Chapter 190

"It wasn't a date. He just bought me dinner," Vivian Bennett explained instinctively.

Why had Zachary Hudson saved her?

She still couldn't figure it out.

It would make more sense if he wanted to torment her.

Saving her? It felt like a dream.

"That counts as a date. Zachary never buys anyone dinner," Sophia Miller teased with a smile. "And you two had that rumor..."

"It really isn't what you think," Vivian said helplessly.

Sophia stared at her for a moment.

She suddenly raised an eyebrow. "I get it. You have Liam Sullivan now. Naturally, you wouldn't be interested in him."

Vivian's mouth twitched. "What does Liam have to do with this?"

Sophia looked at her with a knowing expression. "Aren't you rejecting Zachary because of Liam?"

Vivian sighed. "Liam and I broke up a while ago."

"What?" Sophia exclaimed in shock.

Vivian's gaze grew distant. "He saw the rumors about me and Zachary. He thought I was two-timing him. He terminated our agreement himself. It's over between us."

Sophia was stunned again.

She hadn't realized her best friend had gone through such a major change.

"Vivian, are you okay?" Sophia's eyes were full of concern.

Vivian's red lips curved slightly. "Why wouldn't I be? I never felt like we truly began in the first place."

Liam had wanted her to be his contractual girlfriend for three months. It had always felt like a burden.

Now that he had ended the agreement, the pressure was gone.

She actually felt relieved.

"Didn't you ever think about holding onto a man like Liam?" Sophia sounded frustrated, as if Vivian was wasting an opportunity.

Vivian sighed. "Let it go. We were never from the same world."

Forcing a relationship might bring temporary happiness, but it would end in separation anyway.

It was better to face reality early.

A quick pain was better than a long one.

The next day, Vivian had plans to visit her cousin, Grace Harper, and keep her company.

Grace's husband, Jason Harper, had been traveling frequently for work.

His last business trip lasted over two weeks. He had just returned, only to leave again.

Grace was often left alone in an empty house.

Vivian took a taxi to her cousin's house and was about to knock.

A dark shadow suddenly lunged at her from behind.

Before she could react, she was struck from behind and knocked unconscious.

Vivian opened her eyes.

She found herself lying in a luxurious hotel suite.

A heavy weight pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe.

In her blurred vision, a tall figure was pinning her down.

Vivian shuddered and screamed.

"Ah... Who is it?"

She was jolted fully awake.

She pushed against the man on top of her with all her strength.

She finally got a clear look at his face.

"Brandon White?"

Vivian cried out in disbelief.

How could it be him?

Her half-brother?

"Awake now?"

Brandon's eyes were glazed with alcohol. He grinned wickedly. "Long time no see. You still smell so good."

"Bastard!"

Vivian shouted in humiliated fury. "Get off me! Get off right now!"

Brandon stared at her exquisite face, his Adam's apple bobbing. "You've already been with Young Master Hudson. What's wrong with spending some time with me?"

Vivian's blood ran cold.