Chapter 10


    He was almost as she had remembered him, albeit the angles of his face were sharper, and had lost


    the youthfulness that he had during his university years. The way that he carried himself was also a lot


    more mature and steady.


    However, what had changed the most was the expression on his face. Gone was the warmth that she


    recalled seeing on his face every day. All that was left was a harsh and hard took.


    Currently, he was listening to his subordinates’ reports. Every now and then, he would nod and utter


    out a fewmands.


    Not once had his gaze evernded on her, as the group swept past her and entered the Chief Editor''s


    office.


    The color drained from Vivian''s face.


    Fabian Norton... Why is he back here? Two years ago, he had suddenly left, without even saying


    goodbye. Why has he returned now?


    It had been two years. She had more or less given up on their broken rtionship by now. However, his


    abrupt reappearance in her life still had waves of emotions crashing against her relentlessly,


    threatening to drown her entirely.


    She did not even know if he had recognized her as she had him, at first nce.


    At this, a self-deprecating smirk curled her lips.


    Does it matter if he recognizes me or not? He and |... We’re fated to be apart. There’s no way that we


    can go back to how we''d used Io be...


    The rest of the day passed in a haze of unease and worry. She was worried that Fabian would


    recognize her.


    Reality would soon prove that her worries were unfounded.


    Being new to his position, Fabian was kept busy in meetings with the various departments. There


    would be changes happening around the magazinepany.


    In one of the meetings, he listened intently, as the senior editors made their reports, giving ament


    or order here and there. He never once paid any attention to Vivian, who was sitting at the far end of


    the table.


    Seems like he’s forgotten me... But | guess that’s expected of him. if | had been anything of worth to


    him, he would not have left without a word two years ago. I''ve never heard from him ever since either.


    The hours passed by agonizingly slow to Vivian. At longst, it was time to get off of work. Not wanting


    to stay in the office a second longer, she hurriedly snatched up her bag and prepared to leave.


    Unfortunately, her senior editor suddenly called out to her.


    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    “Hold on, Vivian. Could you take this document to Mr. Norton for me, please? Give him a verbal report


    as well.”


    Vivian stiffened before she slowly turned around to face the other woman. Her voice was slightly


    pleading as she uttered, “Lesley, | have something urgent to attend to at home. Could you-”


    Her senior editor, Lesley Jenson, was already in a foul mood from a meeting earlier where she had


    been rebuked. At hearing Vivian''s refusal, a terrible scowl twisted her face. “So, you think that you''re all


    that just because you got to


    interview the president of Finnor Group, is that it?*


    Paling at the sharp words that had escaped Lesley, Vivian had no choice but to reply, “Don''t be silly,


    Lesley. I''ll get right to it.”


    She took the document from Lesley and walked toward Fabian’s office. Standing in front of the door,


    she took several deep breaths to calm herself before raising her hand to rap on it.


    Knock, knock.


    Just that one simple motion seemed to have drained all the energy out of her.


    “Come in.”


    Upon hearing his familiar voice invite her in, she pushed the door open and entered.


    Although Fabian’s office was not asvish as Finnick’s, it was still quite luxuriously furnished. The man


    was sitting behind his desk, flipping through the magazine that had featured the interview with Finnick.


    “Mr. Norton.” Vivian struggled to make her voicee out steadily. “Senior editor Jenson wants me to


    give you a simple report on the interview with the president of Finnor Group.”


    Fabian hummed in acknowledgment, not bothering to lift his head. Thus, Vivian steeled herself and


    began her report.


    Even after she was done, he did not make a single sound. At this point, she was at her wit’s end.


    Her voice tremored a little despite her best efforts, “Err... Sir, if there''s nothing else that you need, I''ll be


    taking my leave.”


    With that said, she spun around and made her way towards the door.


    Just as her handnded on the handle of the door, arge hand seized hers tightly.


    Fabian’s eyes were narrowed, as he zeroed in on the ring on her finger. “You''re married?”


    Not having the courage to look him in the eyes, she turned her head away and nodded.


    She did not see the way that his emotions had coiled, in his dark orbs, as he red at the ring on her


    finger.


    Abruptly, a mocking smirk curved his lips.


    “Vivian William, in the end, the man you’d chosen could only afford to buy you this in, simple


    crushed diamond ring?’ As though something had only just urred to him, a disdainful and disgusted


    look crossed his face. “Then again,


    a woman who would be willing to sell her body for the sake of money can be easily bought off. It


    wouldn’t have been hard for a man to obtain you.”


    Vivian was thunderstruck at his words. Her face paled dramatically and she was as pale as a sheet.


    “Y-you... You Know about what happened two years ago?" she was barely able to choke out, while her


    lips trembled.


    Fabian grunted in reply. For some reason, his chest ached dully, seeing that her first response was not


    to deny it.


    He squeezed her wrist tighter, his voiceing out frosty, “Yes, | do. In fact, I''d already known about it


    two years ago. You know, | really have to thank you, Vivian. I''m grateful that you’ve shown me just how


    dirty a woman I''d loved for


    three years was. Because of you, I''d firmed my resolve to further my studies in A Nation.”


    Thest shred of color left in her cheeks had soon drained away.


    Two years... In the past two years, she had constantly wondered why he would suddenly leave the


    country when she was at her weakest. He had /eft her alone just when she had needed him the most.


    Now, she was finally aware of the truth.


    ft was all because of that incident.


    In spite of that, however, another thought soon arose in her mind. Two years ago, Fabian had gone out


    of the country before that incident had evene to light.


    Could it be that he had known about it before it had even happened? No way, that''s impossible...


    However, it was painfully evident that this was not the right time to think about that. Hence, she


    struggled to set herself free as she tried to exin, “Fabian, what had happened two years ago was


    merely a misunderstanding! What


    actually happened was that I-”