Chapter 252

Vivian remained true to her professional ethics, diving into the seashell hunt with intense focus. Her brows furrowed in concentration as she combed through the golden sand.

Ethan lingered a few paces behind, his tall frame casting a protective shadow over her. The CEO who normally commanded boardrooms now played the role of silent guardian.

Their footprints intertwined along the shoreline, the ocean breeze carrying the scent of salt and sunshine. It could have been a scene from one of those romantic movies Vivian secretly enjoyed.

"Found it!" Vivian's triumphant shout shattered the peaceful moment. She emerged from behind a coral reef, waving something pink in her hand.

Ethan arched an eyebrow. The man who built his empire on logic and facts found himself staring at a supposedly magical seashell. 'This can't be real,' he thought.

Yet something stopped him from voicing his skepticism. Maybe it was the way Vivian's eyes sparkled brighter than the ocean, or how her smile outshone the midday sun.

"Look! The Ocean's Heart!" Vivian cradled the shell like sacred treasure, brushing away grains of sand. "See how perfectly heart-shaped it is? And that rare pink hue!"

Sunlight danced across the shell's iridescent surface, casting prismatic reflections that almost made Ethan believe in its legendary powers.

He cleared his throat. Part of him wanted to mention how common these were during his summers in Cornwall. But the words died in his throat when he saw her hopeful expression.

"It's... adequate," Ethan conceded, surprising himself with the uncharacteristic diplomacy.

This wasn't like him. The Blackwood heir never softened his words for anyone. Yet here he was, biting back sarcasm just to preserve Vivian's radiant joy.

His introspection was interrupted by the sudden shift in her demeanor. Professional Vivian snapped back into place as she pulled out her phone.

"One hour, thirty-seven minutes," she announced, fingers flying across the screen. "At our agreed rate, that comes to 116,400 dors. I'll be generous and round it down."

She flashed him a businesslike smile. "Worth every penny, don't you think? Propose with this, and she'll melt like butter."

Ethan's jaw tightened. 'Should've known better than to think she'd stay adorable.'

The woman was a mercenary disguised as a romantic. One moment playing the charming beachcomber, the next demanding payment with military precision.

As he turned to leave, Vivian grabbed his wrist. "Don't forget your purchase!" She pressed the shell into his palm with surprising gentleness. "This charm cost you a fortune. Make it count."

Ethan studied the pink shell, then the enigmatic woman who found it. He couldn't decide if she was mocking him or offering genuine advice. Both possibilities equally infuriated him.

The wedding venue buzzed with elite guests in designer attire, their champagne flutes catching the light. Dominic and the groomsmen had just arrived with the bride, signaling the ceremony's imminent start.

When Ethan and Vivian entered together, whispers rippled through the crowd like a sudden tide.

"I thought they were divorced? Why are they together? And why do they look so... cozy?"