Chapter 6 ：Vivian's POV

Why would he call me? And when did I even add his number?

Don't tell me it was last night again?

I was really busy last night!

Recalling certain scenes from last night, my finger hesitated over the answer button.

"Honey, your phone is ringing. Why aren't you answering?"

Maia's eyes indicated that she could step out if I minded.

I shook my head to show it was fine, then answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Do you still remember me? I mean, do you remember me?"

Maxwell's voice sounded somewhat constrained, with a hint of barely detectable nervousness.

What's wrong with him? Why is he speaking so strangely?

"I remember you, Mr. Maxwell. May I ask what this is about?"

"Um, are you free tonight? I'd like to invite you to dinner."

"Dinner?"

I thought I probably didn't want to see Maxwell for a while, even though he was very handsome and exactly my type.

But seeing him would involuntarily make me recall yesterday's awkwardness and madness. I'd always felt that in matters of intimacy, I was the one who held the initiative, but Maxwell could make me lose my armor in a short time and sink into his rhythm.

That damned aphrodisiac!

That's right, it must have been that drug—the effect was too strong. Otherwise, why would I, upon hearing Maxwell's voice, actually start reminiscing about yesterday's sensations?

This is crazy. I need to go to the hospital right away to check if this drug has any side effects!

"Oh, I'm afraid I need to apologize. I've been very busy with work lately and don't have time at the moment."

I politely and courteously declined this invitation from C City's nouveau riche.

"Is... is that so? Alright then. When you're free, I'm available anytime."

The voice on the other end of the phone clearly dropped. I seemed to sense that he felt quite disappointed.

Why would he be disappointed? Because I refused his dinner invitation?

Ignoring the slight guilt in my heart, I once again politely and tactfully declined.

"I'll probably be busy for a while. You know how work things are—they're never-ending."

"Alright then, maybe later?"

"Mm-hmm, later. Mr. Maxwell, I have something to attend to now, so shall we leave it at that?"

"Um... okay."

"Alright, goodbye."

I automatically ignored the increasingly disappointed tone in his voice and politely brushed off the conversation to end it.

As soon as I hung up and looked up, I met Maia's eyes watching the drama unfold.

She had a smile playing at the corners of her mouth, looking at me meaningfully.

How strange. Maia was clearly wearing an exquisite suit, holding coffee in her hand, looking every bit the urban career woman.

But right now I felt she was more suited to be a gossip reporter—her eyes had widened when she heard Maxwell's name just now.

"Was that Maxwell who just called you? Why would he call you?"

I said helplessly, "That's not important. Put away your curiosity."

"Fine, since you don't want to say, I won't ask. I never thought our practice of sharing everything would come to an end like this..." Maia put down her coffee and started sighing sadly, her expression so exaggerated I couldn't bear to look directly at it.

"Stop, stop, stop! Alright, fine, I'll tell you."

I considered for a moment and vaguely explained the general situation: "I was drugged at the time, and... Maxwell helped me out..."

"Oh—no wonder he took the initiative to call you. Looks like he wants to pursue you."

"Stop joking. Maxwell and I are impossible. Besides, I don't have the mind to think about these things right now. I have too many problems to solve."

Thinking about Theodore's betrayal, the planning of the new project, and having to deal with my father and Selena and her mother, my head felt like a tangled mess.

"Before you came, Selena actually took over my mother's office. I kicked her out, but my father still protected Selena."

Thinking of Selena and my father's disgusting faces, my tone involuntarily rose.

"He clearly knows that was my mother's office, a keepsake my mother left for me, yet he actually allowed another woman to go in there, and even wanted to move my mother's belongings. How dare he?"

Maia softly consoled me: "That's why you need to become even stronger, so you'll have the complete ability to protect the things precious to you."

"I also understand why you asked me to come. You want to do a property division with your father, right?"

I took several deep breaths, barely suppressing the anger in my heart.

"Yes, Zhenlai Company was built from scratch by my mother, but look at him—not only is he incompetent in business, he keeps making underhanded moves, placing his own people in important company positions. Several projects have been ruined by him! He even dares to give away my mother's jewelry to others."

My voice was low as I spoke word by word.

"I want to take back everything that belonged to my mother—this company and the house, I want it all!"

"I understand your feelings, and if possible, I also hope you can succeed. But from a legal standpoint, in inheritance law, a spouse can obtain the vast majority or even monopolize the entire inheritance, while children have very little chance of obtaining all the assets." Maia's tone was calm and serious as she analyzed all the possibilities for me from a professional angle.

But no matter which way, the possibility of me making my father leave with nothing was almost zero.

"Unless," Maia's tone shifted, "if Aunt Sterling left a will that could prove all her estate was to be inherited by you, then there would be some chance of winning."

"Did your aunt leave a will like that?"

I lowered my head in thought. A year had already passed. The year my mother died, I had just graduated from university for one year and had just entered the company. I had no experience with many things, but fortunately, my mother had taught me a lot before, so I could barely cope.

From when my mother fell ill to when she passed away was only a short week. It seemed she really didn't leave any words behind.

It's also possible that I was too grief-stricken during that time and couldn't remember some details clearly.

The day before my mother passed away, she called me to her bedside. She struggled to remove her oxygen mask, her tone weak and faint, as if a gust of wind could scatter her voice.

"Baby, remember, Mommy will always love you the most. Mommy will always remember how you loved playing on the swing in the yard when you were little, how you loved climbing the tree and waving at me with a smile."

"You are Mommy's angel. Mommy worked hard just to give you the best life. Remember, Mommy loves you! Forever!"

I held her hand and cried uncontrollably, only able to keep comforting her that she would get better soon.

But unexpectedly, the next day, my mother was gone.

"There probably wasn't one. Mom never mentioned this to me."

"Is there no other way besides this?"