Chapter 178

"We have feelings for each other?"

Vivian set down her fork with a quiet clink. A wry smile touched her lips. "Evelyn, you're usually so perceptive, but not this time."

Her voice turned sharp. "Do you know why Nathaniel suddenly showed up with all those grand gestures?"

"Because he still loves you and wants to reconcile?"

Vivian's laugh was bitter. "He came to beg for his mistress. That arrogant man stripped himself of dignity for that vile woman."

Her knuckles whitened around her wineglass. "Unforgivable. I'll never pardon that betrayal."

"What—" Evelyn's teacup froze mid-air. The image of the dignified Nathaniel Blackwood crumbling for some scheming woman turned her stomach.

"I can't believe he'd sink that low. A man of his standing should know better than to enable such behavior. There must be some mistake."

"Mistake?"

Vivian's smile turned icy. "Evelyn, you've never been in love. Let me educate you—love has no logic."

"The beloved can do no wrong. Clearly, I lacked whatever charm that woman possessed. Four years together, and he never looked at me like that."

Usually confident, Vivian only felt this small around Nathaniel and their broken marriage.

How could someone like her lose to a snake like Cassandra? No more self-pity. That chapter was closed.

Evelyn stayed silent. The wounds ran too deep. But seeing Vivian's lingering pain, she made a silent decision...

Nathaniel stormed out of Lockhart Manor like a thundercloud. His fury radiated in waves, keeping even his bravest employees at bay.

Blackwood Group's staff moved like frightened mice, barely daring to breathe.

Meanwhile, Oliver Prescott strolled into the CEO's office grinning. "Nate! You in there? Hellooo?"

The oppressive atmosphere hit him immediately.

"Mr. Prescott!" The secretary Rachel intercepted him urgently. "Mr. Blackwood isn't receiving visitors today. Perhaps—"

Oliver waved her off. "Relax, I'm his favorite. He'll always make time for me." He winked at Nathaniel's hunched form. "Right, Nate?"

"Get out."

Oliver coughed awkwardly. "So... bad day?"

Rachel whispered, "He was fine until returning from his ex-wife's place—"

"Ah." Oliver nodded sagely. "The world knows their story. Must be crushing to lose her permanently. The pressure's getting to him."

Nearly 80% of the company shipped Nathaniel and Vivian. Rachel, their biggest shipper, tracked their every move.

The consensus? Mr. Blackwood got owned by Mrs. Blackwood again. Employees exchanged sympathetic yet smug looks—karma was a bitch.

"Owned?" Oliver sighed dramatically. "Never thought sweet Vivian could wreck him like this. And here I was hoping he'd introduce me to some connections."

"Right? Mrs. Blackwood's the one person Mr. Blackwood can't control!"

Their synchronized sighing earned Nathaniel's glacial glare. "Don't you have jobs? Need more work?"

"No thanks!"

Oliver scrambled forward. "Wait! Serious business! The new Quantum-6 chip prototype—"

Nathaniel's pen snapped in half.