"This time, I'm going to teach him a real lesson. From now on, everything revolves around me—no exceptions, no questions asked."

"Just play your part when the time comes."

A flicker of cold calculation passed through Ethan's eyes, though he nodded with practiced deference.

When they reached the villa community entrance, Manager Finch was still waiting.

Nora didn't bother getting out. She lowered her window and addressed him coolly. "Good work, Manager Finch. Keep it up. Without my explicit permission, Alex Gilbert is not to set foot in this community again."

Manager Finch's expression shifted—something caught in his throat he couldn't quite say.

Nora didn't notice, but Ethan did.

His face darkened. "Don't tell me you let him in."

"Need I remind you who the actual homeowner is here? Alex Gilbert is nothing but a live-in son-in-law. You want to keep your job, you follow Ms. Simmons's orders."

Nora's gaze turned icy. "What happened?"

Sweat beaded on Manager Finch's forehead. "Miss Simmons, Mr. Gilbert did enter the community. But it wasn't a security lapse—he was invited."

They both froze.

"By whom?" Nora demanded.

Manager Finch hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Your former friend. The Pruitt heiress. She's also a homeowner here. She invited Mr. Gilbert to her residence, and we had no grounds to refuse."

Nora's face went dark.

"Drive," she snapped at Ethan. "To Vivian's house. Now. I want to know exactly what she thinks she's doing."

At that moment, I was having tea at the Pruitt residence.

Harold and Margaret Pruitt had been chatting with me for hours. The way they looked at me grew increasingly peculiar—like parents sizing up a future son-in-law, and liking what they saw more with each passing minute.

That morning, when I'd been stopped at the community gate, Vivian happened to be driving home. The moment she understood the situation, she'd practically dragged me into her car without a word.

Vivian and Nora had been classmates, then best friends. Their families' wealth was comparable, and when Nora's parents died in that car accident, Vivian had stepped up immediately. Without her help, I never could have stabilized Simmons Corp so quickly, no matter how hard I worked.

They really had been inseparable once—the kind of friends who shared everything.

When did it fall apart?

About six months ago.

I'd been buried in two critical transformation projects at Simmons Corp, barely coming up for air. Meanwhile, Ethan had joined the company as Nora's assistant. The chemistry between them became impossible to ignore.

Vivian confronted Nora about it—defending me.

Nora exploded. Accused Vivian of having ulterior motives. Of wanting me for herself.

Just like that, years of friendship ended.

Looking back now, it still felt surreal.

After dinner, Harold and Margaret excused themselves. I moved to leave too, but Vivian stopped me, insisting I stay for tea.

"What's the rush?" She smiled. "Afraid I'll eat you? You just divorced Nora. You've got nowhere to be. Would it kill you to keep me company for a while?"

I rolled my eyes at Vivian in annoyance.

She wasn't trying to have a conversation—she wanted Nora to show up and make a fool of herself.

Before I could speak, Vivian said softly, "About my parents wanting you as CEO of Pruitt Corp—think it over carefully."

"Their health hasn't been great these past few years. They're worried I can't hold things together alone, and they've always wanted to find me a capable partner."

"Back then, if you hadn't married Nora, my family would've poached you ages ago..."

A dull boom from outside cut her off. We both jumped.

Through the floor-to-ceiling window, I saw Nora's car had smashed straight through the Pruitt family's courtyard gate.

Watching Ethan and Nora storm out of the car, Vivian turned to me with a smile. "Looks like your ex-wife is furious."

I stared at her, speechless. She could still smile at a time like this?

Ethan and Nora walked into the villa. When Nora saw Vivian and me drinking tea together, her face twisted with rage.

"Alex, I told you before—no more contact with her. Did you forget?" She jabbed a finger at me. "You—"

"Nora." Vivian's voice turned ice-cold. "You've already signed the divorce papers, haven't you? Where Alex goes and who he sees doesn't require your permission anymore."

Nora's expression froze. She had nothing to say.

Ethan jumped in. "Vivian, that's not quite right. Ms. Simmons and Mr. Gilbert haven't officially gotten their divorce certificates yet—"

Vivian's teacup flew across the room. Ethan couldn't dodge in time—it struck him square in the chest, tea drenching his clothes.

Vivian looked at him coldly, her face expressionless. "Who gave you permission to use my first name? Do I know you? Do you even have the standing to speak here?"

"You freeloading piece of trash—your little tricks might fool an idiot like Nora, but they don't work on me."

"Disgusting. If you're going to be someone's dog, at least know your place. The owner hasn't even spoken yet and you're already snapping at people. What the hell are you?"

"Say one more word. I'll make sure you don't see tomorrow's sun."

Ethan's face went green. But he didn't dare talk back. Vivian's status was far beyond anything he could challenge. If she decided to go after him, even with Nora's protection, his future would be hell.

Nora shouted, "Vivian Pruitt, you've gone too far! Ethan is our junior from college. How can you humiliate him like this?"

Vivian sneered. "Nora, sometimes I really can't tell if you're genuinely stupid or just playing dumb."

"What exactly is Ethan Mason to you?"

"For him, you threw away nearly ten years of friendship between us."

"For him, you divorced Alex and handed over his VP position like it was nothing."

"What kind of spell did he put on you? Or have you finally found your true love—planning to spend your whole life with this kept man?"

"But here's what I don't understand." Vivian tilted her head, studying Nora. "If you chose him, then why—the moment you heard Alex was here—did you come racing over in such a fury?"

"Oh, I get it now—you want it both ways?"

"Tsk tsk, shameless!"

Vivian's mouth really was something. She talked Nora into trembling all over.

Nora knew she couldn't match that sharp tongue. She glared at me and shouted, "Alex, stop playing deaf!"

"You're coming with me right now, or I will never forgive you!"

I replied calmly, "You signed the divorce agreement. I left with nothing. There's no relationship between us anymore."

Nora flew into a rage. "I don't care! You have to come with me. You can't stay here!"

"Alex, I'm pregnant with your child. If you don't listen to me, I'll go to the hospital right now and abort it!"

Hearing her use the child as a threat, I laughed.

But the smile on my face held no warmth.

I looked straight at her and said, word by word, "Are you sure that child is mine?"