Chapter 2: First Meeting with Vivian

Adam rarely came home early.

When he pushed open the door, Emily was in the kitchen cooking pasta. The water in the pot was boiling. She stood at the stove, skillfully cutting tomatoes with swift movements, just like every other day over the past three years.

He leaned against the doorframe watching for a while, suddenly feeling something surreal about this scene. It seemed like nothing had changed, yet everything had changed.

"Going on a trip?" He noticed the suitcase standing in the living room and asked casually.

"Going back to Silverpine City to visit my brother," Emily said without looking up.

Adam walked into the kitchen, approached her from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and smelled the scent of her hair. He'd done this countless times before, and each time Emily would tilt her head slightly, her ears turning red.

But this time, she just shifted aside and said, "Stop it, the pasta's going to burn."

Adam froze for a moment, pulled back his hand, and leaned against the refrigerator. He suddenly remembered the photo Nathan had sent him, and the corner of his mouth lifted. "Someone saw you buying a watch today."

Emily's hands didn't stop moving. "Yes."

"Who's it for?" His tone carried a hint of smugness, as if he already knew the answer.

"My fiancé."

"You love him that much? Spending so much money on him?" He was deliberately teasing her.

Emily looked at the pot in front of her, her voice calm. "Yes, it's like a token of our love."

Adam smiled and didn't say anything more. He was really afraid that if he kept going, Emily would propose to him right then and there.

When the pasta was done, Emily brought it to the dining table. Adam sat down, took a bite, and said casually, "When you're gone, I won't have anyone to make me dinner."

As soon as he said it, he felt it was unreasonable. Emily was going back to her hometown, and his first reaction was that no one would cook for him.

But Emily laughed.

It was a faint laugh, carrying an emotion he couldn't read. "You're a grown man, you won't starve yourself to death, will you?"

Adam was taken aback and lowered his head to eat without saying more.

After eating, he surprisingly took the initiative to clear the dishes and wash them in the kitchen.

Emily leaned against the doorframe watching his clumsy movements. The corner of her mouth curved up, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. She thought, three years, and the first time he voluntarily washed dishes was the day before she was leaving.

"Emily," he said with his back to her, "when are you coming back?"

"Not sure."

"What do you mean, not sure?" He turned off the faucet, turned around to look at her, his brow furrowed.

He wasn't used to her saying things like this. Emily had always been "okay," "sure," "I'll do what you say," never saying "no."

"When you get back, I have something to tell you." He thought for a moment and added, "Something very important."

Emily didn't ask what it was, just said, "Go to bed early."

She turned and went upstairs.

After Emily lay down in bed.

Adam lay down beside her not long after, reaching out to put his arm around her waist, but she gently avoided it.

"Emily?"

Adam's hand hung in mid-air, not knowing whether to pull it back or reach forward.

He turned over, staring at the ceiling, a feeling he couldn't quite describe welling up inside him. This sense of something being wrong made him a bit panicked, but it was only for a moment before he pushed the feeling down. What was there to panic about? Emily loved him so much, she couldn't possibly leave, could she?

He said in a low voice, "Let me know when you get there tomorrow."

After he spoke, he waited a long time with no response. He turned his head to look, and Emily's breathing was steady, as if she'd really fallen asleep.

He closed his eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep himself.

What he didn't know was that Emily, with her back to him, wasn't asleep at all.

She buried her face in the pillow, not making a sound.

In three days, she would leave this city, leave this person who had made her a substitute for three years.

The next morning, Emily had just finished booking a flight for Wednesday afternoon.

Her phone rang. It was an unknown number.

"Is this Emily?" On the other end was a middle-aged woman, her voice carrying a condescending tone. "I'm Adam's mother."

Emily's hand tightened slightly around the phone. "Mrs. Blake, hello."

Catherine Blake's tone was unfriendly. "I'm calling to make one thing clear to you. Adam is not someone a person like you can aspire to. You're just a little designer, making that pittance every month, can't even support yourself. Do you really think you're good enough for him?"

Emily didn't say anything.

She listened to the voice on the other end and suddenly felt it was ridiculous. Catherine didn't even know who she was, what she did for work, or what her family situation was, yet dared to call and humiliate her.

Catherine continued, "I watched Vivian grow up. Good family background, highly educated, beautiful—she and Adam are a match made in heaven. If you know what's good for you, you'll leave on your own, before things get ugly for everyone."

After listening, Emily suddenly laughed. It was a faint laugh, like hearing an unfunny joke.

"Mrs. Blake, don't worry, I've never thought about aspiring to your family."

Catherine was infuriated by her indifferent attitude. "What kind of attitude is that? Let me tell you—"

"Mrs. Blake," Emily interrupted her, her voice calm, "I have things to do. I'm hanging up now."

She hung up the phone, placed it on the coffee table, and continued drinking her unfinished coffee.

Her hands didn't shake, her heart didn't panic.

That afternoon.

Emily was invited to attend the opening of a gallery exhibition by her friend from the industry, Megan Torres. She hadn't wanted to go, but Megan called three times insisting, saying "you have to come support me."

Emily stood in front of her closet for a long time, finally choosing a dark green dress.

She'd bought this dress a long time ago but had never worn it. To be able to stay by Adam's side, she didn't want to expose her habit of spending extravagantly in front of him.

But today, she just wanted to wear it.

The exhibition was held at the art museum in the city center. Quite a few people came, all second-generation rich kids from Birchwood City's social circle. When Emily arrived, Megan was greeting guests at the entrance. Seeing her, her eyes lit up. "Emily! You look absolutely stunning today!"

Emily smiled, exchanged a few pleasantries with her, picked up a glass of champagne, and walked into the exhibition hall.

She had just stopped in front of a painting when she heard footsteps behind her. She instinctively turned around and saw Adam walking in with Vivian on his arm.

Adam wore a dark blue suit, his hair combed meticulously, his mouth carrying that usual careless smile. Vivian beside him wore a white evening gown, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, smiling sweetly as she greeted people around her.

The moment their eyes met, Adam was clearly stunned. He instinctively tried to pull his hand away from Vivian's grip, but her fingers tightened, firmly holding onto his arm, her smile unchanged.

Emily held her wine glass, calmly watching them approach.

"You must be Emily, right?" Vivian spoke first, her voice carrying a sweet tone. "Adam mentions you often. Has anyone ever told you we look a bit alike?"

As she spoke, she tilted her head, her eyes scanning Emily's face, as if confirming something.

Emily unhurriedly took a sip of champagne, set down her glass, and smiled slightly. "Really? Maybe it's because I have a rather ordinary face." She paused, her smile deepening. "Though this is the first time I've seen someone so eager to claim an ordinary face as their own."

Several socialites nearby couldn't help but laugh out loud.