Chapter 20: Do You Like This Surprise?

Leaving behind those final words, Vivian Hale hung up the phone.

She curled her lips into a smile, sat on the armrest of the sofa, and pulled out her phone.

She intentionally selected a themed love hotel.

The booking confirmation message was sent as a notification text straight to Adrian Cross's phone.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

After sending the message, Vivian logged back onto Weibo.

[Heading home right now, getting ready to give my husband a surprise~]

The image attached below was none other than the check-in code for the love hotel.

Once it successfully posted, Vivian refreshed the interface.

As expected, views quickly started accumulating. Clicking into the statistics, she spotted Tiffany Rose's ID.

She waited for a full five minutes before deleting the update.

In its place, she posted a new one.

[Accidentally posted the check-in code for the Nightscape Love Hotel, but this account barely has any followers—just a bunch of bot accounts. Surely no one would actually go and use it fraudulently... Too bad it's a typhoon day; I don't even know if I can make it back...]

Having orchestrated all of this, Vivian exited the Weibo interface.

She dialed the number of the paparazzi from last time, keeping her words concise and to the point.

"Tracy, bring your photography team. This time, I’m handing you a front-row, breaking headline!"

Given her understanding of Tiffany, since the girl was currently so desperate to solidify her relationship with Adrian, she would never easily pass up an opportunity like this to provoke her.

...

Having finished his work, Adrian sat in the dimly lit backseat of his car, staring at the booking text on his phone while thinking about the surprise Vivian had mentioned.

Since six o'clock, Vivian's phone had been on airplane mode.

It seemed that this time, she was truly coming back.

A dark glint flashed through the man's eyes as he pressed his thin lips into a tight line.

The car started up, driving smoothly toward the hotel.

Adrian dialed Tiffany’s number, his tone lacking its previous indulgence.

"Go straight back to the apartment tonight and don't go out. I won't be coming over, so don't wait for me."

Tiffany offered a submissive agreement on the other end.

Adrian’s mood finally brightened considerably, and he let out a long breath as he leaned back against his seat.

Everything would slowly return to the right track.

Very soon, he arrived at the hotel.

The hotel's pink and purple lights alternated, casting an exceptionally ambiguous atmosphere. The air was thick with an unfamiliar, heavy fragrance.

Adrian located the room number using the text message on his phone. The digital lock indicated that someone had already checked in.

Adrian’s eyes darkened with unreadable emotion.

Not having seen her for a while, he actually felt a hint of the fluttery excitement from when they were newly wed. Could it be that a long absence really does make the heart grow fonder?

Adrian smiled to himself, reaching up to input the room code.

The door swung open, and the soft lights inside shifted gracefully. Rose petals were scattered across a massive, heart-shaped bed, and a delicate scent lingered in the air.

A beautiful figure stood with her back turned toward him.

Adrian’s throat tightened. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, his tone carrying a touch of playfulness.

"Not seeing each other for a while, did you miss me? Don't worry, tonight is going to be a wonderful night."

Just like before, his treatment of Vivian was always like that of an absolute ruler, brook no resistance.

However, the figure in front of him trembled, her full cleavage practically spilling out...

Adrian realized something was wrong, his brows knitting tightly together.

"You're not... Vivian?"

The ambiguous ambiance in the room vanished instantly, replaced by a freezing, tense silence.

The figure slowly turned around, revealing Tiffany’s tear-stained little face.

timidly called out, "Adrian..."

Adrian’s expression, however, abruptly plummeted into darkness. "Why are you here? Get out!"

"Adrian!"

Tiffany panicked instantly, rushing forward to wrap her arms around the man's lean waist.

Her voice was trembling. "I know what you're worried about, but don't worry—Vivian Hale never had any intention of coming back!"

Adrian’s steps froze completely.

He turned around, his gaze cold and rigid. "What do you mean?"

Tiffany pulled out her phone, holding it up tremulously in front of Adrian.

"I’ve been tracking the IP address of her account for a long time. It’s been in Hainan the entire time, never changing once."

"I guessed that she was going to play you for a fool again. I couldn't bear to see it, so I sneaked over here."

The atmosphere surrounding Adrian dropped several degrees further. His eyes were masked in absolute frost.

Vivian was intentionally playing him? But how was that possible? The woman who used to be completely dependent on him, who would come running at the mere hook of a finger, was actually starting to make excuses over and over again. It felt as if something was gradually spiraling out of control.

Adrian felt an inexplicable sense of unease, and a raging fury began to burn within his heart.

Seeing this, Tiffany slithered in front of him, her delicate, bone-free hands slowly undoing the buttons of his shirt, her voice dropping to a soft purr.

"Whatever she can do, I can do too. Whatever she can't do, I can do even better. Adrian, don't leave. My heart aches for you."

The buttons were undone one by one, exposing the man's toned chest. Tiffany pressed her face against it, her eyes like silk.

"So right now, we are free."

The tension in the air grew increasingly scalding and charged.

Adrian lowered his head, his predatory kisses raining down.

Tiffany curled her lips into a smile, accepting it with utter allure. Perfect. Since Vivian refused to give up, she would let her see it with her own eyes.

The two of them gradually became lost in their passion.

But right at that moment—click—the door was thrown open, and Vivian’s cheerful voice immediately followed.

"Honey, I'm here!"

Right behind Vivian as she entered were several video cameras.

Vivian was still introducing excitedly, "I told you, my husband and I have always had a great relationship. Look, everyone, this is..."

However, the moment they saw the scene inside the room clearly, everyone froze.

An instant, dead silence blanketed the room. It was as if someone had pressed the pause button.

It wasn't until Tiffany let out an intentionally dramatic shriek that the dead silence was shattered.

Vivian’s face fell instantly. She made her voice tremble on purpose, exaggerating her reaction. "Y-You two..."

"Adrian, didn't I say I would help you clarify the public relations matter? I believed that those rumors were all false, but how could you two... Could it be that all of it is true! You've been lying to me this entire time!"

Even Adrian lost his composure at this moment. He stepped forward to grab Vivian’s hand, attempting to explain.

"Wife, it's not what you think..."

But before his fingers could even touch her, a massive crowd of people suddenly surged through the doorway, their cameras snapping away fiercely at the disheveled pair.

They were all the reporters Vivian had gathered.

Adrian’s face was hideously dark. "Get the hell out! Who let you in here?"

But why would these people listen to him? "We thought this was a clarification event, but we didn't expect to stumble upon such massive gossip! Mr. Cross, isn't this your assistant, Miss Rose? To think your wife went to such lengths to clear your name, only to be played for a fool by you all along!"

"So those news reports were true after all!"

"Is your usual persona as a devoted husband nothing more than a marketing gimmick?"

"This is finally ironclad proof!"

The razor-sharp questions came one after another. Adrian opened his mouth, but he didn't even know what to say.

Vivian knew that her cue to perform had arrived once again. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she put on a display of forced restraint.

"I flew back through the night, and the moment I got off the plane, I went to pick up the fresh flowers I ordered for you, wanting to give you a surprise and help you clear this matter up."

"But I never expected... Adrian Cross, why would you do this? Furthermore, tomorrow is our wedding anniversary! To sleep with her on a day like this, did you ever consider my feelings?"

Adrian’s face was already deathly pale as he tried to pull Vivian’s hand.

"Vivian, it's really not what you think."

"Fine, don't say another word. I think both of us need to calm down."

Leaving behind those words, Vivian turned around and strode away, her retreating figure conveying an indescribable amount of sorrow and heartbreak.

It wasn't until the exact moment she stepped out the door that the corners of her mouth curled up into an uncontrollable smirk.

Well then, did he like this surprise?

Those previous baseless rumors had already caused his company's stock price to plummet. This time, he would probably have to go around begging everyone under the sun for mercy!