Chapter 4 Who Do You Think You Are?
Theo pouted. “My lactose intolerance is much better now. The doctor said I can have a little once in a while. But Mom always wants to control me, making me do whatever she says.”
The word “control,” coming from a five-year-old, sounded utterly bizarre.
Edmund was about to respond when his phone suddenly rang. He picked up, and Lillian Lennox’s soft voice came through the receiver.
“Edmund, are you home yet?”
“I am.”
“Is Vivienne still not back?”
Edmund was silent for a few seconds. “Why?”
“Edmund, I think I saw her,” Lillian hesitated before continuing, “She’s having dinner with a young man. They seem quite close.”
She paused for a moment before adding carefully, “Did something happen earlier that upset Ms. Everest again? Edmund, maybe you should talk to her and explain things.”
Edmund’s gaze darkened. So instead of coming home to make dinner, Vivienne was out on a date.
His voice turned cold. “Where is she?”
Lillian gave him an address. Edmund simply said, “Got it,” before hanging up.
Inside the restaurant, Adrian Brook stared at Vivienne.
“You’re really going through with it?”
Vivienne nodded. “Midnight Star was custom-made for me by my mother. But I gave up on it for five years, all for the sake of my family…”
She sighed lightly, her expression wistful.
“And now?” Adrian’s voice was low. “Returning to the stage means frequent performances. You’ll be busy. You might not have much time for your husband and child.”
“Theo is healthy now,” Vivienne said, her tone laced with irony. “Besides, he doesn’t need me anymore.”
“What about Edmund?” Adrian asked. “Will he allow it?” The mention of Edmund made Vivienne’s gaze turn icy.
“I don’t need his permission for my life decisions.”
Adrian studied her for a long moment before saying, “He won’t approve of you spending time with me.”
“I don’t need his approval.”
Vivienne suddenly remembered how, years ago, she had distanced herself from Adrian because of a single sentence from Edmund. A trace of guilt flashed across her face.
“Adrian… I’m sorry.”
But Adrian shook his head. “Vivi, you have nothing to apologize for. If anything, I should be the one apologizing. I promised your mother I would always protect you.”
“But eventually, I wasn’t strong enough to keep you from suffering.”
Adrian had been her senior in violin. They had grown up learning music together under her mother’s guidance. Now, Adrian was a renowned violinist, famous both in and outside the industry. His striking looks and melancholic demeanor had made him an unexpected heartthrob, almost on par with the biggest celebrities.
He had wealth and fame, but he wasn’t powerful enough to go up against someone like Edmund.
Vivienne murmured. “It’s not your fault. It was mine…”
Before she could finish, a delicate voice suddenly chimed in from behind.
“Ms. Everest, what a coincidence to see you here!”
Vivienne turned her head to see Lillian standing there in a pristine white dress.
I encountered an unwanted person twice in one day—what rotten luck.
Her tone was indifferent. “What does that have to do with you?”
Lillian smiled gently. “Don’t be upset, Ms. Everest. I was just wondering, Edmund finally came home for once, and yet you’re not there making dinner for him?”
Her voice was light and pleasant, her expression warm and gentle, like an innocent and well-mannered lady. Yet, in contrast, she painted Vivienne as an ungracious, cold-hearted wife. But Vivienne wasn’t blind to the subtle provocation hidden in her words. She lifted her head and caught the glimmer of triumph in Lillian’s eyes before she could hide it.
Vivienne smirked. “Why does Edmund rarely come home? That’s because all his spare time is taken up by you. Are you playing dumb, or do you genuinely not understand?”
Lillian’s face shifted into one of feigned distress. She reached for Vivienne’s hand, her voice anxious.
“Ms. Everest, please allow me to explain. I didn’t mean…” Vivienne cut her off.
“If you’re not playing dumb, then you simply lack self-awareness.”
She pulled her hand back. “Ms. Lillian, people who lack self-awareness are rather annoying.”
“Ah!”
Lillian suddenly gasped and staggered backward. Before Vivienne could react, a tall, imposing figure caught Lillian just before she fell.
“Lillian, are you alright?”
Lillian turned her pale face up, her eyes reddening as if she had just suffered the greatest grievance.
“Edmund… I’m fine. Ms. Everest didn’t mean to. Please don’t be upset with her, okay?”
Edmund’s eyes flickered briefly before he finally noticed Vivienne standing there. His expression darkened.
“Vivienne, apologize to Lillian.”
This scene had played out too many times before.
In the past, Vivienne would have anxiously tried to explain herself.
“It wasn’t me. You have to believe me. Please, listen to me. I didn’t do anything.”
But Edmund never once took her side. He always made her apologize. And if she refused, he would punish her with cold indifference, ignoring her calls, leaving her texts unread, and treating her as if she didn’t exist. Even Theo had picked up on his father’s attitude and had begun freezing her out. In the end, she always had to give in and bow her head.
Now, looking at the situation, Vivienne let out a soft, mocking laugh.
“Why should I listen to you? Who do you think you are?”
Edmund’s expression shifted. For a second, he thought he had misheard.
“What did you say?”
Vivienne met his gaze, her voice cool and clear.
“When I cared about you, whatever you said was law. But now that I don’t… Who do you think you are?”
Edmund finally understood. Never before had Vivienne spoken to him like this.
She had always been gentle and considerate. She used to wait up for me when I came home late. She used to prepare late-night meals when he worked late in his study. She used to bring him tea when he was drunk.
Even after Lillian returned, while she had become less accommodating, she had never directly defied him. For some reason, an unfamiliar irritation surfaced in Edmund’s heart. Just then, a childish voice interrupted them.
“Mommy, you taught me that when you do something wrong, you should apologize. So now that you made a mistake, shouldn’t you apologize to Lillian?”
