Chapter 6: Stop Making a Scene, I’ll Be Home Tonight

She spent the night alone.

The next morning, the sunlight spilled over Vivian Hale, draped in her white silk nightgown, adding a touch of soft beauty to her silhouette.

Looking at the smooth, untouched half of the double bed, she knew Adrian Cross hadn't returned all night.

He hadn't even bothered to find a stand-in to appease her this time.

Vivian’s heart felt as if it were being gnawed by ants, leaving behind a dense, tingling ache.

But more than that, she felt a sense of indignation for her own worth.

She got out of bed with a self-deprecating smirk and began her morning routine. Her phone rang; it was a legal representative from Adrian’s company, speaking with a very respectful tone.

"Mrs. Cross, your patent for the 3D game rendering used by the group is about to expire. We need you to come to the office in person to handle the paperwork. Are you available now?"

Vivian narrowed her eyes slightly. Finally, it was happening.

Very few people knew that the core technology behind God’s Island, the ARPG game that had taken the world by storm under the Cross Group, was actually created by Vivian Hale.

However, back when Adrian proposed, he told her, "I want to create a virtual world exclusive to you, so our love can live forever." Moved by those words, Vivian had given him that 3D rendering technology—worth hundreds of millions—for free.

As soon as the game trailer was released, it shot to the top of the trending lists.

It received rave reviews before it was even officially launched.

To this day, three years later, it still generated tens of millions in monthly revenue for the Cross Group.

However, the half-share of stocks he had promised her back then had never materialized; she hadn't received a single cent in dividends to date.

Of course, the technology that was once a sensation had now become somewhat commonplace, making it seem less vital. That was likely why Adrian simply had legal counsel contact her.

She also knew another crucial piece of information: the reason Chloe Bennett was able to climb into Adrian’s bed and have him coax her at any cost was because of a rumor that she had developed a new patent.

Word was that once this new patent hit the market, it would cause an even greater stir in the industry.

A new patent?

Vivian thought of the investigation files she had gathered, and a sardonic smile touched her lips.

If Adrian eventually found out that the new patent was also her creation—one she had originally intended to give him for free, but which would now go elsewhere because of his greed—how would he react?

And what of Chloe, who was nothing more than a fraud playing the public for fools with snippets of information she’d picked up who-knows-where?

Vivian took a deep breath, controlled her voice, and replied.

"I’m available. I’ll be there in half an hour."

This time, it wasn't just the new patent. She wouldn't be giving the old one away for free to an unworthy man ever again.

Renew the contract? In his dreams.

She sat at her vanity and meticulously applied color to her features. With just a few strokes, her face became strikingly radiant—eyes brilliant and lips a cherry red.

She changed into a red dress, and she instantly became dazzling.

Vivian straightened her back and headed toward the Cross Group.

Half an hour later, the silver skyscraper loomed before her.

It was cold and hard, like a crown.

She was once the one who had crowned Adrian, but now she was merely a discarded piece on the board.

Though she hadn't visited in a long time, many employees still remembered Vivian Hale.

The moment she stepped through the doors, numerous eyes lit up with surprise and admiration.

"Director Hale... why are you here?"

Several veteran employees who had been on good terms with Vivian immediately crowded around her.

These were high-level professionals who led teams of hundreds, yet seeing Vivian was like seeing an idol; their eyes shone with genuine respect.

"Since God’s Island was released three years ago, you’ve rarely come to the office."

"How is your health lately? Are you doing well?"

"We all still want to play a few rounds of games with you!"

Vivian responded to each of them with a smile.

With her features bright as the sun, she looked once again like the "Red Rose" who had lived in everyone's hearts years ago.

However, the warm atmosphere didn't last long before a high-pitched, sugary female voice rang out from outside the crowd: "Oh, so this is Mrs. Cross! My goodness, what brings you to the office? Are you here to deliver lunch to Mr. Cross?"

With one sentence, she had attempted to relegate Vivian back to the role of a mere housewife.

Vivian looked toward the voice and saw a face like a jasmine flower after a rain.

It was Chloe Bennett.

Vivian had first seen her in the photo on her scholarship application.

Back then, Chloe wore two rustic braids and had red-rimmed eyes, looking as pure as a little white rabbit.

To build his persona as a "charitable entrepreneur," Adrian had pointed at her file at random.

"We'll sponsor her."

As it turned out, the "sponsoring" eventually led her into his bed.

Despite all her previous investigations, this was the first time Vivian had seen her in person.

The rustic look was long gone, replaced by makeup that masked a calculating heart.

Her words, and the arrogant air she carried, made it clear how Adrian usually described Vivian to her.

Vivian knew that Chloe was currently working at the Cross Group and had just passed her internship.

Because of the rumors regarding the patent, she was highly regarded by Adrian.

However, she was still young. Like a commoner who had suddenly struck it rich, she found it hard to hide her true colors and had offended quite a few people in the office.

If it weren't for Adrian’s influence, people would have long since lost their patience with her.

"Not everyone has your good fortune, being able to live as a person of leisure off an old patent. The rest of us have to keep pushing ourselves to improve..." Chloe continued.

She trailed off, suddenly looking feignedly alarmed.

"Oh, I'm a blunt speaker. Please don't take it personally..."

The atmosphere turned subtle and tense.

Vivian looked at Chloe, whose petty schemes were so transparent, and sneered inwardly.

With such shallow wit, she wondered how Chloe dared to go along with the rumors about something as major as the patent. Had she never considered how she would end the charade when the actual patent was finalized and made public?

Or perhaps, she had other plans.

Before Vivian could speak, a woman named Julia nearby couldn't stand it any longer and snapped, "Director Hale is a founding member of this company. When she was leading projects here, you hadn't even grown your feathers yet! Director Hale comes and goes as she pleases; since when did she need your permission?"

"Life must be truly dull for a toad to start critiquing a human."

Julia had a fiery temper and had been holding back for a long time. With Vivian there, she finally vented her frustration.

A few people nearby couldn't help but let out muffled snickers.

Chloe’s face turned pale, and she put on the act of a frightened rabbit. "I’m only thinking of the company's future development. If everyone were like Mrs. Cross, imagine the impact on the work environment..."

Julia rolled her eyes and was about to say more.

Suddenly, Chloe’s face flushed red. Her gaze landed behind Vivian, and her voice took on a tearful quality.

"If I said something wrong, Mrs. Cross can just scold me. Please, just don't fire me."

Vivian’s brow furrowed. Before she could speak, Adrian’s voice, laced with displeasure, came from behind her: "Why aren't you working? What is everyone doing crowding around here?"

Vivian’s body stiffened slightly.

She turned around and came face-to-face with Adrian.

A flash of amazement crossed the man's eyes.

When he had looked at the figure in the crowd from behind, he’d felt a strange sensation.

His heart had thudded, as if he were seeing the Vivian Hale of the past—vibrant, assertive, and before her body had been marked by illness.

When she actually turned around, Adrian felt his heart skip a beat.

However, that fleeting moment of attraction was quickly interrupted by Chloe’s frailty.

Chloe pushed through the crowd and ran straight to Adrian, clutching her arms to her chest in a way that prominently displayed her figure to him.

"Mr. Cross, I only wanted what was best for the company. I didn't mean to upset Mrs. Cross. It’s all my fault; I’ll accept any punishment!"

Seeing her like this, Adrian frowned slightly.

Had Vivian actually learned how to be jealous and difficult?