Chapter 23

The space between them crackled with tension.

After four years of marriage, they'd never stood this close. Vivian's cheeks burned as she struggled to steady her breath.

"Mr. Blackwood, I hope you'll give us your blessing. After all, I've already given you mine."

Ethan's gaze turned stormy. "Who is it? Theodore Osborne's youngest boy? That kid's three years your junior."

His words ignited her temper. Since when did age matter? Men date women decades younger without judgment.

"What's it to you?" She tilted her chin. "Younger men adore experienced women these days. His relentless pursuit was... irresistible."

"I don't care about the age gap," Ethan gritted out. "But Liam Osborne is forbidden. Ask anyone—the boy's a notorious playboy. Someone like you could never handle him."

Vivian's nails bit into her palms. Why does he care? We're getting divorced!

Since when does the great Nathaniel Blackwood, the untouchable ice prince, concern himself with his ex-wife's dating life?

"Whether I can 'handle' him isn't your business." Her laugh was sharp. "Maybe I enjoy a challenge. Maybe danger excites me."

She thrust the papers forward. "You're a busy man. Just sign these so we can both move on."

When he didn't react, she pulled out her phone. "Lost your copy? No matter—I've got the PDF right here. We can print new ones immediately."

Her eagerness to sever ties sent a dark ripple through him. Four years of marriage—even a hollow one—meant something. This felt like theft.

"What if I refuse?" Ethan pocketed his hands, arrogance in every line of his body.

"Seriously?" Her scoff could have frosted glass. Typical man. Gorgeous face, impeccable reputation, rotten core.

"Fine. Let's play your game." Her fingers flew across the screen.

Ethan frowned. "What are you doing?"

This fiery woman bore no resemblance to the docile wife he remembered. Who was this defiant creature?

A moment later, Vivian aimed her phone at him with a smirk.

"Live streaming."

"Have you lost your mind?"

On screen, her expression crumpled into melodramatic despair. "Help me, everyone! I—I can't take this anymore!"

"This is my husband, Nathaniel Blackwood—CEO of Blackwood Group, scion of Harborview City's elite..."

"Today I discovered his affair! His mistress is pregnant! Yet he refuses to sign our divorce, denying me even a cent of support!"

Her voice trembled. "Do the wealthy think they're above morality? Must the victim suffer while the cheater prospers?"

Ethan stared, dumbfounded. This absurd performance can't possibly—

His phone rang. Ethan Young's panicked voice crackled through. "Sir! Mrs. Blackwood is sobbing on our corporate account! Thirty million viewers are calling you a adulterer! They're threatening to boycott all Blackwood projects!"

"Whatever lovers' quarrel this is, take it offline!" his secretary begged. "The stream's going viral across every platform!"

Ethan lunged for his laptop. Sure enough, his office filled the screen on Blackwood Group's official page.

She actually did it.

The realization hit like a thunderbolt.