Chapter Seven: Vivian's POV

Maia sighed, "There's none for now, but it's not completely impossible. If your father voluntarily gives up the inheritance, you might be able to get full inheritance rights."

"But your father is constantly trying to pull you down so he can become chairman himself. Giving up the inheritance? Impossible."

Maia reminded me, "Besides, the statute of limitations for the inheritance is almost up. If there's no concrete evidence, it'll be even harder to pursue it after the deadline passes."

My mood grew heavier. Mother's accidental death—if it weren't for Mother having me join the company in advance and transferring the shares to me, I probably wouldn't have even been able to enter the company.

All of Mother's other assets were inherited by Father, including Mother's shares in other companies and her real estate holdings.

Fortunately though, Mother had already transferred the house we're living in to my name.

Otherwise, I'd probably have been kicked out by Father already!

In just two days, so many things have happened to me. I feel like I'm being forced to walk underwater with my hands tied.

I want to struggle free, but the water pressure all around keeps squeezing my body, making it hard to breathe.

"Alright, stop thinking about things that have already happened and are settled. I'll help you figure out the inheritance matter. You just focus on managing the company well and making it better. That way Sterling will be very comforted watching from heaven."

Maia came over and gently patted my shoulder, then deliberately said in an exaggerated tone: "I know a newly opened bar where the bartenders and male servers are all super hot. How about it? Want to go after work?"

I knew she was trying to distract me. I pulled at the corners of my mouth and nodded slightly.

"Okay."

That evening, Maia and I arrived at the bar she mentioned. As soon as we entered, I was attracted by the interior design.

An entire wall of walnut wood paired with mirrored wine cabinets, dark solid wood flooring and recessed warm spotlights created a comfortable, relaxed yet distinctive atmosphere.

The servers there were indeed all good-looking. Whether the female servers or the male bartenders, each one was eye-catching.

As soon as Maia and I sat down in a booth, Maia familiarly started ordering with the server.

"The specialty cocktails here are really good, want to try?"

"Sure."

The handsome bartender at the bar counter skillfully began making the drinks.

Watching his fluid movements, I couldn't help but praise.

"This place is really nice. How did you find it?"

"Um, well, a colleague from the law firm recommended it to me. He brought me here once, and I thought you'd like it, so I recommended it to you."

"Your colleague has pretty good taste too. But do I know this colleague of yours?"

Maia touched her nose and looked away.

"A new colleague. I'll introduce you another day."

"Oh, okay."

I didn't think much of it and nodded in agreement.

The seat we chose was by the window. As the lights outside came on, watching the sky slowly sink into silence, I thought again of that moment yesterday.

It was around this time too when I went from being full of joy to starting to worry whether Theodore had gotten into an accident. I kept calling but he wouldn't pick up. When I was anxiously about to call the police, I received Theodore's breakup text.

Ha, my first reaction was actually thinking he'd been kidnapped, but the tone of the text and even Theodore's habit of spelling made me realize it was sent by him personally. He liked to end messages with either a smile or crying emoji, and that text had the exact same crying emoji at the end.

Ugh—! Damn Theodore, when I see you again, I'm definitely going to beat you up! Otherwise this lady really can't swallow this anger!

The drinks were quickly served. I took a big gulp, and my attention was instantly attracted by this cocktail.

At first sip there was no taste of alcohol at all, only a strange refreshing fragrance with a slight sweetness. Only after swallowing did the intensity of the alcohol slowly rise.

Maia looked at my expression and winked at me.

"This specialty cocktail is pretty good, right?"

"Yeah, it really is great. Looks like this bar is going to become one of our regular spots too."

Maia raised her glass to me, and I raised mine to clink with hers.

The crisp clinking sound strangely eased the frustration in my heart.

Maia and I kept talking about Theodore.

I drank while telling her how good he used to be to me.

Maia sat beside me, taking a sip of her drink and cursing Theodore with each one.

"You don't even know how good he was to me before. When that restaurant I loved eating at closed down, he immediately hired their head chef to cook for me."

"Maybe he was just greedy himself and wanted to eat there but used you as an excuse. How shameless!"

"What about my graduation thesis and design that he stayed up late to help me revise?"

"If he didn't deliberately act like it was hard work, would you have felt so sorry for him? That dog, pretty deep scheming."

"But he also customized birthday surprises for me. When I said I wanted to see the sunrise by the sea, he booked plane tickets overnight to take me to an island."

"Red-eye flights are so cheap. How stingy."

"But..."

I was momentarily at a loss for words. I couldn't out-argue Maia. This ace lawyer's mouth really wasn't wasted.

"He already broke up with you. Why are you still remembering how good he was to you before? If he was good to you, it's because you deserved to be treated that way. Besides, if he really was good to you, could he cheat with someone else and then break up with you?"

I immediately grabbed Maia's hand and nodded heavily.

"You're right! Theodore could be with me while also cheating with someone else, and for a whole year without me finding out. That proves his previous kindness to me was likely all an act, and this dog is good at pretending. How shameless!"

Maia very much agreed with my words and clinked glasses with me again. We drank it all in one gulp.

After finishing, we ordered another round.

After a while, I felt the need to use the restroom.

I stood up, "Where's the bathroom?"

Maia pointed in a direction, and I walked toward the restroom.

After washing my hands, just as I was about to turn around, someone coming toward me bumped into me. I uncontrollably fell toward the ground beside me.

"Ah!"

I cried out in alarm. Facing the pain that was about to come, I fearfully closed my eyes.

My waist felt warm as I felt someone hold me firmly, pulling me into a hard chest.

"Vivian, it's okay now, don't be afraid."

The familiar voice made me immediately open my eyes. The person I saw was indeed Theodore.

He was wearing a white shirt and fitted dress pants, with his collar half open, revealing his firm chest muscles.

I used to love this look on him the most—it looked casual yet handsome.

But now I just found it disgusting!

I pushed him away forcefully, my face full of rejection.

"What are you doing here?"

Seeing me being so guarded against him, Theodore actually showed a hurt expression.

He had deep-set eyes and naturally carried a melancholic air. Every time he made a mistake, he would look at me with this kind of expression.

In the past I would always soften, but now seeing this expression only made me more disgusted.

"You hurt me, yet you're acting like the victim. Who are you putting on this act for?"

My fists clenched. I really wanted to punch him in the face and see if he could continue pretending to be devoted.

This damn bastard!