Chapter 410

The following afternoon.

Vivian and Sophia arrived at an upscale seafood bistro overlooking the harbor.

"Vivian, look—that's my boyfriend, William Carter. Isn't he dreamy?"

Sophia gestured toward a well-dressed man waiting in the reserved section, his fingers drumming lightly against the tablecloth. He kept adjusting his tie, clearly nervous about the meeting.

Vivian studied him. "He seems... sweet. Not what I expected from someone who caught your eye."

She'd always assumed Sophia would go for the brooding, powerful type—given her obsession with those dark, intense actors.

But gentle had its perks. At least this one looked like he'd remember anniversaries. Assuming, of course, he wasn't hiding fangs beneath that polished smile.

William spotted them. His face lit up as he waved them over.

"Sophia!"

He immediately took her bag, then laced their fingers together. "You must be starving. I ordered the coconut crab—your favorite."

Sophia beamed. "This is my best friend, Vivian. Closer than a sister, honestly. She's brilliant—runs a company, hacks systems for fun, graduated top of her class at—"

Ahem.

Vivian cut her off with a sharp smile. "Vivian Lockhart. Nice to meet you."

"William Carter." He adjusted his glasses, returning the smile.

Dinner passed smoothly. William peeled shrimp for Sophia, refilled their glasses without being asked, and maintained just the right amount of polite distance from Vivian.

According to Sophia, he was third-generation American—father a surgeon, mother a literature professor. A philosophy major at Columbia. Impeccable pedigree, flawless manners.

Too flawless.

Vivian swirled her wine. "Sophia mentioned you're getting married this month. Isn't that fast? You've only known each other three months."

William didn't blink. "When it's right, time doesn't matter. We knew by the third day." He squeezed Sophia's hand. "She's it for me. I'd marry her tomorrow if I could."

The way they gazed at each other—saccharine enough to rot teeth.

"Remember this moment," Vivian said coolly. She clinked her glass against his. "Because if you hurt her, I'll make sure you regret it."

She downed the wine in one go.

Her own love life was a disaster. Sophia's wouldn't be.

After dinner, Vivian made an excuse to leave. She wandered the mall, then pulled out her phone.

"Kevin. Long time. I need a favor—run a background check for me."

Kevin Reynolds—her old lab partner from Stanford. If anyone could dig up skeletons, it was him.