Chapter 3

Vivian's parents, Richard Lane and Linda Lane, stormed into my architecture firm the next morning.

Both of them were decked out in designer brands, radiating an intimidating vibe. Linda barged in and yelled, "Michael, you heartless bastard! Vivian's never done anything to hurt you, so why are you doing this to her?"

Richard stood there with a grim face, silent, but his eyes looked like he wanted to eat me alive.

My assistant tried to step in, but I waved her off.

I invited them to the seating area and personally poured them each a glass of water.

"Richard, Linda, please calm down," I said.

"Calm down? Vivian ended up in the hospital because of you. How am I supposed to calm down?" Linda slammed her hand on the table, spit flying everywhere. "You're coming with me to the hospital right now.

"And you're going to apologize to Vivian. If you don't, I'll make sure you never work in this industry again."

I smiled, placed a recorder on the table, and pressed play.

Vivian's voice from yesterday came through the recorder, loud and clear. "How about letting him attend the wedding in your place?

"Alex and I promised each other as kids we'd get married... If you don't agree, it means you don't love me. I'm not marrying you..."

Richard and Linda's expressions grew more and more rigid as the recording played.

Linda, especially, went from acting all high and mighty to her face darkening with embarrassment.

When the recording ended, the office was dead silent.

"Now," I looked at them with deliberate calm and asked, "do you still believe I'm the one to blame for what happened to her?"

Richard's face went livid. He probably never thought Vivian could say something so outrageous.

Linda tried to speak, but not a single word came out.

"I admit, I didn't play fair when I fought back," I continued. "But let me ask you—when Vivan asked me to be a spectator applauding at her own wedding, where did that leave my dignity?

"When she planned to have the wedding with another guy, treating me like a fool, just there to bankroll her and play the part of a fake husband, where did that leave the reputation of both our families?"

My voice wasn't loud, but each word landed like a blow, hard and unforgiving.

"Vivian was the one who started this," I concluded. "All I did was talk to her in a way she'd actually get."

Richard took a deep breath, trying to get back in control. "Even if Vivian messed up, you still shouldn't have... hooked up with Susan... Now Susan's pregnant..."

"So what?" I cut him off. "If Vivian thinks it's totally fine to have someone else stand in for me at our wedding, then isn't it even more reasonable to get someone to handle something as exhausting as having a baby? Honestly, I'm being considerate."

"You... That's nonsense!" Linda was so angry she was shaking.

"Is that so?" I grabbed the copy of the prenatal report from the table and handed it over. "It doesn't matter if you think I'm being unreasonable.

"What matters is, legally, the baby Susan's carrying is mine. And as for Vivian, soon enough, she'll have nothing to do with me."

I stood up and showed them the door. "I'm busy. My lawyer will contact you about breaking off the engagement and the property settlement. I won't see you out."

Richard and Linda exchanged a look, both seeing shock and a hint of fear in each other's eyes.

Maybe they were finally realizing that even though I'd always seemed gentle and humble, I wasn't the pushover they thought I was.

I always got even.