Chapter 4

Vivian's POV

Panic flashed through Sean's heart.

He instinctively glanced at Joy's collar. Her shirt was buttoned all the way to the top.

After making sure nothing was exposed, he turned back to me and explained with a smile.

"This jewelry set has a long customization period. The necklace will take another two days to arrive. Once it's here, I'll give it to you right away."

The lie slipped off his tongue with practiced ease.

I glanced at Joy. Her eyes turned red in an instant, tears welling up in them.

Watching something she had already claimed about to be taken back, how could she not feel wronged?

I picked up the bracelet from the table and tossed it casually into the trash can.

"Fine. I'll wait."

Joy could no longer sit still. Tears almost spilled from her eyes.

She abruptly stood up.

"Mr. Sterling, I'm full. I'll take my leave now."

Sean stood up after her, blunting out,

"I'll drive—"

"Joy."

I spoke up just in time. "Do you need our family driver to take you home?"

The rest of Sean's sentence died in his throat, and he froze in place.

Joy bit her lip.

"Thank you, Ms. Vance, but no thanks. I'll call a cab myself."

She turned and walked out, her back stiff and stubborn.

Sean stared at the doorway, his brow furrowed in clear displeasure.

I asked as if offhandedly,

"Sean, where's your wedding ring?"

Sean looked down at his bare ring finger. The irritation on his face vanished instantly, replaced by sheer guilt.

He smoothly tried to cover it up.

"I had too much to drink at a business dinner. Fearing I'd lose it, I had Joy keep it safe for me."

Leaving a wedding ring with a mistress—now that was a truly unique invention of his.

Despite my thoughts, I lowered my eyes, looking utterly aggrieved.

"But you promised you'd never take our ring off."

Seeing my distress, Sean panicked immediately and wrapped me in a tight embrace.

"It's all my fault. I'll get the ring back tomorrow and never take it off again. Don't be sad, Vivian."

He patted my back to soothe me, his palms burning hot.

This panic wasn't faked; he was indeed still afraid of making me sad.

Too bad that for him, being afraid of hurting me and continuing to hurt me were never mutually exclusive.

The next day, to make up for our missed wedding anniversary, Sean booked the most expensive Michelin-starred restaurant in Los Angeles, even hiring a professional live band to play.

The wedding ring was back on his ring finger.

I only had to glance at it to know it was brand new, not the original.

Sean had worn the original one for five years; it was well-worn and full of scratches from time.

This one was pristine and shiny, without a single scratch.

It seemed Joy had thrown the real ring god knows where.

Unable to get it back, Sean had no choice but to have an identical one custom-made overnight to deceive me.

Getting it rushed in a single day... it must have been quite a struggle for him.

Sean produced an exquisite gift box and opened it.

Inside lay the pigeon-blood ruby necklace—the exact one Joy had flaunted the night before.

He stepped behind me to clasp it around my neck, leaning down to whisper in my ear.

"Vivian, the necklace is here. Happy fifth anniversary."

At this moment, the look in his eyes was brimming with deep affection.

Just as affectionate as he looked in the photos taken while tangled in bed with Joy.

It turned out deep affection could be mass-produced, with a share for everyone who wanted it.

"I prepared a gift, too."

I touched the pendant, feeling only coldness and disgust.

"But I won't be able to give it to you until next month."

Sean smiled knowingly.

"What kind of gift is so mysterious? Hubby is looking forward to it, then."

I returned his smile.

Don't worry, it'll definitely be a gift you'd never expect.

As the band started playing their second piece, Sean's phone rang.

He glanced the caller ID and pressed decline.

The ringing was relentless, starting up again almost immediately.

"Answer it," I said. "Maybe there's an emergency at the office."

"Nothing is more important than our anniversary."

He silenced the phone and placed it face down on the table.

Before long, Joy barged in, her eyes rimmed with red.

"Mr. Sterling, there's an urgent matter at the company. I couldn't reach you at all."

Sean's brow furrowed instantly, annoyance clear on his face.

"This is my personal time. I'm not handling work matters. We'll discuss it tomorrow."

Joy pouted aggrievedly, tears threatening to fall.

"Mr. Sterling, it's really urgent."

Sean grew irritable and snapped at her,

"I said tomorrow. Get out!"

Joy's tears spilled over right then and there.

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have disturbed your private time, Mr. Sterling, Ms. Vance!"

She covered her face and ran out.

Being scolded in front of me was a humiliation Joy couldn't bear.

I quietly sipped my soup, waiting for Sean's reaction.

Sure enough, from that moment on, Sean was completely distracted.

He sawed at his steak for ages without taking a single bite, his gaze repeatedly drifting to the face-down phone.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, he picked up the phone and hurriedly typed out a few messages.

Whatever response he received made his expression change drastically. He bolted upright.

"Vivian, there's an emergency at the office. Eat first!"

Before I could even reply, he rushed out of the private room, not even bothering to grab his coat.

The band's song wasn't finished yet, but there was only one listener left.

The waiter looked at me with pity in his eyes.

I ripped the pigeon-blood ruby necklace off my neck, tossed it casually onto the table, stood up, and left.

Not long after returning home, I received a call from the police station.

Sean had injured someone and was suspected of brawling. The other party wanted to press charges, so the police wanted a family member to come down and assist with mediation.

The CEO of Sterling Group, famously devoted to his wife, ended up in a police station on his wedding anniversary—all for another woman.

When I arrived, Sean was sitting on a bench.

Blood was smeared on the corner of his mouth, and his right hand was wrapped in gauze, likely injured from hitting someone too hard.

His shirt was also stained with blood, and it was impossible to tell whether it was his or someone else's.

When he saw me, his eyes darted away, and he hung his head, not daring to look me in the eye.

Joy rushed over to greet me first. While guilt was blatantly plastered all over her face, the smugness in her eyes was impossible to hide.

"It's all my fault, Ms. Vance. I ran into some thugs on my way back to the office, and Mr. Sterling got dragged into this just to save me. Please don't blame him. If you have to blame anyone, blame me..."

I didn't reply.

I recalled the year in high school when I was cornered in an alleyway by some thugs.

Sean had charged in alone and had three of his ribs broken by them.

By his hospital bed, I had cried hysterically, gasping for air.

Heartbroken by my tears, he promised he would never get into another fight.

Later, after I took over Vance Group, I encountered clients who tried to get touchy-feely during business dinners.

He really didn't use his fists then, opting instead to steal two major contracts from their companies to vent his anger.

I had always thought he had finally matured.

Only now did I realize his impulsiveness and recklessness were still there.

It was just that they were now reserved for Joy.

"What nonsense are you talking?"

Sean's low scold snapped me out of my thoughts.

He frowned, glaring at Joy.

"Those people needed to be taught a lesson. What does that have to do with you? Vivian is not an unreasonable person."

He defended her with such practiced ease.

A faint smirk touched my lips as I looked at Joy.

"You'd better hurry back to the office and prepare an emergency PR plan, Joy."

"If news of Mr. Sterling getting into a fight goes viral on hot searches tomorrow, Sterling Group's stock price is going to take quite a hit."