Rising from Betrayal

Chapter 012

The entire lobby fell dead quiet.

Vivienne's expression froze, then cracked.

The anger was still there, still burning—but behind it was something else. Something smaller.

Dread.

But just as quickly, anger swept back in and swallowed everything else.

Norman...

You actually humiliated me like this?

Here.

In front of Nathan? In front of everyone?

Not only did you fail to apologize, you actually destroyed my dignity in front of the very people I cared about impressing—you threw mud directly in my face!

Vivienne’s chest rose and fell violently.

Fine.

Let’s see who can hold out until the end!

Even if you grovel and cry tears of blood, I will not forgive you easily this time.

I SWEAR!

Vivienne drew one deep breath. Short, controlled.

Then she turned back to the guard, chin lifted.

The familiar arrogance returned to her face.

"Tell Norman," she said, her tone polished to as cold as she could manage, "The time is up to me. I have a beauty appointment tomorrow morning. I don’t have time to deal with him that early. Tell him to be at the courthouse at three in the afternoon."

“Hmph. Let's see who gives in first.”

The lead guard let out a quiet scoff. "I'll pass along the message."

But the contempt in his eyes was impossible to hide.

This woman really thinks she's still important?

Doesn’t she know that Mr. Calloway can’t care less about her now?

What an arrogant fool!

Vivienne turned away.

She kept her face composed, her back straight, refusing to show even the slightest weakness.

That much, at least, she could still pretend she was the one in control tonight.

"Help me get these things into the car."

No one protested.

One by one, Nathan, Camille, and the others walked over, picking up boxes and loading them into the trunk.

The atmosphere was strangely quiet.

Camille glanced at Vivienne several times, wanting to say something, but thought better of it when she saw the set of Vivienne's jaw.

Once everything was loaded, Vivienne opened the back door and got in. Camille followed silently.

"Take me to my parents' house."

The driver nodded and started the engine.

Meanwhile, Nathan stood on the pavement, watching the line of cars begin to move.

His hands slipped into his pockets.

The smile he had prepared for a moment of triumph never made it to his face.

Instead, his brows slowly tightened.

What the hell was wrong with Norman?

The Norman Calloway he knew was a man hopelessly obseesed with Vivienne. Obsessed to a degree that was almost embarrassing.

He should have forgiven anything, swallowed every humiliation... as long as Vivienne stayed by his side.

So why now? Why tonight?

Why did he suddenly cut everything off?

Nathan let out a slow breath.

He had been carefully arranging this game for months.

Step by step, he would take Norman’s wife, get her pregnant.

Then let Norman the fool raise his children while believing he was building his own family.

Meanwhile, he would enjoy Vivienne, live off Norman’s wealth, and let that man work himself to the bone to support their lifestyle.

Then, when Norman had nothing left to offer... he would take everything, the company, the wealth, the assets, everything Norman had spent his entire life building.

And leave that pathetic fool to rot in his own regret.

It was the perfect plan.

He would become the ultimate winner without having to risk anything.

A beautiful woman.

A massive fortune.

A life of luxury handed directly to him.

But now... if Norman divorced Vivienne first...all his calculations would collapse!

What would be left for him?

Vivienne without Norman was just Vivienne.

A beautiful woman with a broken family... and a woman with no access to the Calloway family’s endless wealth.

No golden ticket anymore!

Nathan rubbed his jaw, his expression darkening.

This... wasn't supposed to happen.

He glanced once toward Grand Corholt Tower—the skyscraper looming above, its upper floors still lit, calm and indifferent.

“No... Norman's probably just lost his head for a moment. Maybe the anger got too big, or maybe it was the alcohol.”

Yeah, that must be it.

“Tomorrow he'll come to his senses and go find Vivienne to apologize. There's no way he'd actually leave her. Not this fast.”

Nathan told himself that as his hand pulled open the car door.

Meanwhile, inside the first car.

Vivienne sat in the back seat silently.

Her face changed between pale and flushed.

Tonight...she had lost too much face.

Far too much!!

The humiliation was unbearable.

Camille noticed her expression and immediately moved closer.

"Viv, don't overthink it. Norman is obviously just trying to scare you. Don't you dare forgive him too easily."

She snorted.

"Seriously, he should look in the mirror. Aside from having money, what does he even have that makes him worthy of you? Tomorrow I'll go with you."

"I refuse to believe he actually has the courage to go through with the divorce."

Camille grabbed Vivienne's hand confidently.

"You're beautiful, and capable. Where else is he going to find someone as good as you? He's lucky he married you in the first place."

Hearing this, Vivienne's expression finally softened slightly.

The confidence she had lost slowly came back.

"You're right. I think so too." She nodded, the corner of her lips lifted arrogantly. "Tomorrow, I'll wait for him to come and beg. This time... I won't forgive him so easily."