
On his birthday last year, he told me he was negotiating business abroad. In reality, he accompanied Vivian on a vacation to Tahiti.
On Valentine's Day this year, he claimed a sudden crisis hit an overseas project. In truth, he went skiing in the Alps with Vivian.
Not only that.
When Vivian mentioned craving seafood, he flew over that very day, bringing fresh ingredients to cook for her himself.
In three years of marriage, Sean had never cooked a single meal at home. I always thought he didn't know how to cook.
He took Vivian to Disneyland and even wore a Mickey Mouse headband.
During our courtship, I had once mentioned wanting to go to Disneyland too.
Sean had dismissed it, saying it was childish nonsense for students, and that two mature adults didn't need such things to sustain their relationship.
He bought Vivian expensive fine jewelry, but also small gifts like foundation, lipstick, and perfume—all of which Vivian proudly displayed.
I turned my head toward my vanity table, looking at the row of unopened foundations, lipsticks, and perfumes.
They were identical to the ones Vivian posted.
In the past, I thought Sean always bought the wrong shades of makeup simply because men couldn't remember such details.
Only now did I realize he hadn't forgotten; he only remembered Vivian's shades.
What he gave me was merely the extra set he grabbed on a whim while shopping for Vivian.
Just like how he always sent Champagne roses.
I had told him countless times that I preferred peonies, yet next time, he would still send Champagne roses.
It turned out Vivian was the one who loved Champagne roses.
As I kept scrolling, my eyes welled up. Tears fell continuously, impossible to wipe away.
Before today, I believed Sean loved me and that I was happy.
Four years ago, our families set us up on a blind date.
I agreed to go only because I didn't want to let my family down.
The Vance family was an established, old-money dynasty in Los Angeles, and I had been doted on by my parents since childhood.
My parents never intended to trade my marriage for business leverage.
My marriage depended entirely on whether I liked the person.
It was Sean who took the initiative to pursue me after our first meeting.
The aristocratic, aloof Sean Foster known to the public would shield me on the inner side of the sidewalk during our walks and prepare honey water whenever I had cramps.
How could any woman resist a man like that?
Yet after going through Vivian's feed, I finally understood that every tender gesture that won me over had been a habit cultivated with Vivian.
His treatment of me was laughable compared to what he gave Vivian.
He wove a beautiful dream for me using lies and habits, and now, the dream was shattered.
I washed my face, wiping away the disheveled misery.
I looked up at myself in the mirror.
Over the past three years, I had curbed my temper to play the poised Mrs. Foster.
That didn't mean I was a pushover.
I had loving parents, an elder sister who protected me, and Vance Group standing behind me.
My parents built an empire from scratch through half a lifetime of hard work specifically so their two daughters would never have to endure humiliation.
Choosing to be Mrs. Foster was one thing; getting slapped without hitting back was another entirely.
He was just Sean Foster. Throw the garbage out and start anew.
I pulled a carry-on suitcase from the corner of the walk-in closet and began packing.
I only packed a few daily essentials, leaving everything else behind.
The Vance family lacked for nothing.
Besides, all those fine jewels, limited-edition handbags, and haute couture gowns were gifts from Sean.
Anything associated with Sean Foster, I never wanted to lay eyes on again.
My gaze slowly swept across the home.
This villa was bought for us by the Foster family, but designed entirely by my own hands.
Back then, full of sweet hopes for the future and deep love for Sean, I drew up the interior design plans.
This house held the piano I adored and the cigar lounge he favored; every single corner once matched my exact desires.
Now, everywhere I looked felt like an eyesore.
Before leaving, I would have to hire a demolition crew to smash this place to pieces.
With that thought, I dialed my sister's number.
Audrey Vance was the CEO of Vance Group, and she oversaw our joint projects with the Foster family.
"Olivia? Calling this late, what happened?"
Hearing Audrey's voice, the composure I had forced myself to hold all day suddenly fractured.
I sniffled.
"Audrey, Sean Foster is seeing someone else. I want a divorce, and I want to come home."
"What?!"
Audrey, always fierce and decisive, instantly exploded with rage.
"That bastard dared to cheat on you? Wait right there, I'm bringing people to the Foster estate right now!"
"Don't rush, Audrey. Doesn't our family still have joint projects with the Foster family? Cutting ties immediately would cause Vance Group massive losses. Audrey, find a way to wrap up the projects and pull us out over the next few days."
"Olivia, do you have a plan?"
"He doesn't know yet that I've uncovered his dirty secret. He's still preparing our third wedding anniversary. On that day, I plan to give him a grand surprise."
"What grand surprise are you giving?"
Sean Foster's voice sounded right behind me.Olivia's POV
I hadn't expected him to return tonight.
Vivian returned to the country tonight. Shouldn't two lovers separated for three months spend the entire night clinging to each other?
How could he bear to part from her?
Sean Foster actually had the heart to let his darling sleep alone in an empty room?
I couldn't fathom it.
I hung up the phone and brushed it off nonchalantly.
"A birthday gift for Mrs. Harrison of Horizon Corporation. Her birthday is next week."
The excuse was full of holes.
Mrs. Harrison's birthday was last week, the gift had already been sent, and Sean had even attended the banquet alongside me.
If he paid even the slightest attention, he would have caught my lie.
Fortunately, he wasn't listening at all.
Head down, staring at his phone screen with a faint smile tugging at his lips, his fingers flew across the keyboard. He simply murmured an absentminded "mm" and let it slide.
Looking at him like this, I didn't know whether to feel relieved or pathetic.
Only after sending his text did Sean look up at me properly.
"Olivia, a cousin of mine just returned to the country. Her living arrangements haven't been settled yet, so she wants to stay here for a few days. Look after her for a bit."
"Don't tell my mother about this. She's a relative on my father's side. You know how bitter things got when my parents divorced; Mother has always despised anyone from the Foster side."
I looked at him quietly and asked, "What is your cousin's name?"
"Vivian Hayes. You can just call her Vivian."
Now I understood.
The only reason he bothered coming back tonight was for this—to move his darling right into my home.
"Why doesn't she stay at a hotel?"
"She's family. Why should she stay at a hotel?"
Whenever Sean Foster mentioned Vivian Hayes, his eyes brimmed with tenderness and pity.
"Olivia, you're usually so sensible. Don't be petty."
I didn't say another word.
I was leaving soon anyway and would never come back. There was no point in arguing over such trivial matters. They could do whatever they wanted with the house.
I couldn't be bothered to waste my breath on him. I turned around and continued packing.
Sean assumed I was clearing out a room for Vivian, and his knitted brows instantly smoothed out.
"You could just let Nancy, the maid, handle this. But knowing you did it yourself will make Vivian even happier. I'll bring her back tomorrow."
With that, he wrapped his arms around my waist and leaned down to kiss me.
A pungent scent of perfume drifted toward me.
I recognized it—it was the exact perfume Vivian Hayes had flaunted on her social media account.
My stomach churned. I turned my head away and shoved his arm.
"You haven't showered. You stink."
Sean let go in embarrassment and turned toward the bathroom.
I didn't wait for him. I switched off the lights, lay down on my own, and closed my eyes.
I had no idea how much time had passed when a sharp sting on my scalp woke me up.
Opening my eyes, I was startled to see a woman standing by the bed, gripping a pair of scissors and glaring venomously at me.
"That's what you get for hogging Sean! You bitch! Ugly freak! I'll ruin you!"
I sobered up instantly.
It was Vivian Hayes.
Instinctively, I reached for my hair.
My once-silky long locks had been butchered into a ragged mess, ruined beyond repair.
Snapping back to my senses, I backhanded her across the face.
Caught off guard, Vivian gasped as one side of her face immediately swelled up.
Enraged, she lunged at me.
"You bitch! How dare you hit me!"
"You're damn right I hit you!"
Taking advantage of the momentum, I snatched the scissors from her hand, grabbed a fistful of Vivian's hair, and moved to cut it.
Terrified, Vivian shrieked and flailed wildly.
"Sean! Sean, save me!"
Just as the blades were about to snip into her strands, a hand seized my wrist with crushing force.
Sean Foster rushed in at the noise, his face dark as thunder.
"Olivia Vance, what are you doing!"
Vivian immediately threw herself into his arms, weeping breathlessly.
"Sean, she bullied me! She hit me! Look at my face!"
Sean snatched the scissors, threw them aside, and shoved me away with force.
I stumbled and crashed against the side of the bed, my waist slamming hard into the corner of the nightstand. The agonizing pain broke out into cold sweat across my forehead.
Sean didn't spare me a single glance. He gently cupped Vivian's swollen cheek, his face etched with heartache.
"Olivia Vance, apologize!"
Supporting myself against the nightstand, I struggled to stand upright, the pain in my waist making my voice tremble.
"Are you blind? Can't you see she hacked off my hair? I'm calling the police!"
Only then did Sean turn his head toward me.
Seeing my jagged, butchered hair, he stiffened, a flicker of guilt flashing in his eyes.
"Ahem, this is Vivian, the cousin I told you about. She's only twenty-six."
He glanced at Vivian's swollen cheek, and his expression hardened again.
"She doesn't know any better, but you should! Why call the police over such a trivial matter!"
I was so furious I almost laughed out loud.
Vivian Hayes was twenty-six, so she was 'still young' and allowed to be reckless and ignorant.
Yet I was also twenty-six—in fact, three months younger than Vivian—and I had to be sensible?
"She doesn't know any better? Then let the police teach her some sense."
I reached for my phone.
Sean snatched it away before I could touch it. "Enough!"
He turned to Vivian, his tone softening. "Vivian, go back to your room first. I'll talk to her."
Wiping away her tears, Vivian shot me a smug, triumphant look before turning and leaving the room.
Once the door closed, Sean sighed and spoke with earnest condescension:
"What happened today was Vivian's fault, and I apologize on her behalf. But you're being far too petty. Olivia, you shouldn't be so unforgiving when you hold the upper hand."
This time, I genuinely laughed out loud. Then I pointed to my ruined hair.
"As my husband, shouldn't you give me an explanation for this?"
Sean let out a long breath, seemingly suppressing his temper.
"The yacht you liked last time—I'll buy it for you."
"A cheap yacht? You think I can't afford one myself?"
I sneered.
Choked by my retort, Sean's expression turned even darker.
"Then what do you want? If it really makes you feel better, cut my hair off too! Will that satisfy you?"
I froze.
Sean Foster was obsessed with saving face and maintaining his image. He was always immaculate, down to every single strand of hair.
Yet for Vivian Hayes, he was willing to say something like this, discarding his pride entirely.Olivia's POV
The next day, I received a phone call from Sean Foster's assistant, Julian Ward.
"Mrs. Foster, Mr. Foster has booked out The Lantana tonight to make up for your birthday. The driver will pick you up at seven o'clock."
The Lantana was the most exclusive high-end restaurant in New York. Strictly reservation-only, a full buyout cost seven figures.
This was how Sean Foster celebrated my birthday every year.
Grand spectacles, lavish spending, and always dedicated photographers on site.
Then press releases would flood the media, touting Mr. Foster's devotion to his wife and the win-win partnership between Foster Group and Vance Group.
Following that, the stock prices of both companies would soar, and comment sections would be filled with envy.
In the past, I thought this was proof of his regard—a perfect win-win of love, fame, and fortune.
Now I understood it was merely business, devoid of a shred of real feeling.
For a man like Sean Foster, true devotion meant flying halfway across the globe and waiting three hours in line just to buy a dessert for Vivian Hayes.
Vivian had posted that ice cream on her account with the caption: "Sean said he couldn't stop thinking about me while waiting in line."
I didn't want to go.
However, the collaboration between Vance Group and Foster Group was still wrapping up, and Audrey Vance was working around the clock to finalize things.
If I failed to show up now and Sean suspected something, it wouldn't do the Vance family any good.
For the sake of the Vance family, I had to play my part in this farce until the end.
At seven in the evening, I arrived at The Lantana right on time.
The restaurant had been specially redecorated.
Champagne roses covered every corner beneath opulent crystal chandeliers; the display was as extravagant as ever.
Sean Foster stood waiting in the center, clad in formal attire.
Seeing me walk in, he came forward holding a bouquet of champagne roses.
"Olivia, happy birthday."
He produced a velvet box and opened it to reveal a sapphire necklace.
A few days ago, Vivian Hayes had posted a picture wearing the exact same necklace design around her neck.
But Vivian's was pigeon-blood ruby—far more precious and expensive than this sapphire.
I thanked him, took the box, and casually placed it on the table.
The photographer's camera clicked continuously.
We took our seats to order, and Sean remained as attentive and courteous as ever.
Suddenly, the restaurant doors swung open, and Vivian Hayes barged in with an aggrieved pout.
"Sean! I went to your office looking for you, but you weren't there. So this is where you were!"
Sean immediately stood up to greet her, taking her hands and rubbing them between his palms.
"It's so cold outside! You should've just waited for me at home. Why run around out here?"
Vivian glanced at me.
"You're having dinner with her without me! I don't care, I'm starving, I want to eat too!"
"All right."
Sean smiled and pulled out a chair for her, completely disregarding my opinion.
He summoned the waiter and placed the orders with practiced ease.
"Steak medium-well. No mango in any of the desserts—not even a trace. And no nuts on the birthday cake."
Vivian's eyes curved into crescent smiles.
"Sean, you remember all my likes and dietary restrictions so clearly!"
Sean tapped the tip of her nose, his eyes filled with doting affection.
"You scatterbrain, you can't even remember your own allergies. If I didn't remember for you, you'd end up in the hospital again."
"Well, I have you! You'll always remember for me!"
"All right, I'll always remember for you."
The waiter collected the menus, cast a sympathetic glance in my direction, and stepped away.
Only then did Sean turn back to me, looking somewhat apologetic.
"Olivia, Vivian has hypoglycemia and can't go hungry, so I let her join us."
I knew full well that the angrier I became right now, the more triumphant Vivian would feel.
Slicing the steak on my plate, my expression remained placid.
"Be my guest, both of you."
A birthday dinner meant for two turned into a bizarre table for three.
Sean Foster and Vivian Hayes sat on one side, looking far more like a couple.
One moment Vivian asked him for water, the next for a napkin, and Sean complied with every demand.
When the steak was served, he expertly cut it into bite-sized pieces and placed them directly onto Vivian's plate.
I had once playfully asked him to cut my steak for me, too.
Back then, he had refused with a stern face, saying such childish antics had no place between us.
Watching the scene before me, my heart still stung a little.
I scooped a large spoonful of dessert into my mouth, and the ache dulled slightly.
Vivian eyed me from the corner of her vision and spoke up again.
"Sean, do you remember that time in high school? When I was bullied, you brought several bodyguards to rescue me.
And once you arrived, you wouldn't even let the bodyguards touch them—you insisted on fighting yourself. You punched them like a madman, blow after blow. Even after they were knocked out cold, you wouldn't stop, until the bodyguards finally pulled you off."
So Sean Foster had his moments of losing control after all.
Vivian turned toward me, flashing an intentional smirk.
"Olivia, Sean protects you like that too, right?"
I had been harassed once, too.
At a business gathering, an intoxicated client who didn't know my identity mistook me for a regular Foster Group employee and tried to grope me.
Sean happened to witness it. He had someone call the police on the spot and severed all business channels with that client's company the very next day.
Ruthless, composed, and without lifting a single finger from start to finish.
That was the Sean Foster the world knew.
Sean obviously recalled that incident as well, guilt flashing across his face.
"Vivian, stop fooling around. I was young back then and lacked restraint."
I smiled lightly.
"Understood. Ms. Hayes is your cousin, after all. It's only natural for an older cousin to protect her fiercely."
The smile on Vivian's face froze.
Sean's expression also soured.
At that moment, Julian Ward, standing in the corner, couldn't watch any longer and stepped forward hesitantly.
"Mr. Foster, this..."
He gestured toward the photographer beside him.
The photographer had already lowered the camera, standing at a complete loss.
With three people at the table and Mr. Foster nestled close to Ms. Hayes, there was no way to take proper photos.
Sean cleared his throat.
"We have enough material for today. You may leave and release the press coverage."
Julian quickly complied and led the photographer out.
Seeing that, I calmly rose to my feet as well.
"I'm full. Enjoy your meal, you two. I'll take my leave."
Picking up my handbag, I walked toward the exit, leaving both the flowers and the necklace on the table.
Instinctively, Sean gave chase.
"I'll drive you!"Olivia's POV
Before I could say anything, a shriek from Vivian Hayes rang out behind us.
"Sean! My hand is bleeding! It hurts so much!"
Sean immediately let go of me and hurried back.
"How could you be so careless? Let me see!"
He cradled Vivian's hand, inspecting it closely, his brows knit tightly together.
A smirk pulled at the corner of my lips as I walked out of the restaurant.
A drone show lit up the night sky, dense clusters of light forming a sentence:
[Happy Birthday, Olivia Vance]
This was another part of Sean Foster's birthday celebration plan, visible across half of New York.
My phone buzzed right on cue with a breaking news alert. The headline read:
[Foster Group CEO Sean Foster Buys Out The Lantana for Olivia Vance's Birthday: Tycoon Couple as In Love as Ever.]
The accompanying photo showed him approaching me with the bouquet earlier, capturing an image oozing with devotion.
I swiped the notification away. Right on cue, rain began to fall from the sky.
I ordered an Uber, but the downpour was so heavy that I was soaked through while waiting.
A new message popped up on WeChat from Sean:
[Vivian's hand is bleeding, and I'm taking her to the hospital. Head back on your own first.]
I let out a soft scoff.
I had caught a glimpse of Vivian's cut earlier from a distance.
He really needed to rush her to the hospital—any later, and the scratch might have healed on its own.
Yet I suddenly realized that I no longer loved him.
Seeing how meticulously he fussed over Vivian Hayes, I felt nothing but mockery.
I backed out of the chat and unpinned Sean Foster from the top of my messages.
The car arrived. I slipped into the backseat, shivering violently as my soaked clothes clung to my skin.
Seeing me huddled and trembling, the driver couldn't help speaking up.
"It's pouring like crazy out there. Didn't your family come pick you up? Why are you hailing a ride alone?"
I smiled faintly.
"My family is out of town. I'm all alone in this city."
The driver sighed, gazing up at the drones in the sky.
"Look at that Mr. Foster up there. Nobody spoils his wife like he does. Mrs. Foster must be the happiest woman alive!"
I didn't reply. Looking down, I dialed Audrey Vance's number.
"Audrey, when will the project wrap up? I want to come home early..."
"I'm speeding things up. It'll be done within a week."
"Olivia, you can come home whenever you want. Forget about the project. Our family doesn't need a business deal badly enough to let you suffer."
"Yeah, I know."
Returning to the villa, I took a hot bath until the warmth finally returned to my body.
I crawled into bed and soon drifted off to sleep.
Waking up the next morning, I discovered Sean Foster had returned at some point, asleep beside me.
A new text message sat on my phone, sent by Vivian Hayes.
Vivian had sent me a photo.
In the photo, Sean was staring with heartbreak at the tiny nick on Vivian's fingertip.
[Pitiful loser, who do you think you are? Now that you know Sean only has eyes for me, get lost!]
I didn't reply, simply taking a screenshot and saving it.
Then, I pulled a pair of scissors from the drawer and went to town hacking away at Sean's hair.
Sean stirred, groggily waking up.
"Olivia, what's wrong?"
He opened his eyes, saw the scissors in my hand, and bolted upright.
"What are you doing!"
I waved the scissors.
"You said it yourself last time: if it really makes me feel better, I could cut your hair."
"You!"
Sean's face flushed crimson with rage, but the words choked in his throat.
Since those words had come straight out of his own mouth, he couldn't vent his fury, his face burning red with anger.
Watching him seethe in speechless frustration, I spoke in a slow, deliberate tone.
"I'm only twenty-six. Still young, and I don't know any better. You wouldn't be petty with me, would you?"
"If you're not satisfied, we can get a divorce."
"Olivia!"
Sean cut me off in a heavy voice, his brows locked in a deep frown.
"Stop throwing the word 'divorce' around!"
"Then put up with my temper."
Sean was silenced, trapped with his anger unable to erupt or subside.
He glared at me for a long time before snatching up his phone and angrily dialing Julian Ward.
"Get a wig and bring it over right now."
On the other end, Julian asked in confusion, "Mr. Foster, who is it for?"
Sean stayed silent for several long moments before squeezing out a single word through gritted teeth.
"Me."
Then he promptly hung up.
The following day was the weekend. As was custom, we were to return to the Foster mansion to have a meal with Eleanor Hall.
Foster Group was originally the Hall family's enterprise.
In her youth, Eleanor Hall had taken Henry Foster, a man of humble background, as her husband, even installing him in the chairman's seat while she stepped back to care for the home and raise their child.
Later, Henry Foster had an affair, and Eleanor divorced him without hesitation.
Not only was Henry Foster forced to forfeit all assets, but he was also ousted from Foster Group, allowing Eleanor Hall to retake the helm.
After the divorce, Henry Foster sank into oblivion and disappeared without a trace.
When the Vance and Foster families formed their marriage alliance years ago, it was Eleanor Hall who had taken a liking to me first and initiated the matchmaking.
After the marriage, she treated me like her own daughter.
So even if I were to divorce Sean, I would never burn bridges with Eleanor Hall.
The two of us arrived at the mansion on schedule.
The dining table was laden with all of my favorite dishes.
Eleanor Hall kept beaming as she continuously dished food onto my plate.
Sean Foster was as attentive as usual, handing me napkins and pouring milk.
I responded with gentle smiles.
Both of us acted before Eleanor Hall as if nothing had happened.
I speared a piece of roast chicken garnished with cilantro and put it in my mouth.
Sean casually asked, "Don't you dislike cilantro?"
The one who didn't eat cilantro wasn't me—it was Vivian Hayes.
"You remembered wrong. I love cilantro."
Sean froze. Realizing his blunder a moment later, his expression turned stiff and awkward.
Before he could gather his thoughts, Eleanor Hall slammed her hand onto the table.
"Enough!"
She snatched the milk away from in front of me and glared furiously at her son.
"Don't you know Olivia is lactose intolerant? If your head isn't clear, get outside and clear it before you come back in!"
Sean frowned, caught at a loss for words, and remained silent.
Just as I was about to speak, a sudden wave of nausea surged up.
Covering my mouth, I dashed into the bathroom.
Chapters (5)
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Watch & Promotions
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