Ch. 151..160
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 151
Vivian raised her head with a frown, and from the mirror, she saw Ashley staring at her with a darkened face.
How hapless can I get?
Why am I running into so many people just by coming to the washroom?
She did not feel like talking to Ashley, so she quickly washed her hands and headed to the cubicle.
But Ashley held her back and shouted at her, “Vivian, stop right there!”
Vivian furrowed her brows in annoyance.
What’s the matter with her again?
“What are you doing?” She stared coldly at Ashley.
“Ha! I should be the one asking that question!” Ashley seemed a little drunk as well and yelled at Vivian, “What were you saying to Fabian outside? Are you trying to seduce him again?”
Vivian frowned.
So she heard Fabian talking to me outside.
Indeed, she felt it was unfair for Fabian to treat Ashley, his fiancée, with such an ambiguous attitude.
However, it was improbable for her to have sympathy for Ashley, so she pushed her hand away detachedly and said in an indifferent tone, “Ashley, are you blaming me for your own failure in keeping your man?”
After saying that, she did not even bother to take another look at Ashley and turned around to leave even though she hadn’t used the washroom.
Being pushed away by Vivian, Ashley stumbled in her high heels and almost fell, but she managed to grab onto the sink. Looking at Vivian’s leaving figure, her eyes were instantly filled with jealousy.
Vivian!
How could you be so arrogant?
I will definitely take you down!
Just you wait!
At that thought, she suddenly remembered something and reached into her pocket to take out a small bottle. The glint in her eyes turned icier.
Since there’s more than enough, why don’t I leave some for Vivian?
Ha!
Although she’s a filthy piece of trash, she’s a married woman after all. If someone else sleeps with her again, regardless of how tolerant Finnick and Fabian are, they won’t be able to accept it.
That thought raised a cunning curl on Ashley’s rosy lips. She was no longer sad nor indignant. Instead, she raised her head high and strutted out of the washroom like an arrogant peacock.
Meanwhile, Vivian went to another washroom before returning to the private room.
Some of her colleagues had run wild as a result of being intoxicated.
Not long after Vivian sat down, the waiter came in with another round of beverages, which were all alcoholic drinks except for one glass of juice.
Everyone grabbed their drinks while Vivian took the only glass of juice and started sipping from it.
After some time, Vivian felt a little sleepy. She stood up and yelled amidst the loud music, “I still need to come up with a report tomorrow morning, so I better leave first.”
Nonetheless, everyone was too occupied with having fun, so no one noticed her.
Helplessly, she shook her head and grabbed her purse before walking to Fabian’s side. “Mr. Norton, thanks for the fun tonight. I shall leave first.”
At that moment, Ashley was sitting right next to Fabian, watching her warily.
Fabian was probably drunk, looking all downcast and weary. Upon hearing Vivian’s words, he only nodded while pressing his fingers against his temples.
Vivian left the room too quickly and missed the evil smirk on Ashley’s face.
Vivian was planning to take a cab home, but before she knew it, she missed a few steps and stumbled. Fortunately, she held on to the wall of the corridor in time.
D*mn it!
What’s happening to me?
I didn’t take any alcohol, did I? Why am I feeling so dizzy? Why are my limbs totally drained of strength?
Other than that, she could feel an inexplicable heat burning in her. Although she was wearing a miniskirt and sitting in an air-conditioned room, she was still perspiring heavily.
She raised her head in a fright, and from the door of the private room beside her, she saw her own reflection.
Her face was oddly crimson, and her eyes bore an enticing glint.
Something’s off.
Vivian could tell immediately that these unusual responses of her body were exactly like the ones she experienced two years ago!
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Could it be…
Recalling that she had drunk the whole glass of juice just then, she shivered uncontrollably.
She wanted to leave the place at once, but her feet were too feeble to move at all.
Panic-stricken, she hastily took out her phone and made a call.
Very soon, it was picked up.
“Hello.”
The moment Finnick’s hoarse and deep voice sounded, Vivian felt as if she had found her savior, and she hurriedly said, “Finnick, help!”
Vivian was getting increasingly dependent on Finnick without even realizing it.
Whenever she was in danger, he would be the first person to pop up in her mind, and she would plead for help from him right away without hesitation.
At first, Finnick was overjoyed to get a call from Vivian, but to his surprise, it was a call for help.
Instantly, the expression on his face altered. Without even questioning what had happened, he asked very quickly, “Where are you?”
“The KTV club at Q Building!”
When Vivian uttered those words, she felt herself slumping down even more.
Sh*t! This drug is a bit too strong.
She felt that she would blow up any moment from the scorching heat in her body. At that moment, she could not even grip the phone properly. As a result, it slipped out of her hand and crashed to the ground.
With that, the phone hung up on its own. She tried to squat down, but she felt even dizzier and could no longer get up.
Vivian remained on the spot for some time before she finally felt a little better. When she was about to pick up her phone, a foot in a flamboyant leather shoe stepped on it.
Before she could respond, an annoying voice spoke from above her, “My dear beauty, who are you trying to tempt, squatting down in that seductive way?”
Something snapped in Vivian’s mind. She quickly lifted her head, only to find a man in a floral print shirt. He squinted his eyes and stared at her lustfully, looking like a womanizer.
At that moment, Vivian could not care less about her phone and staggered to her feet in an attempt to leave.
However, the man grabbed her by her wrist and pulled her into his arms.
“Oh dear, my pretty lady, why are you running away? Your phone is still with me.”
The man’s touch on Vivian’s body disgusted her immensely.
But her body was shivering violently and getting more and more feverish. The man was a playboy who frequented red-light districts, so he instantly recognized the substance Vivian was drugged with. His eyes were beaming with a frenzied glow as he suggested excitedly, “Ho ho, baby girl, you’re drugged? How terrible it must feel. Why don’t you let me help you with it?”
Just as he said that, his hand slowly moved to Vivian’s waist.
Vivian had the strong urge to scream at the top of her lungs.
No!
Hell no!
There was absolutely no way she would allow that terrible incident two years ago to happen again.
Bearing that thought in mind, she struggled to push the man’s hand off her, but she was no match for the strong man, so she could only watch helplessly as his hand slowly reached for her bosoms.
Smash!
When she was close to breaking down, something was thrown at them from afar.
The next second…
She heard the sound of something shattering right in front of her.
That object had broken into pieces over the man’s head. The next scene Vivian saw was his perverted smile zing all of a sudden while a stream of dark red liquid trickled down his forehead.
Everything happened so fast that Vivian was totally caught off guard. She could only watch as the man in front of her slumped to the ground with broken pieces of a vase covered with blood beside him.
Vivian looked up edgily and saw a slender figure standing at the end of the corridor with his hand reaching out, looking like he had just thrown something.
With just one look, Vivian recognized the figure. In an instant, her sight was blurred by tears welling up in her eyes.
It’s Finnick…
Finnick has come to my rescue.
Before she came back to her senses, Finnick had dashed to her.
Instead of being pushed in his wheelchair, he was actually walking toward her in this karaoke club crowded with people from all walks of life.
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Soon, Finnick was standing in front of Vivian with a slightly pale face. As he took Vivian into his arms, he stared at her tear-stained face. In a soft tone, he asked, “Vivian, are you okay?”
It was only then that Vivian realized something was amiss. Looking at Finnick who was standing in front of her, she asked anxiously in a hushed voice, “Finnick, why are you standing? Where’s your wheelchair?”
This is a karaoke club!There
’re so many people watching. If someone recognizes Finnick and informs Mark, his efforts in hiding this secret all these years would be in vain!
Having said that, she looked up to find Noah running anxiously from the end of the corridor while pushing a wheelchair. Clearly, Finnick had been running too fast that he failed to keep up.
In contrast to Vivian’s panic, Finnick could not care less about that. When he saw the crimson hue on Vivian’s cheeks and felt the unusual heat in his arms, he came to a sudden realization. “Vivian, have you been drugged?”
Vivian had been so worried about Finnick that she forgot about her own discomfort momentarily. It was only when Finnick asked her the question that she realized her body temperature had risen even higher as he held her in his arms. It was as if a fire was spreading within her.
Before she could say anything, a soft moan escaped her lips, and she was shocked at the allure in her voice.
Just then, Noah was huffing and puffing as he pushed the wheelchair near Finnick and glanced around restlessly, making sure that no one had noticed Finnick. Then, he lowered his voice and said, “Mr. Norton, please sit down quickly.”
But it seemed like Finnick did not hear him as he bent down abruptly to scoop Vivian into his arms.
“Mr. Norton, you…”
Overwhelmed with shock, Noah asked hurriedly but Finnick had already carried Vivian in his arms and sprinted out, instructing, “Get me a room in the hotel next door immediately!”
Finnick carried Vivian as quick as he could to a hotel suite, totally ignoring the passersby who pointed fingers at him on the way.
Upon reaching the suite, he carried Vivian to the bathtub without any hesitation and turned on the cold water faucet. The water gushed out on Vivian while Finnick spoke sternly, “Vivian, stay sober!”
The cold water extinguished the fire on Vivian’s skin, but not the one within her.
In fact, the contrast between the external cold and the internal heat made her extremely uncomfortable.
She curled up in the bathtub in agony and struggled to speak, “I feel… terrible… It hurts…”
Looking at how tormented Vivian was, Finnick felt like he had been stabbed in his heart.
Meanwhile, he realized that the few wounds on Vivian’s body hadn’t recovered, and soaking them underwater detached the gauze.
Other than that, Finnick noticed very soon that the substance Vivian consumed was very strong. No matter how much cold water he poured over Vivian, the red hue on her face would not fade. As time passed, the effect became even stronger, causing her face to turn sickly red and her body to coil in anguish.
D*mn it!
Who the hell did this!
Using such a strong drug on her!
Finnick could not bear to see her suffer any longer, so he carried her from the bathtub and took off her soaked clothes. Then, he dried her up quickly with the towels and carried her to the bed.
But even after he adjusted the air conditioner setting to the lowest temperature, Vivian was still exceedingly feverish.
The agony she felt became increasingly unbearable like numerous ants were biting at her bones.
In her tormenting trance, the slender figure of Finnick looked like a ray of hope to her.
Unable to think straight, she reached out her hand to grab his arm and pleaded softly, “Finnick, please help me… It’s so uncomfortable…”
Vivian had the least idea how her voice sounded like to Finnick. Husky yet sugary, it was definitely testing Finnick’s limits.
To make matters worse, the sight of her smooth bare body lying underneath the blanket and her damp hair spreading out on her rosy cheeks was driving Finnick to the edge of his wit.
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Damn it!
Seeing how Vivian’s body was writhing in misery, Finnick made a decision at that moment as he lowered his head to fix his brooding eyes on her.
“Vivian,” he called out her name in a barely audible voice. In the meantime, he slowly removed his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. “Don’t blame me for doing this because it’s what you’re asking for.”
There was no way Vivian could pay any attention to what he was saying because she was about to lose her mind as her entire body was on fire. In an agonized tone, she mumbled, “H-Help me…”
Instantly, Finnick’s eyes darkened with desire in response. His throat was parched as he rested his entire weight on Vivian’s body which was burning with heat.
In a swift motion, he pressed his lips to hers and grazed it against the softness of her lips. It forced her to swallow back all her complaints.
Before long, Finnick could feel the flame that was burning in Vivian’s body spreading to him.
However, he preferred to take it slow because it was their first time.
Although doing it with her when she was drugged was not exactly the ideal scenario he had in mind, he did not feel like holding himself back this time.
In fact, he had desired her since a long time ago.
Even though Vivian was drugged, he knew that she still had enough awareness to remember what happened that night. Therefore, he wanted to make it the best experience for her.
With that thought in mind, he moved in on her with much gentleness. He nuzzled his lips against her earlobes and whispered endearingly to her, “Vivian, are you scared?”
She could sense his weight on top of her and the heat from his body. Because of the sensation, her mind couldn’t help but wander back to the miserable experience she had suffered two years ago…
Her body started cowering in fear in response.
Finnick, who detected her terror and repulsion, decided not to back off this time. Instead, he grabbed both of her wrists and pressed them against the pillow on top of her head. At the same time, his lips edged closer to her ears so that she could feel the warm breath that came out from his mouth while he was talking to her.
“Don’t be scared.” His deep voice sounded slightly husky. “I know you’re traumatized. This time, let me be the one to you from the shackle that’s holding you back.”
It was as though his words carried magic that made Vivian fall under his spell. Surprisingly, the muscles in her body, which had tensed up in fear, started to relax at that moment.
Although the drug was tormenting her and leaving her with little sanity, she knew what was about to take place next.
She found it more acceptable because the person was Finnick…
Sensing her relaxation, a trace of delight flickered in his eyes. Finally, he let go of the last bit of resistance in him as he started claiming and owning every part of her body…
It was a long and sleepless night for the two of them.
After only God knew how long, the fear and jitters in her started to wear off as she slowly arched her body to match his movement.
In fact, she had been having a hard time moving on from her traumatic experience two years ago.
Therefore, it never occurred to her that she could finally forget that ordeal for once and enjoy life as a normal woman.
It was only after a long while that her body heat started to subside. In the end, she fell into a deep slumber, feeling weak and worn out.
The next morning, she woke up zing in the room.
It was because Finnick had adjusted the air conditioner to its lowest temperature last night.
Shuddering, she opened her eyes and was immediately greeted by Finnick’s beautiful face next to her. Under the gentle sunlight that filtered through the window, his facial features looked as exquisite as sculptures.
She was so absorbed in admiring his looks that she was stuck in a trance-like state.
Her gaze remained fixed on his face until Finnick, whose eyes were still shut, spoke in a deep voice, “Are you done staring at me?”
Only then did her mind snap back to reality. Feeling embarrassed that Finnick was aware of her stare, she quickly tried to turn her back to him.
But before she could do that, he seized her shoulder and from there, she was drawn into his embrace at once.
Her face bumped against his well-toned chest, causing her heart to start pounding at a frenzied rate.
Meanwhile, he landed a peck on her forehead and asked her in an undertone, “Are you satisfied with my performance last night?”
Dumbfounded by his question, her face and ears flushed with embarrassment.
“What’re you talking about?” she snapped in an annoyed tone, “How dare you ask me that question when you clearly took advantage of me last night!”
“Did I?” Unfazed by her exasperation, Finnick chuckled. “Why do I see myself as the hero who saved you, the damsel in distress, last night?”
Vivian cursed through gritted teeth, “You’re so shameless.”
“I am shameless?” Finnick chortled. “Will you give me more chances to be shameless again?”
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Vivian was so overwhelmed with embarrassment that she could not utter a word in response.
She just realized that Finnick was definitely a wolf in sheep’s clothing. While he might look like a gentleman, he was actually a jerk who couldn’t wait to devour her at the first opportunity!
Feeling too embarrassed to answer his question, she decided to keep her mouth shut.
However, Finnick was not about to let her go that easily. Lifting her chin to force her to look right into his eyes, he urged in a low voice, “Answer me, Vivian.”
Two crimson patches emerged on her cheeks instantly. She averted her eyes away from him and snorted, “It depends on my mood.”
Finnick was stunned.
Although she did not answer him in the affirmative, that was probably the second-best answer he could get from her, considering how shy and reserved a girl she was.
Elated, he pulled her in for a tighter hug and made a promise in a low voice, “Very well, I hereby offer you a guarantee of satisfactory service from now on!”
Vivian’s face reddened immediately again.
But at the same time, she felt a surge of sweetness seizing her heart.
Finally…
She was able to move on from the traumatic experience which happened to her two years ago.
There was a time before this that she thought she would not be able to get married and have a child like other women. Never could she imagine that she would finally meet a guy who could help her overcome her trauma.
Although she had no idea who was the douchebag who had drugged her last night, she actually felt rather grateful for him.
Feeling the warmth of Finnick’s body and his powerful heartbeat, she couldn’t help but wrap her arms around his slender waist. In a soft voice, she confessed, “Finnick, I think I’ve fallen in love with you.”
In fact, she had realized her feelings for him way before this.
However, she decided to keep her feelings to herself at that time, thinking that it was unlikely to be reciprocated.
After they had gone through many ups and downs together, she finally started to notice his feelings for her.
That was the reason why she decided to give both of them a chance.
Finnick was taken aback by the sudden revelation of her feelings. He froze for a second before pulling her into an embrace so tight that it was as though he was trying to blend her body with his.
“Me too.” His tone was so soft that it did not sound like his usual voice at all. “On top of that, I’m sure I fell in love with you long before you fell in love with me.”
She was stunned to hear that. Before she could figure out what he meant, he suddenly lowered his head and claimed her lips to stop her from dwelling on her doubts.
After a passionate kiss, he let go of her with a faint smile on his face. “Vivian, how about we do another round without the effect of the drug?”
Before she knew it, his lips were pressing hard on hers again.
Just like that, the question in her mind was answered by his action.
In the days that followed, Vivian would always blame herself for succumbing to Finnick’s trickery so easily every time she woke up feeling sore all over her body.
In another room at the same hotel, Fabian struggled to open his eyes as his head felt extremely heavy. Slowly, the images of what took place last night started replaying in his mind.
He remembered having a great time at the club last night, where he overindulged himself in alcohol. Unlike his usual self, his alcohol tolerance was abnormally low that night. On top of that, it was bizarre that he had been feeling so hot as though his whole body was on fire.
Through his blurry vision, he could see Vivian staggering her way out of the club. As he was worried about her safety, he tried hard to stand up before following her out. Halfway along the journey, he felt someone holding him still to prevent him from falling. That was the last he saw of Vivian.
Just as he was trying to recall what exactly happened the previous night as he lay in bed, a woman extended her arm and caressed his hair gently.
Frightened by her sudden action, he whirled around and spotted Ashley. The naked woman was gazing at him endearingly and coquettishly.
Fabian immediately understood what exactly took place last night, judging from her condition as well as their clothes that were strewn all over the floor.
A wave of despair washed over him at that instant.
How could this happen? I’ve pledged not to have anything to do with Ashley ever again. Why did something like this happen again…
At the same time, Ashley started twining her limbs around his body like a snake. Resting her weight on him, she locked eyes with him in a lusty and sensual manner.
To be honest, she was second to none when it came to seducing men. As her touches slowly set his body on fire, Fabian almost succumbed to the temptation as he was still slightly intoxicated.
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However, he managed to shove her away with the last bit of rationality in him. He leaped out of bed, grabbed his clothes from the floor, and dashed toward the bathroom.
As for Ashley, she ended up crashing onto the bed after being pushed by him.
Dumbfounded by his action, her blood was boiling with rage.
She had been trying to seduce him countless times, but her attempts always ended in failure. He had shown nothing but disgust in response to her seduction. Would he turn Vivian down if she were the one seducing him?
If I didn’t drug his drinks last night, would he have spent the night with me?
Ashley could remember vividly how their bodies tangled with each other in bed last night.
However, what she could never forget was how he had been mumbling Vivian’s name when they were having a good time in bed.
With that thought in mind, she clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost pierced through her palms.
She couldn’t believe that the woman was all he had been thinking about even when he was experiencing waves of ecstasy with her.
How despicable!
It’s sickening!
Despite finding it revolting, she had decided to put up with it, thinking that it would be a waste if she let slip the opportunity to be with him. In order to have Fabian to herself, she was willing to do anything!
Inside the bathroom, Fabian turned on the faucet to its maximum while splashing cold water onto his face in an attempt to calm himself down.
Everything that had taken place last night seemed perfectly normal, but then again, he could still detect the slight possibility that it was all premeditated.
It was suspicious how Ashley had appeared right in front of the club entrance. Also, there was something fishy about his unusually low alcohol tolerance and the way they ended up in bed.
As he recalled the photo Ashley revealed during the party last time, he became all the more convinced that there could be more to the mischievous and adorable girl than met the eyes.
At the same time, he was seized by a spasm of fear.
Should I dig out more information on her?
Hastily, he finished washing up and walked out of the bathroom. Ashley, who had already gotten changed, was staring at him with a wide grin on her face. He quickly turned his eyes away from her to avoid conversation.
Although Ashley and her sister did look similar to each other, she could never replicate her sister’s dazzling smile.
He kept his eyes downcast as he frantically picked up his belongings from the floor. In a nonchalant tone, he said to her, “I’ve got to go as I have a busy schedule today.”
“Fabian!”
Looking anxious, Ashley intended to have a talk with him, but to her dismay, Fabian did not even give her one last glance before he left. The door was shut mercilessly following his departure.
She was left standing rooted to the spot with a long face.
Stroking her belly with her right hand, tears started welling up in her eyes.
Fabian, am I such a nuisance to you? It’s alright if you feel that way. Hopefully, I’ll get what I want with my effort last night.
People always said how children could work wonders on the relationship of a couple. As long as she was pregnant with his child, he would never be able to get rid of her for the rest of his life!
After Fabian made a hurried exit from the hotel, he immediately called his assistant and asked him to begin an investigation on Ashley. He wanted to find out how Ashley had gotten her hands on that photo, especially that one which he didn’t even have in his phone.
What was the truth behind that horrid incident that happened two years ago? Who was the mastermind behind it? Before Fabian returned to the country, he had never expected to be involved in an incident that was shrouded in so much mystery.
Ashley went to the hotel lobby after fixing her appearance. Coincidentally, she bumped into Vivian, who was lounging on the sofa there.
Vivian, who was waiting for Finnick to do the checkout, was surprised to see Ashley.
A triumphant smirk appeared on Ashley’s face at the sight of her sister.
Since Vivian is here at the hotel at this hour, does it mean my plan to sabotage her by drugging her drinks last night had succeeded?
“The great Ms. Vivian, how come you’re sitting here? What could have happened last night that made you look so tired? Could it be…” Ashley approached Vivian and drawled, “I wonder who was the lucky guy who got to spend a good time with our Ms. Vivian here last night.”
Ashley grabbed the opportunity to rub salt in Vivian’s wound. The thought of watching her agonized expression after being raped last night was a pleasure for her.
However, Vivian only furrowed her brows at her in confusion.
How did she know what happened between Finnick and me last night?
“Hey, why are you not answering me? Are you too shy to talk about it? Goodness gracious, will an easy girl like you even be shy about what you did with men? I really wonder how Mr. Norton would react once he finds out that you’ve been screwing around!”
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Colors drained from Vivian’s face at once.
She knew that she was drugged last night, and she had been wondering who was the culprit ever since. Judging from the smirk on Ashley’s face, it did not take her long to associate the incident with her.
Despite feeling infuriated, she did not treat Ashley too harshly for the sake of their kinship. At last, she only confronted her in an icy voice, “Ashley Miller, you’d better come clean about the thing you did last night.”
Ashley’s eyes were laden with hatred when she stared at Vivian.
As she had always been enjoying a sense of superiority over Vivian, there was no way she could be overwhelmed by her.
“What did I do last night? I’m speaking nothing but the truth, and you should know what you did last night. I can’t believe you still have the audacity to criticize me after having a fling with some random guy as a married woman!” Ashley raised her voice, feeling agitated. She was making full use of the chance to vent her frustration after being ignored by Fabian that morning.
To her utter surprise, a sonorous and powerful voice came at that juncture.
“Ashley, do you have any idea who you’re speaking with?”
She spun around to find an extremely good-looking man making his way over to her in a wheelchair.
His presence immediately drew the attention of everyone else present at the hotel lobby.
Ashley was stunned to see him there.
Finnick? Why’s he here?
Instead of being terrorized by his presence, a smile broke out on her face as she greeted the handsome man. “Mr. Norton, you’re here just at the right time. You know what? Last night, Vivian and…”
Finnick interrupted her right away by shooting her a penetrating and icy stare while saying, “Ashley, do you really want to know what your sister and I did last night?”
Upon hearing that, Ashley was stupefied as though she had just been struck by lightning.
W-Was Finnick the one who was with Vivian at the hotel last night?
Does it mean my plan actually failed?
Ashley felt a pressing urge to let out a shriek in exasperation. However, she had no choice but to watch her behavior in Finnick’s presence. Clenching her fists tightly, she bit her lip and stormed away without giving Vivian another glance.
“Ashley, hold on!”
She paused in her tracks when she heard Vivian’s voice.
With her arms crossed in front of her chest, she turned around and stared at Vivian. She kept her chin up to show that she was not intimidated by her.
“Ashley, you’d better listen to me carefully. I’ll let you off the hook this time and forget about what you did.” Fixing her with a cold stare, she continued, “However, if you try to sabotage me with one of your dirty tricks again, I’ll surely let you have a taste of your own medicine.”
Ashley’s body trembled in fear. However, she still tried to maintain her high and mighty demeanor when she strutted her way out of the hotel.
After that, Vivian and Finnick left the hotel by car.
Vivian remained silent throughout the entire journey, immersed in her own thoughts.
There was no doubt that Ashley was the one who drugged her last night. It was disheartening to know that her own sister would actually drug her and allow a stranger to rape her.
Thinking about all the wicked stuff Ashley had done to her before this, she couldn’t help but shudder in terror.
What happened last night actually resembled that fateful night two years ago in many ways. Could Ashley be the culprit behind that too?
Sensing that she was bothered by something, Finnick gave her a nudge on her shoulder. “Vivian, are you feeling unwell? Is it because you’re… too tired?”
Noah was focusing his attention on the road ahead when he heard the questionable choice of words that escaped Finnick’s mouth. His face reddened instantly as his mind couldn’t help but be filled with some obscene thoughts.
Too tired?
Vivian, who realized what Finnick was trying to imply, shot him a glare as her face flushed with embarrassment.
Immediately, he cleared his throat and responded, “You really should take some food supplements if you’re feeling too tired.”
“No, I’m not tired at all!” Her face turned even redder as she desperately tried to explain her distracted look earlier.
“Oh, I’m glad to hear that. Why don’t we…”
She quickly stretched out her hand and placed her palm on his mouth to stop him from spouting nonsense.
However, he made use of the chance to hold her hand.
Looking solemn, he asked, “Please share with me what was on your mind just now.”
I must say, he really is an astute observer.
Leaning back in the seat, she turned to look out the window at the heavy traffic as she took her time to figure out an answer. It was only after a while that she spoke slowly, “I have a feeling that Ashley might have something to do with what happened to me two years ago.”
“Do you need my help to get to the bottom of it?”
Vivian hesitated before responding to his offer.
Back then, she had not been strong enough to face the traumatic experience alone. But now, with Finnick by her side, she seemed to have the courage to find out the culprit who had brought about the loss of her most precious thing!
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“Yes, I do need your help,” Vivian agreed.
Just then, Finnick remembered something which he felt he should share with her now. He said tentatively, “Actually, I already gathered some information on that incident.”
The fact that he had started the investigation on his own showed that he was quite bothered by it too.
Vivian’s eyes fell pensive, but she did not condemn him for what he did. Instead, she placed emphasis on the outcome. “What information have you got?”
He told her that the man who raped her two years ago was not an old man as per her assumption. However, the identity of the real perpetrator had yet to come to light.
The one who did the horrendous thing to her was not an old man.
To Vivian, that piece of information did not really matter.
Knowing that the perpetrator was not an old man did not make things better in the least bit because the fact that she had been humiliated could never be changed.
She sighed. “Finnick, to be honest with you, the question of who did it doesn’t matter that much to me at the moment. Right now, I just want to find out who was the one who drugged me and orchestrated the entire plot that night. That person even went to the extent of spreading that scandal at school in order to destroy me. Who could be the mastermind behind everything?”
Without saying anything in response, he drew her toward his chest gently.
Since what she wanted was the truth, he would go all out to get that for her.
After all, he wanted to find out the truth too.
Yet…
At the thought of that scarf, he grew reticent as his eyes turned icy.
“I’ll get to the bottom of it,” he promised her in a soft voice.
Suddenly, a thought struck Vivian. “By the way, did anyone find out about the condition of your legs last night?” she asked worriedly.
Finnick broke into a faint smile, feeling pleased to see how much she cared about him. “Don’t worry. All the necessary arrangements are in place to make sure everything is alright.”
The car pulled to a stop at that moment. As she looked out the window, she found herself staring at the apartment she was staying at instead of the villa. She couldn’t help but turn to look at Finnick in puzzlement.
“I’d like to visit your mother,” he answered.
Vivian had her reservations about his idea because it was obvious to her that Finnick was not her mother’s favorite.
That did not bother her during the time their marriage only existed in name.
However, things were so much different at the moment.
Should I tell Mom the truth?
She nodded to herself before getting out of the car together with Finnick.
Inside the apartment unit, Rachel was sitting on her bed reading a copy of Glamour Magazine.
“Mom!” Vivian stepped into the unit and was happy to see her mother’s glowing face.
“Pleased to meet you, Mrs. William.” Finnick entered at the same time in his wheelchair.
Rachel’s face stiffened for a split second before greeting him back politely.
In the meantime, Noah put down the gift bags and was sensible enough to wait for his boss outside.
“I’m sorry as I didn’t have much time to prepare better gifts for you. Here are some food supplements which are good for your health. I hope they aren’t too shabby for you, Mrs. William,” Finnick said in a level voice.
Rachel, who did not fancy Finnick as her son-in-law, deliberately pulled a long face. “We are just some ordinary folks who don’t deserve your expensive gifts. Please don’t bring anything for us in the future.”
Finnick’s face was inscrutable in response to her comment.
“Mom!” Vivian couldn’t help but chime in. Sitting down at the edge of the bed beside her mother, she held her hands and tried to put in some good words for Finnick. “He only brought those gifts for you as a kind gesture.”
As someone who had never known how to get along with his mother-in-law, Finnick was at a loss as he stood dazedly beside Vivian.
It was her first time witnessing such a helpless expression on his face, and she found it hilarious. “Finnick, since it’s lunchtime soon, why don’t you go out and fetch us some takeaway food? Mom loves braised pork.”
He nodded in agreement.
After he left with Noah, Vivian started criticizing her mother, “Mom, what you said to Finnick just now was too harsh. He’s a kind-hearted person, and he’s different from all the other rich guys.”
“Well, I don’t care because I just don’t like the idea of you and him being together. In fact, I prefer Fabian to be my son-in-law.”
“Mom, it’s time you forget about Fabian because Finnick is my husband.”
Seeing how fervently her daughter was trying to defend Finnick, Rachel couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Vivian, just be honest with me. Have you fallen in love with him? Otherwise, why are you trying so hard to defend him?”
Had she fallen in love with him? Of course!
She was so in love with him that her life literally depended on his. She loved him so deeply that she cared about his every movement, and she couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with him.
Seeing the concern in her mother’s eyes, Vivian finally made up her mind to tell her the truth. “Mom, I really love him very much, so much so that I’d like to spend the rest of my life with him.”
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 159
Rachel’s eyes became dodgy when she learned that her daughter had developed feelings for Finnick.
Knowing well that Vivian had gone through a fair share of ordeal in her past, all she wanted for her was a dependable man who knew her well, treated her nicely, and loved her with all his heart.
However, is Finnick the right man who can bring her happiness in life?
Trying to blend into the world of the rich is something easier said than done.
Would Finnick turn out to be a fickle-minded man in relationships? Could his relationship with Vivian withstand all the challenges and obstacles that are looming ahead of them?
Vivian knew the doubts her mother was having about their relationship. In a soft voice, she tried to convince her mother, “My beloved mother, Finnick risked his life on several occasions before just to protect me from danger. I really love him, and I believe he’s the right guy for me. So, please don’t worry about me.”
The moment Rachel saw the blissful smile on her daughter’s face, she finally caved in.
“Well, since you’re married to him, I guess the right thing to do is to make the most out of your life with him. I’m happy as long as you are.”
Wrapping her arms around her mother, Vivian said coyly, “Mom, I know you’re the one who loves me the most, and you should know that you’re the most precious person in my life. Please don’t worry about me because I know how to take care of myself.”
“You silly girl.” Rachel’s eyes glistened with tears when she said that.
Finnick bumped into the heartwarming scene when he made it back with food. He had the gumption to sit down by the door so as not to interrupt their moment.
Satisfied with his sensible action, Rachel’s attitude thawed substantially. Surprisingly, she extended her hand toward him and invited him for a talk, “Finnick, come over here because I have something to tell you.”
“Finnick.” She placed emphasis on every single word of her sentence to show how serious her speech was. “Vivian is my only daughter, and she’s gone through quite a difficult time when she was staying with me. Therefore, all I want for her is a good guy who knows how to take care of her well, regardless of whether that guy has deep pockets or otherwise. Since she’s told me that you’re the love of her life, I have no choice but to entrust her happiness to you.”
Finnick turned to look at Vivian with astonishment in his eyes.
He knew Vivian must have told her mother something that led to the sudden change in her attitude.
He could still remember the time Vivian assured her mother that she had no feelings for him and their marriage only existed in name.
So, is Rachel treating me so amiably because Vivian has confessed to her how much she would like to spend the rest of her life with me?
At the thought of that possibility, the tensed muscles in his face relaxed a great deal.
This is perfect.
Is she finally willing to acknowledge me as her husband?
With that thought in mind, he looked up at Rachel and declared in a composed tone that was tinged with a trace of solemnness, “Mrs. William, please rest assured that I will take good care of Vivian in the future.”
Although he was inarticulate, he meant every word he said and would honor his promise for sure.
Rachel, who was moved by his sincerity, nodded at him approvingly.
At long last, the tension between the three eased up a great deal. Knowing that her mother was one who sought solace in solitude, Vivian left with Finnick after the meal.
A smile slowly took over Rachel’s face while watching Vivian’s back as she left.
In fact, she considered herself really lucky to have a daughter as filial as Vivian.
Yet, she couldn’t help but feel ashamed of not being a good enough mother for her.
She knew she had let her daughter down. The feeling of guilt toward her had been growing increasingly intense with the years.
Would Vivian still acknowledge me as her mother after learning about the truth behind everything? Would she hate me for the rest of her life?
Putting her hands together, she started praying to God for Vivian’s happiness. At the same time, she begged for His mercy and pleaded for a chance to redeem her sins.
Vivian, Mom’s never done enough for you, but I really hope you can have a happy and blissful life.
…
After leaving the apartment, Finnick sent Vivian back to the magazine company.
Just as she was about to exit the car, he suddenly called after her, “Vivian.”
She turned around upon hearing his voice. Before she could even respond to him, he grabbed her wrist and hauled her toward his arms.
Her pulse started racing as she was close enough to feel his warm breath on her.
As for Noah, he had the gumption to bury his head into his shirt as much as he could.
Mr. Norton has definitely become very unpredictable lately. Is he treating me like I am non-existent?
Despite feeling awkward with Noah around, Vivian was not strong enough to break from his embrace. In the end, she could only plead for his mercy with her face flushed with embarrassment, “Let go of me now. We should talk when we get back home.”
“Thank you, Vivian,” he spoke in a deep and husky tone.
Never Late, Never Away Chapter 160
“What’re you thanking me for?” Vivian sounded baffled.
With a smirk, he answered, “Thanks for telling your mother how much you love me.”
Vivian was taken aback by his words. All of a sudden, her heart was seized by a surge of warmth, and she couldn’t resist hugging him back.
In fact, I’m the one who should be grateful for you.
Thank you for appearing in my life.
They engaged in the sweet embrace for quite a long while until Vivian realized that she was about to be late for work. Then, she wiggled herself away from him and said, “Finnick, I should get back to work.”
Despite feeling reluctant to part ways with her, he gave her forehead a light peck before letting her go. “Go ahead.”
After bidding farewell to him, Vivian headed to the magazine company. Before she could even settle down, Sarah made a hurried entrance to her room and started rambling on, “Vivian, oh Vivian! You’re finally back! You know what, something huge happened!”
Frowning at Sarah’s face which had astonishment written all over it, Vivian asked, “What is it?”
“It’s something related to the president of Finnor Group!” Shocked, Sarah stared at her with widened eyes as she asked, “Haven’t you heard about it? It’s all over Twitter at the moment!”
Something related to Finnick?
Vivian was dumbstruck for a moment to learn that the matter was related to her own husband. Out of curiosity, she asked Sarah, “What’s the matter with Finnick?”
“It’s a rumor about Finnick and Yasmin, which has gone viral on the internet! Everyone has been talking about how the popular celebrity, Yasmin, tried to seduce Finnick in order to dethrone his wife! Vivian, don’t you think it is very shameless of her to pull off something like that? There’s no way Mr. Norton would be tempted by a girl as mediocre as her! Hmph, she’ll never be good enough for a guy like him!”
As Sarah was talking about the rumor agitatedly, Vivian looked stunned.
Yasmin?
Oh, she’s that celebrity who’s got the most potential to make it big in the movie industry. Also, she’s hailed as the dream girl by many guys.
Yasmin had an alluring, well-toned body and full luscious lips. Her eyes always sparkled with charm, and her voice was so sweet that it could make one’s knees go weak just by listening to her. No man in the world would be able to resist the seduction of a stunner like her.
Why would Finnick have anything to do with a famous celebrity like her?
A babble of voices was ongoing among her colleagues at the office. Obviously, everyone was talking about the rumor.
“Alas, I’ve always thought of Yasmin as an aloof girl who’s hard to approach. It really surprises me that she actually made the first move for Mr. Norton.”
“It’s mainly because Mr. Norton is too much of a hottie that even Yasmin couldn’t resist his charm. But then again, I don’t think they really did anything out of bounds, did they? Mr. Norton should know better than getting involved with her since he’s already a married man.”
“Who can be sure about that? Mind you, the woman who seduced him was not just any ordinary woman but Yasmin, the girl who has such a hot body and beautiful face. As we all know, men’s minds are mostly controlled by their junks. So, I highly doubt any one of them would be able to turn down a looker like her!”
Although Vivian trusted Finnick completely deep down, she couldn’t help but be slightly bothered by some of the remarks made by her colleagues. Immediately, she whipped out her phone and checked her Twitter.
Just like how Sarah had described it to her, both Yasmin and Finnick were the trending topics on Twitter. She did not find out about their rumor until now as she had been having too many things on her plate lately.
As it turned out, it all started with Yasmin expressing her admiration for Finnick on several occasions lately. She kept on showering him with compliments on his exquisite demeanor and taste as well as how talented he was in doing business.
Then, Vivian went on to check out her profile on Twitter. Her timeline was full of posts that were directly portraying her admiration for Finnick. Her infatuation with the man was very obvious, and it seemed like she deemed him as her dream man.
Because of the rumor, her followers spiked to an all-time high, making her one of the top five most popular artists on Twitter.
Comments below her posts were mushrooming too.
You and Finnick will make a perfect couple! My goddess, I’ll support you no matter what you do!
I can’t believe you’re shameless enough to express your intention of getting yourself a rich sugar daddy! You’re really despicable!
Are mistresses nowadays all so cocky and insolent? Yasmin, you’d better beware whenever you’re walking alone on the street because you might be ambushed by assassins sent by Finnick’s wife.
All of us should do our part to stop the mistresses out there from getting rampant! Mrs. Norton, it’s about time you did something to banish her!
None of you have the right to humiliate my Yasmin! Everyone has the right and dom to pursue their love. Yasmin, we’ll always be your pillars of support!
Vivian found the comments amusing. She was glad that she did not reveal her identity as Finnick’s wife to the public. Otherwise, she might no longer be able to dine out without being recognized by people.
At the same time, she was surprised to see how a mass condemnation against mistresses was launched on the internet just because of Yasmin. Indeed, the power of media was really capable of making or breaking something.
At that juncture, Lesley, the senior editor, visited her after walking out of Fabian’s room. She was there just in time to catch Vivian poring over Yasmin’s Twitter account.
Her eyes brightened up with inspiration at once. “Vivian, I knew you would be paying attention to the topic as you always have such a good nose for juicy news. I just had a discussion with Mr. Norton, and we’ve decided to pursue this topic and do a coverage on it. With a famous female celebrity and a handsome president of a company as the protagonists, I’m sure the news would turn out to be a sensational one in no time! So, we’ve decided to let you be in charge of this topic.”