Chapter 7

Vivian Bennett rushed to her cousin Grace Harper's side.

Her voice was tight with concern. "Cousin Grace, are you alright?"

Grace's face was pale. She shook her head weakly. "I'm fine..."

Vivian immediately poured a glass of warm water and handed it to her.

She kept her eyes downcast. "I should move out," she said quietly.

She didn't want to be a burden to her cousin anymore.

Since she moved in, her cousin's husband Jason Harper had never stopped expressing his displeasure.

Tonight's argument was just the eruption of long-held resentment.

Grace frowned. "You just arrived in Seattle. Where would you go?"

Vivian opened her mouth to speak.

Grace cut her off directly. "Don't listen to Jason's nonsense. Just stay here peacefully."

Vivian's gaze fell on her cousin's tired, worn face.

She asked softly, "If I keep staying, how will you two ever try for a baby?"

Half a year ago, Grace had lost a child.

Her in-laws had pressured her to quit her job to focus on the pregnancy.

She lost the baby, and then lost her job too.

Now her mother-in-law nagged her daily about having a child, while her husband resented her for not earning money.

Grace was stuck in the middle, torn and conflicted.

Grace's expression froze. A flash of embarrassment crossed her eyes.

How could she not want to get pregnant soon?

But her husband hadn't touched her in a very long time.

Without intimacy, how could there be a child?

Vivian held her hand. "I'll rent a place nearby. You can visit me anytime."

Grace sighed. "Vivian, I'm sorry I haven't taken good care of you."

Vivian shook her head. "I'm already so grateful you took me in."

If not for her cousin, she would have had nowhere to go after leaving the White family.

Grace thought for a moment. "Let me help you look for a place first. If we can't find a suitable one, you'll continue staying with me."

Vivian was her only cousin on her mother's side. She lost her mother young, her father didn't care for her, and her stepmother was unkind.

If Grace didn't help her, who would?

Besides, her husband never hesitated to financially support his own relatives. What was wrong with her helping her cousin?

Vivian felt deeply grateful and nodded gently.

The next day at work, all her colleagues congratulated her with smiles.

Vivian was completely confused.

Lily Evans, the PR manager, walked over in her high heels.

She gave a tight smile. "Congratulations on your transfer to the headquarters."

Vivian stood frozen.

"Why me?"

Lily's eyes held mockery. "You should ask yourself what methods you used."

Her words were heavy with implication.

Vivian wanted to explain.

Lily cut her off coldly. "Report to headquarters tomorrow."

She turned and walked away.

Colleagues instantly swarmed around her.

"Vivian, you're so lucky! The benefits at headquarters are much better than here!"

"You're the fastest promoted employee in the company, right?"

"Boss Liam only promoted you during his last inspection. He must really value you!"

Amid the clamor of compliments, Vivian only felt her scalp prickling.

She simply couldn't understand why she was suddenly transferred to headquarters.

The only possibility was Liam Sullivan.

Running into him during the blind date last night was bizarre enough.

He even proposed marriage.

She was so shocked she sprayed water in his face and fled while he was in the restroom.

She thought she would be fired today, but instead, she got a promotion.

This was clearly setting her up for a fall.

Liam transferred her to headquarters purely to make it easier to deal with her.

On the surface, it was a promotion. In reality, it was a poison pill.

One that could explode at any moment.

Heavy-hearted, Vivian didn't return to her cousin's after work. She went directly to the club where her best friend Sophia Miller worked.

She needed to discuss with her best friend: should she go to headquarters, or simply resign?

She had just sat down when a server approached.

"Miss Bennett, Mr. Sullivan requests your presence upstairs for a drink."