Chapter 47: Domestic Development

Vivian Hale immediately rose, put on a coat, clutched her bag, and left the apartment for the hospital.

She underwent another round of testing.

It was unknown exactly how much time passed.

The doctor emerged from the back holding the report sheet, a distinct smile playing on his face.

"Congratulations, Miss Hale, you are pregnant."

Vivian’s eyes widened slowly, a wave of indescribable joy and excitement causing her entire body to shudder slightly.

The tiny life she had been longing for had finally arrived inside her abdomen.

Ten months from now, she would possess a relative who shared her own bloodline.

This realization gave her a sudden, near-uncontrollable urge to shed tears.

"Miss Hale, please try not to get too excited."

The doctor still needed to explain what needed to be explained with absolute clarity, "Although you are pregnant, due to your physical condition, the fetus is currently not very stable. On one hand, you must pay attention to emotional fluctuations; on the other hand, it's best if you avoid traveling far during these next few months."

Vivian froze upon hearing this.

But... the notification from the overseas headquarters had already been handed down. Would this cause an impact?

She gave voice to the doubt nestled in her heart.

"The constant turbulence of flights, the long distance of the journey, the climate, lifestyle habits, and the work atmosphere—all of these will actually exert a certain level of impact. Your physical condition is far from excellent, and safely keeping this child won't be easy, so it's highly recommended that you give it some serious consideration."

The doctor's words caused Vivian’s heart to sink completely.

Regarding this child she had secured with immense difficulty, she cared about it absolutely.

Yet leaving this place to pursue her career was also her initial idea.

Furthermore, her visa for going abroad had already been approved, and her departure was scheduled for tomorrow or the day after.

Choosing the child, or choosing her career.

She was suddenly confronted with a heavily dilemma-ridden choice.

Vivian went back and pondered it for an entire night.

The next day, she arrived at the branch company. Not long after her arrival, the CEO's assistant, Jonathan, came over to notify her.

"Director Hale, Lucas is looking for you. He claims there is a critical matter to deliberate."

Vivian was surprised in her heart.

The boss was seeking her out—did he wish to inquire about the progress of the new patents?

Or perhaps the situation regarding the handover of her work.

After all, she was someone he had personally recruited into the company; as the boss, he bound to possess his own considerations.

Thinking up to this point, she gave a nod, following Jonathan all the way upstairs to the CEO's office.

Jonathan escorted her to the entrance and departed first.

Vivian took a deep, stabilizing breath outside the door. Having prepared herself mentally, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Only this time, to her utter surprise, the original Suzhou-embroidered screen inside the room had actually been removed.

With the shackle of the barrier gone, she clearly discerned a tall, slender man standing right before the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Merely gazing at his back, she actually suffered a powerful wave of familiarity.

An inexplicable sensation that something was amiss rippled through her, and she opened her mouth probing to speak.

"Lucas?"

She offered a tentative inquiry.

In the very next second, the man spun his body around, and a face as flawlessly handsome as a sculpted masterpiece manifested right before her eyes.

He wore a beautifully tailored white suit today, his tie tightened securely, a pair of eyes as profoundly deep as a freezing pool, appearing distinctly unique and abstinent.

Yet the exact millisecond Vivian clearly discerned this face, she was thoroughly struck with absolute shock.

"Silas Vance, it's actually you!"

Why on earth would this man materialize inside Lucas's office?

But within a fleeting instant, it felt as though absolutely everything within her brain had been linked together.

Why Lucas had agreed to her demand to help her snipe Adrian Cross's company without even a single second thought.

Why he had been so exceptionally easy to talk to.

So...

That mysterious, unfathomable man who had established a cooperation with her and helped her from the shadows on numerous occasions was actually Silas Vance!

Recalling how she had used the most absolute, freezing attitude to clear her relationship with him yesterday, foolishly believing they would possess zero interaction from then on, her face had been soundly slapped on the very next day.

Gazing at the man before her, her heart was filled with a complex mixture of myriad emotions for a moment.

Silas, however, appeared entirely serene and composed, extending his distinct-knuckled hand toward her.

He opened his mouth in a thoroughly businesslike manner.

"Miss Hale, it is a great pleasure to meet you. I hope we possess a pleasant cooperation in the future."

Vivian’s expression was highly complex, and she failed to extend her hand to return the grasp.

The man didn't mind either, appearing to recall something else right after, "Right, there is a piece of news to notify you about—you no longer need to go abroad."

"I intend to relocate the core operations of the company entirely back into the country. Which means from this day forward, the headquarters will be established right here, so there is zero meaning in you going abroad."

Vivian hadn't expected this kind of maneuver, leaving her somewhat dumbfounded for a moment.

Silas raised an eyebrow to speak.

"Given your capability, you are fully qualified to assume the position of Chief Technology Officer, so from now on you can hold office right here at the domestic headquarters."

Vivian hesitated for two seconds in her heart, ultimately nodding her head nonetheless.

"Thank you for your high regard, President Vance."

In truth, after pondering for an entire night, she had already made an absolute decision in her heart.

Currently, she lacked zero wealth and would no longer be shacked by anyone, so the child was far more critical to her; she didn't wish to risk a tiny life.

Furthermore, remaining within the country permitted her to witness the absolute end of Adrian Cross and Tiffany Rose with her own eyes.

Regarding the individuals who betrayed her, she harbored zero lingering attachment, nor did she wish for them to experience a single good day.

Hearing her agree, Silas's eyes illuminated. Taking a step forward, he drew her firmly into his embrace.

"You are willing to stay?"

The man's voice was hoarse, his warm breath splashing against her earlobe, triggering a shudder through her form.

His kiss cascaded down right after.

Trailing densely from her earlobe all the way down to her collarbone.

Gazing at the air which was beginning to turn heavily ambiguous, Vivian finally snapped back to reality, violently pushing him away.

"Wait a moment!"

The gaze in her eyes was still somewhat hazy.

Following these few deep exchanges, she had already grown accustomed to the man's touch.

Every single sensitive point across her body was virtually known to him.

This was merely a kiss, yet her legs were already beginning to turn soft.

This was far too terrifying.

She clamped her hand tightly onto the man's arm, lifting her eyes to fix onto him, "President Vance, let's make things clear beforehand—my staying is not because of you.

I can hold office within the company, but... our previous relationship cannot be permitted to be known by anyone else in the company."

Silas's face was identical to Adrian's, a fact that was impossible to hide.

But the identity of Lucas was something everyone remained entirely unaware of.

She didn't wish for people to find out that she possessed a relationship with Lucas.

"Our?"

Silas appeared to highly appreciate this specific piece of vocabulary, the corners of his brows lifting slightly as he countered, "What exactly is the relationship between us?"

Vivian was thoroughly choked for words.

Realizing she had spoken incorrectly.

A wave of annoyance rippled through her heart.

She cast a harsh glare at the other party, "If you utter a single extra word, I can change my mind at any given time."

A smile gleamed within Silas's eyes, and he instantly fell silent, "Alright."

He had already waited for so many years, so he possessed more than enough patience to continue waiting.

Thinking up to this point, he leaned his upper body down, getting ready to press another kiss onto her.

Yet he was pushed away once more by Vivian, whose hands were swift and her eye sharp.

"President Vance, from now on, we merely share a superior-subordinate relationship!"

Right now, she was still carrying a pregnancy; she had to think of a strategy to completely conceal this matter.

The child was item she desired, and there was zero requirement for another person to assume responsibility.

Silas didn't push her further either, "Alright, return to your post. Feel free to seek me out at any given time if anything arises."

Vivian adjusted her emotions, emerging from the CEO's office and walking straight ahead without looking sideways.

However, on the path heading toward her workstation, her ears could still catch the employees gossiping regarding the company's matters.

"I've heard that the company's overseas operations are going to be completely relocated back into the country? And it was a decision made by the boss just recently—why on earth is that? Is the economy abroad experiencing a downturn?"

"How could that be possible? W.E.'s overseas market is exceptionally flourishing, having established cooperations with major foreign conglomerates. Reasonably speaking, its future prospects will only grow increasingly excellent; I truly don't know what on earth the boss is thinking."

"The decisions of the upper management aren't something commoners like us can guess. Stop talking, let's get to work."

So, it was a decision made just recently?

Vivian was also exceptionally surprised in her heart.

He suddenly decided to relocate everything back?

Clearly, the development abroad was this excellent, why on earth... surely it couldn't truly be solely for a single fraction of her benefit!