Chapter 13: I Want to Have a Child Too

Early the next morning.

Vivian Hale was still deep in sleep when she was awakened by the persistent ringing of her phone.

She picked up to find Adrian Cross on the other end, his voice holding a rare trace of anxiety.

"Vivian, have you already left?"

Sensing the underlying probe in the man's question, Vivian’s mind gradually cleared.

She didn't rush to answer; instead, she first opened the day’s trending topics.

As expected, the hashtag "Zenith Corp President Cheating with Employee" sat firmly at the number one spot.

Since the group went public, Adrian’s role as President inevitably kept him in the public eye.

Combined with his flawless looks and "devoted husband" persona, he had always commanded high attention, and the group's reputation was closely tied to his image.

Vivian curled her lips.

A faint shadow of mockery surfaced in her eyes.

Adrian indeed possessed a brilliant business mind; he knew exactly what kind of marketing benefited him most.

But when he took that first step, did he ever think this day would come?

She tucked away her emotions and asked in a voice heavy with feigned sleepiness.

"Yes, honey, we've already arrived in Sanya. Why? What’s wrong?"

After speaking, she paused briefly.

Then, acting as if she had just seen the trending topics, her voice took on a perfectly measured tone of collapse and trembling.

"Why is there... intimacy between you and Tiffany on the hot search?"

"Wasn't she just staying at our house temporarily? What are those movements? How could you two..."

Before she could finish, Adrian cut her off.

"I called to talk to you about exactly that."

He pressed his fingers against his brow, not appearing particularly panicked. "Since you've seen it, I won't hide it. Some unscrupulous media outlets posted fake photos of Tiffany and me. I was afraid seeing them would ruin your mood, so I called specifically to explain."

After saying this, he didn't forget to flip the script on her.

"You know my relationship with Tiffany better than anyone. Vivian, you wouldn't distrust me, would you?"

Vivian couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

Oh yes, she knew his relationship with Tiffany very well.

Well enough to know what sweet nothings he whispered and exactly where they enjoyed each other's company.

In Adrian's eyes, she would believe anything he said, which was why even his explanation was so half-hearted.

Since that was the case, why not beat him at his own game?

Vivian sniffled, her tone becoming resolute.

"How could I! Honey, affairs are things people hide. If you really had something going on with Miss Rose, why would you bring her home for me to see? You wouldn't be that stupid!"

This sentence left Adrian speechless.

Holding the phone, Vivian imagined his expression at this moment and almost wanted to laugh out loud.

Unfortunately, the act had to be complete, so she had to keep performing.

"I believe in the innocence of you and her. Don't let these rumors affect you!"

Having been given such a clear way out, Adrian could only follow the lead.

He nodded. "Good. Then when are you coming back..."

"I'm afraid I can't come back for the time being!"

Vivian said.

Adrian’s expression shifted slightly.

Then he heard Vivian continue, "The media nowadays loves to catch shadows and chase winds. They're probably waiting for me to show my face so they can interview me. If I say the wrong thing in front of the cameras, wouldn't that make things worse? It's better if I use this chance to hide out for a while longer. Honey, I'll have to trouble you to handle this yourself."

Adrian was silent for a moment and found her logic sound.

He couldn't help but marvel at how sensible Vivian was.

Once she returned, he really should compensate her for this.

Adrian’s headache eased significantly. He finally compromised, instructing, "Then be careful yourself. Call me when you're ready to come back."

Vivian, of course, agreed.

She repeatedly promised to face the storm alongside him, which directly dispelled many of the suspicions the man had held toward her recently.

The call ended, and the room fell silent once more.

The morning light broke through the window.

Vivian’s mind was as calm as a white mist—neither dispersing nor stirring, yet utterly without ripples.

She got up to wash, and after a refreshing start, began preparing breakfast.

The aroma of frying eggs filled the air, breathing life into the morning.

Thinking of her own peaceful morning while Adrian was in a state of utter chaos.

Vivian couldn't help but curl her lips.

The show was getting better and better.

But before she could bring breakfast to the table, her phone rang again.

Vivian glanced at it and instinctively raised a brow when she saw the caller.

It was Adrian's mother, her mother-in-law.

Eleanor Cross.

She had always looked down on Vivian and took every opportunity to show her disdain.

In the past, Vivian only thought she had done something wrong to be so disliked, so she did her best to be good to the Cross family.

Every holiday, she would personally present expensive gifts.

Later, when the patriarch of the Cross family suffered a stroke, Eleanor said she didn't trust outside caregivers.

Vivian had proactively taken on the meticulous care, enduring the revulsion to change and wash the elderly man’s clothes without a word of complaint.

Yet, even after he recovered, the Cross family never showed her a kind face.

Calling now surely meant nothing good.

Vivian set down the spatula and answered the phone calmly.

"Hello, Mom."

Before she could even finish her sentence, Eleanor’s sharp accusations came through.

"You still have the nerve to call me Mom? The house is in complete chaos right now! I heard from Adrian that you actually went on vacation? You can't even keep hold of your man’s heart—what kind of woman are you?"

"I..." Vivian started to speak.

But Eleanor interrupted her: "An infertile hen. No wonder Adrian goes out to find someone else. If you keep this up, sooner or later a woman from outside will take your place. If Adrian hadn't insisted on marrying you, I never would have let a jinx like you into this house!"

After a long tirade, while Vivian felt nothing, Eleanor had worked herself into a rage.

She urged with a tone of utter disappointment, "Get yourself back here right now and help Adrian clear his name. Don't let this ruin his reputation!"

Hearing this, Vivian only wanted to laugh.

She didn't even care about Adrian anymore; why would she care about the Cross family?

But she couldn't expose too much yet.

Using a pitiful tone, she spoke the most ironic words.

"Mom, it’s not that I don't want to come back. It's just that right now, instead of clearing up the rumors, I think you should take Adrian to the hospital first."

Eleanor became tense immediately.

She asked frantically, "What do you mean? What’s wrong with Adrian?"

Vivian’s voice remained gentle, each word incredibly clear.

"You might not know, but Adrian has erectile dysfunction. In plain terms, he can't get it up at all. He’s limp before he even starts. I want to have a child too, but he really is..."

She intentionally left the thought hanging before giving a firm refusal.

"I won't be coming to clarify."

"Adrian is so talented; I'm sure he'll find a solution. In my opinion, Mom, you shouldn't worry about it."

This was the "sandwich method" of refusal she had recently learned online.

First, divert the topic, then state your position, and finally add a layer of feigned concern.

One after another, the person on the other end had no way to vent their anger.

Under normal circumstances, at least.

Eleanor was clearly not normal.

The breathing on the other end of the line hitched.

Once she realized what was said, she let out a piercing scream.

"Who gave a bitch like you the gall to speak to me like that! You—you get your ass back to the old mansion right now, or I’ll have Adrian divorce you!"