Ch. 1511..1520

Loving You In Secret Chapter 1511-Puppy love was perfect to stir the audience's emotions.

Even Vicky could not help but feel a wave of nostalgia as she watched the characters from their school days on screen.

The development of the protagonists' relationship from acquaintances to lovers was beautiful.

The male lead was well-off, young, handsome, and a top student with a promising future.

Meanwhile, although the female lead's grades were excellent, her family background was not as favorable. She relied on scholarships and part-time jobs to cover her tuition and living expenses, but she sent money back home regularly despite facing financial hardship.

Despite such disparate backgrounds, the two miraculously found their way to each other and remained together throughout their university years.

While the story had its share of cliches, including the initial dislike between the main characters and various competitions and rescue scenes, it was presented endearingly and romantically.

The actors' performances were great, and the male and female leads' beautiful visuals made watching the film a delight in itself.

Witnessing the interaction between the main characters, even Vicky could not help but smile with understanding. The film used a flashback to tell the story, and Vicky knew the sweetness of the plot could not last forever. Based on the initial events, it was clear that there would be challenges ahead for the main characters.

Soon, the tone of the film grew darker as the protagonists graduated from university.

The male lead had plans to study abroad for further education and wanted the female lead to accompany him, so he offered to cover all the expenses. However, the female lead declined due to her family's needs and obligations, which led to a heartbreaking decision.

From the male lead's perspective, the female lead was more important than studying abroad, so he abandoned the plan. Amid the busy graduation season, with everyone preoccupied with thesis defenses and job-hunting, the male lead inadvertently neglected the female lead.

One day, a friend of the male lead captured photos of the female lead getting into a luxury car and entering a hotel with a stranger, which made the male lead realize the gravity of the situation.

After being together for four years and knowing each other so well, he could not bring himself to believe the female lead would cheat on him.

He confronted her, expecting her to offer some kind of explanation, but she surprisingly confessed without any excuses and mentioned, "A while ago, my mom had a heart attack and needed major surgery. When I contacted you, you were busy with interviews. We only spoke briefly and you hung up, saying you'd call me back later. I waited for the entire night, and you never called me back. You texted me the next day saying that you fell asleep by accident... You were busy and exhausted to the point you didn't have the time or energy to help me. That was when my senior appeared before me. He lent me a large sum of money and contacted the best doctor for me. He stayed by my side to console me and encourage me to carry on. That was when I realized he's the man I need, not you,” she said. "Which is why we're breaking up."

No matter how hard the male lead apologized, the female lead did not waver and vanished from his life.

In the end, the male lead gave up and chose to finally study abroad without hesitation.

Loving You In Secret Chapter 1512-The scene shifted, revealing that the female lead had been diagnosed with a hereditary disease. Her life might not extend beyond the age of 40.

The parents of the male lead somehow learned of this news and talked to the female lead, saying, "He has already given up studying abroad for you once. Now... It's time for you to do something for him."

It was revealed that everything she did was merely a facade to break up with the male lead. The narrative then returned to the beginning of the film.

The male lead gazed in disbelief at the woman before him, unable to believe that the once proud and outstanding girl worked as a janitor in the company.

When the female lead realized she had been spotted, she pushed the male lead away and fled.

That very day, she quit her job and disappeared from his sight.

The female lead's circumstances made the male lead realize something was amiss, so he sought out the female lead's friend to inquire about why she had changed so drastically. Tearfully, the friend unveiled the truth about the female lead's illness and the reasons behind their breakup.

Only then did the male lead realize that he had misunderstood her. Determined to make things right, he used all his resources to find her.

After a period, he finally located her in the hospital.

Just when Vicky thought that the main characters were about to clear the misunderstandings and reconcile, a young and beautiful woman entered the hospital room to visit the female lead.

She wore a ring identical to the male lead's on her ring finger, and it became clear that the male lead was actually married.

As the woman walked in, the male lead greeted her with a gentle smile, his gaze soft and affectionate.

He then introduced the two women to each other without avoiding the fact that the female lead was his former girlfriend. The woman responded with a tender smile, indicating she knew about the female lead's situation. The story concluded with the female lead reminiscing, realizing that the male lead had once looked at her with the same gaze as he did to his wife now.

With that, the narrative came to an abrupt end.

Everyone, including Vicky, felt surprised.

After the ending credits, there was a small Easter egg, narrating the male lead's journey of meeting and falling in love with his current wife while abroad.

She had accompanied and encouraged him to move past his past struggles by staying with him through hardships. Gradually, the male lead's once-closed heart opened up, and

they ended up together.

Since the film mainly adopted the female lead's perspective and led the audience into her emotions, it left them feeling unsettled about the ending.

"What? If the male lead is married, why would he find the female lead? Is that all just to tell us that the female lead made the wrong choice and emphasize how pitiful she is?"

"Yeah. If the male lead is already married, why would he search for the female lead? Here I thought he still loved her... Was he trying to cheat?"

"I guess you all didn't understand what the movie was truly about. The male lead looked for the female lead to learn the truth. Regardless of the result, he needed to settle this and move on with his life. It makes sense that he went looking for her."

Another woman chimed in, "This movie tells us that no matter the female lead's intention, she missed her chance, and there's no do-over. As deeply in love as the male lead was, his feelings faded in time... It's a realistic movie that reminds us life isn't perfect. I guess the movie ended with the female lead recalling the past to show that she regretted her choice, but it was too late."

Loving You In Secret Chapter 1513-As they left the venue, Vicky overheard a chorus of regretful whispers from the others around her.

It felt like a dream.

Indeed, regardless of the situation, there was no going back once a decision was made.

Life was not a fairytale, and nobody was obliged to wait around indefinitely.

After leaving the cinema, Tyler drove her to the beach again, holding her hand just like he used to when they were in love.

Vicky did not fight him, and they strolled along the shore.

Neither of them uttered a word.

This tranquil scene persisted until the sunset slowly descended. As sunlight brushed over the horizon, the sea turned into shades of golden red, a beautiful vibrant display that was transient and fleeting. The sun dipped below the horizon, and the sky darkened. The sea breeze picked up, causing Vicky's long hair to flutter in the wind.

"Vicky, can we not separate? Will you stay with me?" His voice was low, tinged with a touch of desperation.

The sun had vanished, and the expressions of the two were veiled in the dim light.

"You can't change your illness or your personality." Vicky's voice remained calm and aloof-sounding. "Do you want me to be with you forever in the form of a corpse instead?"

The world fell silent that very second, with only the sound of waves crashing against the rocks.

Tyler held her in his arms and did not speak further. After a while, he said, "Let's head back."

Vicky nodded.

Tyler did not take her back to her apartment. Instead, he led her back to their shared mansion. "Let's have dinner at home tonight," he said in a subdued tone, his expression having regained its cool composure.

Vicky did not refuse.

Inside the mansion, Tyler told her to rest while he went into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Vicky sat still on the couch, listening to the subtle noises coming from the kitchen as her thoughts drifted.

Soon, the salivating aroma of food wafted through the air. Tyler finished preparing dinner.

With three dishes and a soup, the meal was just right for two.

The dishes in front of her were colorful and fragrant, but she had no appetite.

Knowing that Tyler had personally prepared the meal, Vicky forced herself to eat a bit more.

"You don't have to force yourself to eat if you don't have an appetite," Tyler suddenly said.

Vicky looked up, her gaze meeting his own.

He gazed at her quietly, seemingly having eaten little himself. His gaze was profound, brimming with emotions she could not quite comprehend.

Vicky lowered her head, avoided his gaze, and mumbled a vague response.

After dinner, Tyler suggested taking a stroll in a park nearby, and Vicky agreed.

She assumed he would finally cut to the chase after spending the whole day together, but he said nothing.

At night, he decided on his own that Vicky would stay with him. It was then she started to think if he was merely stalling.

"Tyler, if there's nothing you wish to discuss, I'm going home now."

He looked at her, and his lips curled into a bitter smile. "You can’t even endure a day with me?"

Loving You In Secret Chapter 1514-Vicky froze as she understood the underlying meaning of his words. She moved her lips to speak but fell silent in the end.

At night, Vicky made a video call to Aurora while Tyler was in the shower.

Aurora sighed in relief at the sight of Vicky’s face. "I was really scared that Tyler was texting me with your phone.” She studied Vicky’s expression and relaxed visibly when she saw nothing concerning, apart from a faint hint of sorrow.

"This won't happen again," commented Vicky.

Aurora hesitated for a moment, about to inquire further, only to abruptly notice the backdrop of the video was none other than the villa where Vicky had been living. She knew that Vicky had recently moved out of the villa and into her own apartment. Aurora's keen perception caught something amiss. "Vicky, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Vicky looked at Aurora on the screen. "I just wanted to let you know that I'm okay, so you don’t worry."

Aurora was about to say something but held back in the end. "Well... Get some rest then. We can talk more when you're free."

"Alright." Ending the call, Vicky stood by the window and remained lost in thought for a long while.

It was not until someone embraced her from behind that she snapped out of her reverie.

Tyler held her silently, lowering his head to leave scorching kisses on the delicate skin of her neck.

Unlike before, Vicky did not put up a fight. Instead, she turned around and responded to his kiss.

The passion between them ignited, and thus began a long night.

The following day, when Vicky woke up, she realized that the daylight outside had faded. After a moment of bewilderment, she sat up in bed.

Glancing at the time, she realized it was already late in the evening of the second day.

Taking in her surroundings, she noticed Tyler was no longer around. She did not get any answers from him last night, and based on what she knew about Tyler's character, he could backtrack on his words without hesitation.

Vicky struggled to get up, her feet barely touching the floor before her legs gave way and she collapsed onto the floor.

It was at this moment that the room's door swung open.

Tyler strode in, his eyes widening at the sight of Vicky on the ground. He hurried over and lifted her.

"Are you hurt?" His brow furrowed tightly, his voice tense with concern.

"I'm fine," Vicky replied.

Tyler placed her back on the bed and carefully examined her body. After confirming that she was unharmed, his expression relaxed.

"Do you want to take a shower?" He lifted her. "I'll shower with you."

Vicky looked at the dimming sky outside the window.

Another day had passed. Though she did not want to dampen the mood with her words right now, she could not allow him to keep stalling.

"Are you going to keep your promise from yesterday?" she asked.

Tyler froze. His lips quirked slightly into a bitter smile. "Let's talk after the shower."

Vicky nodded. "I'll trust you one more time."

Tyler's dark eyes dimmed slightly. 'One more time, huh?' he thought. 'Does it mean she won't trust me again after this?'

Loving You In Secret Chapter 1515-After the shower, Vicky changed into a fresh change of clothes and went downstairs for dinner.

It was eight at night after they finished dinner, and Tyler finally spoke of what Vicky had been waiting for. "I will accept hypnosis."

His compromise did not surprise Vicky as it was a result she achieved by threatening to take her life.

"When can we start?" she asked.

"It's upto you."

She glanced at the time. "Today, then."

He frowned. "Why the hurry?"

She chuckled. "I don't want you changing your mind again if we wait any longer."

He fell into silence for a long while before saying, "Alright."

She stood up. "I will make a few phone calls to arrange it."

Tyler did not stop her.

Caught between divorce and hypnosis, he chose the second option despite knowing there was not much difference between the two. Still, being with her for an extra day, even an extra second, was all that mattered.

After about 10 minutes, Vicky approached. "The hypnotist

will be here in half an hour."

"Here, at home?"

"Yes. The hypnotist said that hypnosis in a familiar environment can help lower one's guard and increase the chances of success."

"Increase the chances of success," Tyler repeated those words with a touch of bitter self-mockery and irony. "Do you want me to forget you that badly?"

Vicky responded with brutal honesty, "It's a good thing for both of us."

Tyler fell silent, and the atmosphere grew depressing.

Half an hour quickly passed. The doorbell rang, and Vicky got up to answer it.

Three middle-aged men and women in their forties or fifties walked in, each carrying a suitcase.

The leading middle-aged woman had an affable smile.

Vicky had already confirmed their identities from Isabella and Old Mister Hart. She was informed that they were even more formidable hypnotists than Isabella.

Tyler's condition only improved under Samantha and her team's efforts.

The middle-aged female doctor was named Samantha. She had served the Hart family for a long time, and her loyalty was beyond question.

"We need to set up the hypnosis room. Which room might be more suitable forthat?" Samantha asked.

Vicky led them to a guest room on the first floor. The three were efficient, and in less than half an hour, they had everything set up in the room.

After arranging everything, Samantha walked out. "We can now begin."

Tyler sat on the couch, unmoving.

Samantha glanced at Vicky, and Vicky lowered her gaze. "Go ahead."

Tyler looked at her. "Are you really...going to make me forget you?"

"Yes," Vicky repeated the same words. "This is good for both of us."

Tyler looked at her intently. "Alright, then."

He turned around and slowly entered the room, his heart sinking deeper as he took each step.

The room's door closed slowly.

In an instant, Vicky's mind became empty and desolate at the realization he would forget everything the next time she saw him. He would forget the time they spent together, including all the pain, happiness, and even his deep love for her.

Loving You In Secret Chapter 1516-Vicky closed her eyes and listened to the clock ticking in the quiet living room.

It was so quiet around her that she could hear her heartbeat. Her mind drifted as she sat still, dazed and numb.

Sometime later, someone stood before her, and she snapped out of her daydream.

She slowly looked up and met a familiar face.

Tyler stared at her intently. "If you don't truly want me to forget everything, why would you insist on leaving me?"

She sobered. "Y-You didn't forget?"

"No."

"But you went in for hypnosis, right? Why are you out so soon?" Vicky questioned.

Tyler gazed at her intently. "Three hours have passed; is that considered soon?"

Vicky glanced at the time and indeed realized that three hours had passed. At this moment, three doctors emerged from the hypnosis room, and they looked exhausted.

"What happened?" Vicky asked.

Seemingly worn out, Samantha's voice sounded weak. "It didn't work."

"Why?"

Samantha looked at Tyler and let out a sigh. "Mister Hart has a strong will and showed strong resistance...so it failed. Of course, it's normal. We can just try a few more times."

Vicky could only nod.

However, hypnosis continued to fail in the times that followed. Each time Tyler walked out of the room, he accurately called out her name.

Vicky grew increasingly anxious. Tyler was already in poor condition, and after each hypnosis session, he suffered from severe headaches. She began to worry if frequent hypnosis would damage his brain.

One day, when Tyler walked out of the room and instinctively searched for Vicky, he saw the disappointment in her eyes.

Tyler chuckled. "I can't wait to come out and see you every time the hypnosis ends, but you never seem happy. Vicky, do you want me to forget you that badly?"

"Yes." 1

"We'd be strangers if I forgot all about you."

Vicky hesitated before saying, "Tyler, stop resisting. Forget about me."

The look in Tyler's eyes darkened.

Three days later, an elderly gentleman in his seventies appeared at the mansion.

"This is my teacher," Samantha introduced, the guilt on her face evident. "I'm sorry, but I am incapable of completing Mister Hart's hypnosis. I had to ask my teacher for help."

Vicky glanced at the old man warily. "Can this old gentleman really do it?"

A touch of pride appeared on Samantha's face. "No one has surpassed my teacher's accomplishments in hypnosis.

Many of the hypnotic techniques used by hypnotists nowadays were invented by him."

The old man's blue eyes fell on Vicky, and he smiled." Although I'm old, I'd like to think that I can still hypnotize a young man."

Vicky was skeptical, but in the end, she agreed to give it a try.

This time, Tyler did not emerge from the room for a long time.

As the session sailed past the five-hour mark, Vicky grew restless, worrying something unexpected might have happened to Tyler.

Just as she was about to stand up to inquire about the situation, the door suddenly swung open.

At the same time, a tall and slender man strode out.

Loving You In Secret Chapter 1517-Tyler's expression remained as cold and distant as ever. A faint trace of weariness filled his face, and he did not immediately come to her as he did after the previous session. He did not even spare her a second glance as he passed by her side.

Vicky could not help but stand up. "Tyler."

Tyler's footsteps faltered, and he slowly turned to look at her. His gaze seemed aloof, and the gaze he fixed upon her held no trace of gentleness or affection.

"Who are you?"

Vicky was taken aback. "You...don't remember me?"

Tyler's brow furrowed, and he scanned her. "Do we know each other?"

Upon hearing his words, Vicky's voice failed her.

As she stared at him blankly in silence, Tyler seemed to grow impatient.

"Do we know each other?" He repeated, his tone icy and devoid of emotion.

At that moment, Vicky suddenly recalled Tyler's words.

'Vicky, do you want me to forget you that badly? We'd be strangers if I forgot all about you.'

Indeed, they had become strangers.

The gaze he fixed on her was unfamiliar, unlike anything she had seen before. It held no love, resentment, or obsessiveness. 1

The hypnosis finally succeeded.

Vicky shook her head, finally finding her voice. "We...once had an encounter. You seem to have...forgotten me." i

He had encountered many people briefly, and he could not possibly remember every insignificant person.

Casually glancing at her, Tyler looked away. He felt slightly uncomfortable and rubbed the bridge of his nose before leaving.

After some time, Saul emerged as well, supported by Samantha and another assistant as he walked out.

Five hours of hypnosis had taken a toll on the elderly man, and he looked as if he had aged 10 years in an instant.

Vicky forced herself to remain composed and hurry over." Mister Peterson, are you alright?"

The old man waved at her and said, "Oh, I'm getting too old for this..."

He fell onto the couch, and Samantha poured him a glass of water.

Saul waved at the other two people and said, "We won't need that room anymore, so go ahead and tidy things up. I need to speak with Ms. Shaw alone."

The two nodded and left.

Saul studied the vacant look on Vicky's face and lifted an eyebrow. "Ms. Shaw, you seem upset."

Vicky smiled bitterly. "Am I supposed to be excited?"

Loving You In Secret Chapter 1518-"You're severing ties to protect your individual futures, right? " Saul smiled.

Vicky's expression was aloof, and she remained silent.

"Old Mister Hart and I go back a long way," Saul remarked casually as he sipped his water. "I've been retired for many years now. I wouldn't have come if that wasn't the case."

Vicky was not particularly surprised by that.

Saul continued, "This time, it took a significant price to persuade me... We made an agreement back then. After I conducted one hypnosis session for him, we'll never have any contact again."

"For him?" Vicky finally regained her focus. "Old Mister Hart also underwent hypnosis?"

Saul did not answer the question directly. Lost in reminiscence, a hint of melancholy emerged in his eyes. "In his younger days, he had a childhood friend he grew up with... Everyone thought they'd get married, and even he himself wished for that. That's when the temptation of inheriting the Hart family hit him. You can't have the best of both worlds. At the time, he was torn between the desire for inheriting the family legacy and marrying his childhood sweetheart... After all, he was still young back then, far from being as cold-hearted as he is now. His childhood friend, of course, understood his character and ambitions, so she

suggested hypnosis herself. If he forgot about her, he'd be able to pursue his aspirations without hesitation. If he ended up regaining his memories after that, they could still be together."

Vicky's interest was piqued and asked, "Did Old Mister Hart forget about his fiance in the end?"

"He did.” Saul spoke candidly about Old Mister Hart's romantic history with a hint of mockery. "How else could he have such a splendid life now?"

"And what happened after that?"

"After that?" Saul mused.

"Did he ever regain his memories?"

"I don't know, but it doesn't matter anymore. Since the day he chose to undergo hypnosis, he made his decision."

Vicky lowered her head, speechless.

Saul dropped another bombshell. "His childhood sweetheart married me in the end, but...she had health issues and passed away last year."

Vicky looked at Saul in shock. "She...ended up with you?"

Saul smiled gently. "No one is irreplaceable. Though she loved him deeply back then, she was someone who could learn to let go. It took me five whole years, but I finally helped her move past her grief and won her over."

Old Mister Hart and his fiancee had a tragedy, but Saul managed to forge another story with her.

Vicky began to understand Saul's intention behind sharing this with her.

Saul's azure eyes studied her, carrying conflicting emotions and a strange kind of compassion.

"Old Mister Hart might be ruthless, but he made the choice that was right for him and got what he wanted; so did my wife. We all have to keep moving forward in life. I can tell that you still have feelings for him, but there are just so many paths in life that you can take. Just because you're in love, doesn't mean you're meant to be together. Just move on. That's the best option for the two of you."

Vicky soon received a call from Old Mister Hart, who learned that the hypnosis on Tyler was a success.

He delivered the divorce paper himself and expressed his admiration for Vicky. "You made the right choice. Leaving Tyler to me is far better than letting Avery have him."

She looked at the divorce paper and whispered, "Did...Tyler ask about this?"

Old Mister Hart smiled. "Of course, he did. Anyone would feel strange to know that they've been married for years yet know nothing about their wives."

Loving You In Secret Chapter 1519-"And what did you say to him?" "I told him that this was a marriage of convenience. You never met, and the wedding photos were all edited. Now that the contract has ended, it's time to get a divorce."

"He believed that?"

"Of course.’

Vicky fell silent for a few moments and said, "When is he leaving?"

"Tomorrow."

'Tomorrow?' she thought. 'That soon?'

She knew Old Mister Hart must have had everything arranged, including the 'contract for the marriage of convenience'. On top of that, he must have erased all traces of their relationship.

She felt empty. It felt like she had lost something important.

Old Mister Hart stared at her intently. "Ms. Shaw, I trust you'll handle your friends, so I will stay out of that. I do not want Tyler to come to me one day, asking who you were to him."

Her heart dropped at the realization it was a warning. "I know. I chose this, so I won't regret it."

Old Mister Hart smiled. "I'll get going, then."

Vicky did not respond, and Old Mister Hart simply left.

This time, Tyler Hart truly left and never returned. For the initial six months, Vicky could only catch glimpses of news about the Hart family and Tyler in the newspapers. ’

[Tyler Hart Confirmed as the Legitimate Heir of the Hart Family in Molivia.]

[Hart Family Officially Adds Tyler Hart to Family Lineage.]

[Hart Corporation Merges with Prominent Aristocratic Family in Molivia.]

[Hart Corporation's Stock Skyrockets to Unprecedented Heights.]

[Hart Corporation Appoints New CEO to Succeed Tyler Hart's Former Position.]

One explosive headline after another swept through Zendonia, and the fever about the Hart family persisted for almost half a year before gradually waning, i

Vicky heard plenty of rumors, some true and some false, but she never saw Tyler give any interviews.

Another six months went by, and it was time for Vicky's birthday again. Last year, her birthday had been treated casually, and she did not make up for it.

This year, her friends decided things had to change.

A year was enough for many things to happen, yet it could also feel like nothing had changed.

Vicky's studio was growing steadily, and the number of employees increased, so it became quite sizable. Among all the past events, the most memorable development was Aurora and Noah finally clearing up their misunderstandings.

People had hoped they would be able to coexist peacefully, but these two individuals seemed naturally incompatible. A minor disagreement between them could easily turn into a never-ending argument.

On Vicky's birthday, Cece, Jennifer, Aurora, Harvey, and Noah came to celebrate with her. Even Anthony made an unprecedented appearance.

Before this, Vicky could count on one hand the number of times she had met Anthony, so she instantly knew Anthony was here for Jennifer.

"Happy birthday, Ms. Shaw." Anthony handed over a beautifully wrapped gift to Vicky.

Looking at the refined man before her, Vicky glanced at Jennifer with a mixture of emotions on her face.

 

Loving You In Secret Chapter 1520-Vicky did not know what happened between Jennifer and Anthony, but she assumed Lily must have had something to do with it.

Since Anthony came with a gift, Vicky could not chase him out. Thus, she invited him in.

The restaurant was reserved, and everyone was chatting and laughing in the hall.

As soon as he entered, Anthony walked over to Jennifer." Jennifer."

Jennifer was about to play with the cat Noah was holding when she heard Anthony's voice.

"Do you like cats? How about I buy you one?"

Jennifer turned around, and her expression hardened. "It's fine. I like Noah's cat."

Anthony shot Noah a sidelong glance upon hearing her words.

Noah felt a chill run down his spine. It was a familiar yet dangerous sensation that enveloped him.

He had not forgotten how Anthony tarnished his reputation when he posed as Jennifer's boyfriend.

'Good god. Just as Tyler left, here came Anthony. Fate is truly cruel to me!' he whined inwardly.

Noah did not want to fall victim to Anthony's schemes, so he swiftly hooked his arm around Aurora's shoulder.

"Darling, let me hug Ruby," he said as he ignored Anthony and reached out to hold the cat in Aurora's arms.

Aurora was stunned for a few seconds. "Who's your darling? Noah, have you lost your mind?" 1

Noah winked and made exaggerated facial expressions at Aurora, who shivered in response. ' Are you having a stroke?"

Harvey, who was nearby, cleared his throat.

Aurora turned her head and finally noticed Anthony's arrival. She had never seen Anthony before, and her surprise was evident. "And who might this be?"

Anthony offered a faint smile. "Hello, I'm Jennifer's fiance, Anthony."

Aurora recalled Cece mentioning that Noah had pursued Jennifer in the past, and at that moment, it all made sense.

Giving Noah a brief, contemptuous look, Aurora decided not to reveal his intentions and introduced herself instead." Hello. I'm Aurora."

Cece glanced at Anthony with a disdainful expression.

It was Vicky's birthday, and Jennifer did not want to make things too awkward with Anthony. She refrained from causing a scene and decided to endure Anthony's presence for the time being.

Vicky's birthday celebration ended perfectly.

Later that night, after a few drinks, Harvey volunteered to take Vicky back home.

A silent agreement was exchanged among everyone, and the offer was accepted without refusal.

At the entrance of the apartment building, Vicky turned to Harvey. "Thank you for dropping me home. It's getting late, so I won't invite you up. Take care on your way back."

Harvey smiled and nodded.

Back at her home, Vicky washed away the smell of alcohol. Her head still buzzed, but her thoughts were clear.

After her shower, she turned on the television. The sound dispelled the silence in the room.

Vicky poured herself a glass of water, intending to drink it, when she heard a breaking news bulletin on the TV.

"Breaking news! Just an hour ago, the Hart family released a major announcement. Mister Tyler Hart and Miss Avery Yeager have successfully held their engagement ceremony today..." 1

Vicky's hand trembled. The glass slipped from her grasp, crashing to the floor and shattering into pieces.