Chapter 9

Vivian Bennett stared blankly.

"Consider what?"

She looked at Liam Sullivan in confusion.

His deep, dark eyes swept over her.

He spoke in a low, clear voice.

"Marry me."

Vivian's eyes widened instantly.

Her pretty face was filled with shock.

She never expected him to bring this up again.

Last night, when he suddenly proposed marriage, she thought it was a joke.

The memory of spitting in his face still lingered in her mind.

The idea of marriage was so absurd she didn't dare take it seriously.

Hearing him say it again now.

The impact was just as staggering.

Her hand jerked violently.

The red wine in her glass splashed all over his trousers.

Vivian panicked.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."

She frantically used her sleeve to wipe it, trying to fix her mistake.

But she overlooked how sensitive the spot she was touching was.

Liam's face darkened instantly.

"Get out!"

He snapped coldly.

The temperature in the private dining room plummeted.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the drama to unfold.

Vivian nodded repeatedly.

"I'm leaving right now."

She just wanted to escape this dangerous man as quickly as possible.

Just as she turned to leave, her wrist was seized abruptly.

Liam pulled her back in front of him.

"Trying to run?"

He leaned in close, his presence dangerous and oppressive.

Vivian's voice trembled.

"Mr. Sullivan, please let me go..."

She felt the hostility radiating from him, her body shaking uncontrollably.

Liam's knuckles tightened.

Red marks immediately appeared on her slender, pale wrist.

Vivian winced in pain.

"I... I already wiped it..."

She tried to defend herself.

Liam's gaze turned even colder.

"Shut up!"

The air almost froze solid.

All eyes were fixed on the unfolding drama.

Alexander Lowell put down his mahjong tiles and strode over.

He had a burly build, his eyes sharp as knives.

Vivian's heart clenched.

There were rumors Liam preferred men.

Could this be his...

Seeing Alexander get closer.

Vivian had a quick idea and turned to Oliver Winston.

"Mr. Winston, didn't you say you wanted to ask Sophia out for dinner?"

She forced a calm smile. "How about having supper together tonight?"

Oliver's eyes lit up.

"Great!"

He only realized the inappropriateness of the situation after speaking, awkwardly rubbing his nose.

Alexander indeed stopped in his tracks.

His gaze shifted between the two.

Vivian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Unaware that Liam saw everything.

He tightened his grip abruptly...