Chapter 203

"You don't like them?"

Vivian's hand froze mid-air. A flicker of embarrassment crossed her face. "Julian said purple carnations were your favorite. Seems that man doesn't know you at all. I'll make sure he regrets it later."

"Then what flowers do you prefer? I'll get you a fresh bouquet right away—"

Victoria pushed her sunglasses up, tilting her chin with icy disdain. "No, he was right. I used to adore purple carnations. But the moment I saw you holding them, I started despising them."

"..."

The words were a slap to Vivian's face.

Mortification burned through her, her toes curling so hard they could've dug trenches in the floor.

If anyone else had spoken to her like that, Vivian would've retaliated without hesitation.

But this was Victoria Chen—the undisputed queen of the legal world. Cold, arrogant, utterly untouchable. And Vivian? She was utterly smitten.

"It's fine if you hate me, but the flowers are innocent. Don't take it out on them. These poor carnations might start crying if you reject them..."

With shameless persistence, Vivian thrust the massive bouquet toward Victoria again.

Behind those dark lenses, Victoria's eyes flickered with something unreadable.

After a long pause, her lips curled in contempt. "I can't believe Nathaniel Blackwood's ex-wife is this shameless. Do you not understand rejection? Or are you just blind to how much I despise you?"

"Let me make this clear. I don't like flowers. And I certainly don't like you. What you're doing borders on harassment. Keep it up, and I will take legal action."

With that, Victoria strode past her, head held high like royalty dismissing a peasant.

Watching her walk away, Vivian didn't feel anger—just helpless amusement. The look on her face could only be described as... adoring.

"What about Isabella?"

Vivian's voice rang out suddenly.

Victoria's tall frame stiffened. Slowly, she turned. "What did you say?"

"Do you hate Isabella too?"

Victoria ripped off her sunglasses, eyes blazing. "You investigated me?"

"Obviously." Vivian shrugged. "You're my lawyer. Of course I did my homework."

"I'm not your lawyer. I came to terminate my contract. As of today, I have no ties to Blackwood Legal—and I will not be working for you."

Her tone left no room for argument.

She'd only joined Blackwood Legal for Nathaniel. A firm like that was beneath someone of her caliber. Now that ownership had changed hands, she had zero reason to stay.

The termination fee was astronomical, but to her? Pocket change.

Vivian nodded calmly. "Ambition is admirable. I respect your choice. But before you go, as your current employer, there's something I want to give you."

She pulled out her phone, tapped the screen, and handed it to Victoria.

"What is this—?"

The moment Victoria saw the video, her frosty gaze faltered.

—

Vivian spoke softly. "This was filmed on your daughter's sixth birthday. It's been years since you've seen her, hasn't it? I heard she's brilliant—piano, chess, calligraphy, painting... She even inherited your legal genius. By ten, she'd devoured every law book in her school's library. They call her the 'mini attorney.' She—"

"Enough."

Victoria looked away, her expression hardening back to ice. "I gave her up. She's not my concern anymore. Whatever talents she has mean nothing to me."

Her voice was steel. "But I am impressed you dug up my past. Expect a lawsuit for this invasion of privacy."

Vivian ignored the threat.

As an expectant mother herself, she knew one truth above all: no mother stops loving her child.

The colder Victoria acted, the more it proved how much that little girl still haunted her.

A slow smile curved Vivian's lips.

Got you.

She stepped closer. "Aren't you curious, Miss Chen? About Isabella's birthday wish?"