Chapter 3

Whatever fragile love Vivian and I once shared had burned to ash in that fiery plane crash.

In this second chance at life, we had silently chosen to treat each other like ghosts—two parallel lines that would never cross. Even running into her by pure accident now, I had zero desire to engage.

Calmly picking up the emerald necklace, I handed it right back to her.

"Miss Vance, if you're in the mood for charity, take a right out the front doors and find the nearest shelter. I'm not your personal dumpster."

Vivian flared up, her voice rising hysterically. "Sean, you know damn well what I'm trying to do! Why do you always have to twist my good intentions?!"

My tone remained deadpan and detached. "Miss Vance, you have a fiancé standing right next to you. Mind your boundaries. I'm under no obligation to understand your motives, nor do I care. The money I make covers my life just fine, and I'm perfectly happy."

With that, I turned away, completely tuning her out.

Trembling with rage, Vivian slammed the emerald necklace onto the floor with a sharp, sickening crack.

Ethan's expression instantly tightened.

He bent down, carefully scooped up the bruised jewelry, and turned to me with a patronizing, condescending smile.

"Sean, man to man, I get it. Pride is a tough thing to swallow."

"Vivian is my girl, and she genuinely wants to help you out. Whatever she wants, I'll make happen. Since you're too proud to accept such a high-end necklace, how about I offer you a nice, easy gig instead?"

"Our purebred dog needs a full-time, live-in handler. Five grand a month, room and board covered, plus basic health insurance. Don't let your stubborn pride starve you to death. Just come report to our penthouse tomorrow!"

A loud, mocking buzz rippled through the gathered crowd.

"Hear that?! Vivian and Ethan are absolute saints! They're bending over backward to help Sean out, basically handing him a retirement fund on a silver platter."

"Taking care of a pampered puppy is a million times better than being a club doorman!"

"If he turns this down, it just proves how greedy he really is—probably hoping to leech off Vivian for free! Why doesn't he take a good look in the mirror? He isn't fit to lace Ethan's shoes!"

My brow furrowed, my voice dropping an octave. "I said, no."

Vivian snapped impatiently, "Fine! If you love being an obedient dog that much, go right ahead! Rot in your own misery for all I care!"

Seeing Vivian treat me with such open hostility, her die-hard fans immediately piled on.

The loud older woman who had started the gossip earlier puffed up her chest, marching right up to tower over me with a sneer.

"Hey, Sean! Since you've got such a big appetite, how about this? Crawl between my legs ten times and call me 'gorgeous.' If you do, I might just take pity on you, make you my little boy-toy, and pay your bills. How's that sound?"

A couple of young female fans beside her, desperate to score points with Vivian, rushed forward and shove me hard.

Caught off balance, I fell forward, landing squarely between the older woman's feet as if I were bowing at her feet.

Vivian's face turned thunderous. She lunged forward, violently shoving the older woman and the girls back.

"Is this the kind of garbage my fan club represents?! Who gave you permission to pull a stunt like that?!"

"If anyone ever pulls this kind of cheap, trashy nonsense in front of me again, get the hell out! Don't you dare disgust me with your filth!"

The older woman and the girls tumbled to the floor, completely stunned.

Realizing what they had done, they scrambled to their knees, sobbing and begging Vivian for forgiveness.

Vivian didn't show a shred of mercy, kicking them away in disgust.

Ethan hurried over, catching her arm and whispering urgently, "Vivian, people are watching! Don't give anyone a chance to record this and spin it against you! You're a freshly crowned Best Actress! Watch your public image!"

Vivian glared daggers at the women on the floor, her fury barely contained. "That's even more reason not to pull this vile crap in my name!"

I slowly sat up, genuinely bewildered.

Did Vivian just turn against her own fans... to stand up for me?

Ethan swiftly changed the subject, pointing toward the massive flat-screen mounted on the lobby wall.

"Vivian, do you know why I booked your fan meet at this specific club?"

"The owner here is an absolute titan in the New York media scene. She controls over fifty production and talent agencies. More than half the award-winning dramas and films in recent years came straight out of her studio. Everyone in the entertainment world would kill to get in her good graces."

"She's actually bringing her family for an inspection tour today. If we can get in her inner circle, our careers will literally skyrocket overnight!"

The fans, who had been gossiping a moment ago, instantly swarmed toward the glass entrance, craning their necks in anticipation.

Right on cue, a sleek, stretch Lincoln Navigator pulled up to the club's private curb.

A tight security detail flanked a nanny who gently escorted a little girl into the grand foyer.

The older fan woman shrieked at the top of her lungs, "The little heiress is here! Our little golden ticket has arrived!"

I pushed through the crowd, wanting to catch a glimpse of the child.

The older woman slammed her elbow sharply into my ribs.

"Back off, loser! This VIP is only for Vivian's real fans to greet! Who the hell do you think you are? You disrespect Vivian, refuse my generous offer, and think you have the right to stand here? Get lost!"

Ethan subtly arched an eyebrow, and another fan caught the hint, giving me a violent shove.

The little girl caught in the center of the crowd turned pale with fright.

Without a second thought, she broke away from her nanny, sprinted through the sea of people straight toward me, and gasped in panic, "Daddy! Are you okay?!"