Morning.
Sunlight slipped through the sheer curtains and spilled across Vivienne Hartwell’s pale, delicate face.
Her cheeks were faintly flushed. Wrapped tight in the blanket, she breathed in soft, uneven little bursts.
"Mmh..." Vivienne frowned slightly.
It felt like someone was holding her tightly in his arms, his masculine scent and body heat surrounding her from every side.
By her ear, a man’s low voice lingered, gentle and coaxing. "Be good, Amy. Go to sleep early..."
...
Then all at once, a sharp ringtone ripped through the silence and yanked Vivienne out of sleep.
Her scalp tingled. She sucked in air greedily, chest rising and falling fast.
The way that man had murmured her to sleep had felt way too real. The feeling of being right there, inside it, was so vivid she honestly couldn’t tell if what just happened was reality or just another dream.
And...
This wasn’t even the first time she’d had a dream like that.
Vivienne took a deep breath. After she finally steadied herself, she grabbed her phone and answered the call.
"Miss, the old master asked me to remind you to get ready for tonight’s dinner banquet. He wants you to meet the second young master of the Caldwell family." On the other end, the butler’s voice was as respectful as ever.
Vivienne’s brows drew together. "Do I really have to go?"
"Uh..." The butler sounded awkward. "Miss, you know the old master’s temper. If you don’t go, he’ll probably fake being sick again and pressure you."
Vivienne let out a quiet sigh and rubbed her temple, completely helpless. "Fine. Tell Grandpa I’ll go."
With that, she ended the call.
Under the cold light, Vivienne slipped off the lace slip she had on, exposing skin smooth as cream.
When she walked into the bathroom, it was obvious she was trying to suppress the desire that man had stirred up in her. She turned on the cold water and let it pour over her body.
Who exactly was that man, and why did he keep showing up in her dreams?
More importantly... that dream didn’t even feel like a dream. It felt like something that had actually happened.
Until she figured it out, there was no way she was marrying anyone.
Especially not for some ridiculous business marriage.
After stepping out of the bathroom, Vivienne Hartwell changed into a short white dress. Before heading out, she deliberately stopped by a salon and had her originally light-blonde curls dyed black and straightened.
She’d heard the Caldwell family liked women who were glamorous and mature. So of course, today she was doing the exact opposite, taking the road less traveled and going full innocent-girl mode.
As for how she was going to act...
A family like the Caldwells, with all their money and status, would definitely want their future daughter-in-law to be proper, capable, and know how to carry herself.
So...
She was absolutely going to do the reverse.
A pure little sweetheart turning into a top-tier white lotus overnight—honestly, even she was curious how that would land.
Once the styling was done, Vivienne even clipped a white gardenia hairpin into her smooth dark hair for the finishing touch. The whole look made her seem fresh and delicate, like a lotus just rising out of water.
Ding—
Her phone lit up.
Vivienne pulled it out and opened WeChat.
Her best friend Natalie Ashford: "Xixi, I already checked for you. The Caldwell brothers are going to Visi Bar tonight. Solid intel!"
Vivienne narrowed her bright, lively eyes a little, then quickly typed back: "ok"
Since her grandfather’s side was a dead end, then she’d have to start with the Caldwell family instead.
If what she did tonight made the second young master, Lance Caldwell, disgusted with her, then wouldn’t this engagement naturally fall apart?
If the Caldwell family looked down on her, her grandfather probably wouldn’t force her into marrying over there, right?
...
Inside Vance Bar.
Adrian Caldwell pushed open the private room door and walked in at an easy pace. He slipped off his coat and handed it to the waiter beside him, then swept his gaze over his younger brother slumped on the sofa with a long face, along with the group of friends throwing him a "farewell to single life" party.