With that, Vivian turned and left the house.
Breakfast still sat cold on the dining table. Adrian had gotten up that morning and made it especially for her. For once, he had wanted to follow her example: make her breakfast, give her a gift, and apologize.
He hadn't expected everything to turn out like this.
Adrian bent down and retrieved the necklaces from the trash. Vivian was right. The real necklace and the freebie were obviously different.
"Adrian..."
He turned to Chloe, his voice sharp. "Why was the necklace I bought for Vivian around your neck?"
Chloe startled and took a step back, tears filling her eyes. "I'm sorry. I really did mix them up this time. I thought one of the two necklaces was for me, and I didn't know which one was the freebie. Besides, you promised that if I hit my performance target this month, you'd get me a gift, so I thought..."
She bit her lip, looking utterly wounded.
She knew Adrian well. All she had to do was cry a little, and he would feel sorry for her. He would comfort her and forget whatever had just happened.
It worked every time.
Adrian was still annoyed, but he didn't press her further. After a few seconds of silence, his tone softened.
"Don't do that again. At least ask me before making that kind of decision."
"Then the necklace..."
"Throw it away." Adrian sounded impatient. "Go to the mall and buy some new gifts."
After leaving the house, Vivian received a call from Megan.
Megan suggested they go shopping to get Vivian's mind off things. When she learned Vivian had just walked out of the house, she drove over to pick her up.
The moment Vivian got into the car, Megan took one look at her face and asked what was wrong. After hearing about what had happened that morning, Megan swore under her breath.
"Is Adrian blind? Chloe obviously did that on purpose. She gave you the freebie and wore the real necklace around her own neck just so she could show off."
"I know." Vivian leaned against the seat and watched the scenery pass outside the window. She felt completely calm. "He's always been like this. I used to think he was careless. Now I know that whenever something happens, his first instinct is simply to take Chloe's side."
Back when Vivian had desperately wanted a gift or some sign that he cared, Adrian had ignored her.
Now that she no longer wanted his attention and had decided to divorce him, he suddenly wanted to make things up to her.
'What's the point now?'
But the damage he had done to her was beyond repair.
Megan saw the sadness in Vivian's face and quickly changed the subject. "How's the divorce going?"
"I've drafted the agreement. All that's missing is Adrian's signature." Vivian paused as she considered the other possibility. "If he refuses to sign, I'll take legal action."
"So this time, no matter what happens, you're leaving him."
"Yes."
Megan nodded. "Then forget the miserable stuff for now. Let's shop. If you land a new job, you need a decent wardrobe for interviews and work."
They went to the mall together and bought two outfits suitable for interviews and the office.
Megan paid the full 20,000 dollars.
"Don't feel guilty about it. When you make it big someday, I fully intend to ride your coattails."
Vivian smiled, warmth spreading through her chest. She would never forget the support her friends had given her. Once she found work, she would repay their kindness many times over.
They left the mall and headed toward a nearby restaurant for dinner.
They had barely taken two steps when they both stopped short.
Two people stood outside the menswear store across from them: Adrian and Chloe.
Chloe had her arm looped through Adrian's, tilting her face up as she said something with a bright smile.
Adrian looked down at her with the hint of a smile on his lips.
Megan's eyes widened in disbelief. "They're openly walking around arm in arm now? And shopping together?"
Furious, Megan started toward them, ready to confront them.
At that moment, Adrian noticed Vivian and Megan as well.
When he saw them standing outside a menswear shop, his expression eased at once.
He knew it. Vivian couldn't possibly let go of him.
She might be angry, but she'd still come to pick out clothes for him.
Ever since they married, Vivian had personally chosen every outfit Adrian wore to formal events.
He had always thought it was unnecessary. The Pierce family had more than enough staff to put together appropriate outfits for him.
Still, even he had to admit Vivian had much better taste than any of them.
So although he often complained when she made him try on clothes, he was almost always pleased with the result.
Chloe widened her eyes theatrically. "Vivian, what are you doing here? Did you follow us again?" She sighed as if Vivian were hopeless. "I know you and Adrian are married, but you can't keep doing this. If you're constantly suspicious of us and following us around, you're going to interfere with our work."
"Your work?" Vivian felt sick looking at Chloe's fake innocence. "Is sneaking around together during work hours part of your job description now?"
"Vivian, don't make things up!" Adrian snapped. "Chloe felt terrible about mixing up the necklaces, so she offered to come pick out a gift for you personally. How can you accuse us of something like that? And now you're following us again?"
"You know whether I'm making it up."
Vivian had indeed followed Adrian once before.
Back then, he and Chloe had grown far too close. Adrian would stay out all night, night after night. Vivian had been frantic. She contacted his assistant, learned his schedule, and followed him, only to see Adrian and Chloe wrapped in an intimate embrace.
She had confronted him in a rage.
Instead of giving her an explanation, Adrian had accused her of stalking him.
Now Vivian understood. Chloe had been driving a wedge between them from the very beginning.
And Adrian had believed her so easily.
Vivian had no interest in explaining herself anymore. She'd lived through too many scenes like this. No matter what she said, Adrian never believed her.
"I don't have time to argue with you and your little assistant," Vivian said calmly. "Move."
She picked up her shopping bags and started to leave.
Adrian grabbed her arm and yanked her back.
"You're just trying to get my attention, aren't you?" he said in a low voice, as though he were giving her one final chance. "Fine. You got it. Now tell me what you bought me. If I like it, I'll make up with you and we can go back to living normally."
So that was how Adrian saw her: a hysterical woman who followed him around and caused scenes.
'He thinks I followed him because I want to save our marriage? What a delusion.'
"I didn't buy you anything. Let go of me!"
"Vivian, stop this! You obviously don't want a divorce. You even came here to pick out clothes for me yourself, so why are you still acting like this? Let me see what you bought." Adrian reached for the shopping bag in her hand.
"I told you it's not for you!" Vivian's voice turned cold. "Can't you understand what I'm saying?"
Adrian ignored her and grabbed the bag, determined to see for himself.
He needed the contents to confirm his ridiculous belief: Vivian still loved him and was only threatening divorce because she wanted more of his attention.
They struggled over the bag.
Adrian suddenly yanked hard.
The bag tore open.
A sharp slap cracked through the air.
Aksara