Chapter 3

Olivia's POV

I hadn't expected him to return tonight.

Vivian returned to the country tonight. Shouldn't two lovers separated for three months spend the entire night clinging to each other?

How could he bear to part from her?

Sean Foster actually had the heart to let his darling sleep alone in an empty room?

I couldn't fathom it.

I hung up the phone and brushed it off nonchalantly.

"A birthday gift for Mrs. Harrison of Horizon Corporation. Her birthday is next week."

The excuse was full of holes.

Mrs. Harrison's birthday was last week, the gift had already been sent, and Sean had even attended the banquet alongside me.

If he paid even the slightest attention, he would have caught my lie.

Fortunately, he wasn't listening at all.

Head down, staring at his phone screen with a faint smile tugging at his lips, his fingers flew across the keyboard. He simply murmured an absentminded "mm" and let it slide.

Looking at him like this, I didn't know whether to feel relieved or pathetic.

Only after sending his text did Sean look up at me properly.

"Olivia, a cousin of mine just returned to the country. Her living arrangements haven't been settled yet, so she wants to stay here for a few days. Look after her for a bit."

"Don't tell my mother about this. She's a relative on my father's side. You know how bitter things got when my parents divorced; Mother has always despised anyone from the Foster side."

I looked at him quietly and asked, "What is your cousin's name?"

"Vivian Hayes. You can just call her Vivian."

Now I understood.

The only reason he bothered coming back tonight was for this—to move his darling right into my home.

"Why doesn't she stay at a hotel?"

"She's family. Why should she stay at a hotel?"

Whenever Sean Foster mentioned Vivian Hayes, his eyes brimmed with tenderness and pity.

"Olivia, you're usually so sensible. Don't be petty."

I didn't say another word.

I was leaving soon anyway and would never come back. There was no point in arguing over such trivial matters. They could do whatever they wanted with the house.

I couldn't be bothered to waste my breath on him. I turned around and continued packing.

Sean assumed I was clearing out a room for Vivian, and his knitted brows instantly smoothed out.

"You could just let Nancy, the maid, handle this. But knowing you did it yourself will make Vivian even happier. I'll bring her back tomorrow."

With that, he wrapped his arms around my waist and leaned down to kiss me.

A pungent scent of perfume drifted toward me.

I recognized it—it was the exact perfume Vivian Hayes had flaunted on her social media account.

My stomach churned. I turned my head away and shoved his arm.

"You haven't showered. You stink."

Sean let go in embarrassment and turned toward the bathroom.

I didn't wait for him. I switched off the lights, lay down on my own, and closed my eyes.

I had no idea how much time had passed when a sharp sting on my scalp woke me up.

Opening my eyes, I was startled to see a woman standing by the bed, gripping a pair of scissors and glaring venomously at me.

"That's what you get for hogging Sean! You bitch! Ugly freak! I'll ruin you!"

I sobered up instantly.

It was Vivian Hayes.

Instinctively, I reached for my hair.

My once-silky long locks had been butchered into a ragged mess, ruined beyond repair.

Snapping back to my senses, I backhanded her across the face.

Caught off guard, Vivian gasped as one side of her face immediately swelled up.

Enraged, she lunged at me.

"You bitch! How dare you hit me!"

"You're damn right I hit you!"

Taking advantage of the momentum, I snatched the scissors from her hand, grabbed a fistful of Vivian's hair, and moved to cut it.

Terrified, Vivian shrieked and flailed wildly.

"Sean! Sean, save me!"

Just as the blades were about to snip into her strands, a hand seized my wrist with crushing force.

Sean Foster rushed in at the noise, his face dark as thunder.

"Olivia Vance, what are you doing!"

Vivian immediately threw herself into his arms, weeping breathlessly.

"Sean, she bullied me! She hit me! Look at my face!"

Sean snatched the scissors, threw them aside, and shoved me away with force.

I stumbled and crashed against the side of the bed, my waist slamming hard into the corner of the nightstand. The agonizing pain broke out into cold sweat across my forehead.

Sean didn't spare me a single glance. He gently cupped Vivian's swollen cheek, his face etched with heartache.

"Olivia Vance, apologize!"

Supporting myself against the nightstand, I struggled to stand upright, the pain in my waist making my voice tremble.

"Are you blind? Can't you see she hacked off my hair? I'm calling the police!"

Only then did Sean turn his head toward me.

Seeing my jagged, butchered hair, he stiffened, a flicker of guilt flashing in his eyes.

"Ahem, this is Vivian, the cousin I told you about. She's only twenty-six."

He glanced at Vivian's swollen cheek, and his expression hardened again.

"She doesn't know any better, but you should! Why call the police over such a trivial matter!"

I was so furious I almost laughed out loud.

Vivian Hayes was twenty-six, so she was 'still young' and allowed to be reckless and ignorant.

Yet I was also twenty-six—in fact, three months younger than Vivian—and I had to be sensible?

"She doesn't know any better? Then let the police teach her some sense."

I reached for my phone.

Sean snatched it away before I could touch it. "Enough!"

He turned to Vivian, his tone softening. "Vivian, go back to your room first. I'll talk to her."

Wiping away her tears, Vivian shot me a smug, triumphant look before turning and leaving the room.

Once the door closed, Sean sighed and spoke with earnest condescension:

"What happened today was Vivian's fault, and I apologize on her behalf. But you're being far too petty. Olivia, you shouldn't be so unforgiving when you hold the upper hand."

This time, I genuinely laughed out loud. Then I pointed to my ruined hair.

"As my husband, shouldn't you give me an explanation for this?"

Sean let out a long breath, seemingly suppressing his temper.

"The yacht you liked last time—I'll buy it for you."

"A cheap yacht? You think I can't afford one myself?"

I sneered.

Choked by my retort, Sean's expression turned even darker.

"Then what do you want? If it really makes you feel better, cut my hair off too! Will that satisfy you?"

I froze.

Sean Foster was obsessed with saving face and maintaining his image. He was always immaculate, down to every single strand of hair.

Yet for Vivian Hayes, he was willing to say something like this, discarding his pride entirely.