Chapter 484

The morning light spilled through the curtains, revealing Vivian still curled up in bed. Across the room, her hopeless brother Nathaniel lounged on the sofa, fast asleep. His crisp shirt remained perfectly tucked, not a single wrinkle in sight. Even his dark hair lay undisturbed, every strand in place.

Vivian sighed. A decade of unresolved tension between these two, and they were still trapped in this endless dance of unspoken feelings. It was enough to drive her mad.

"Ahem!" Sophia barged in, yanking the curtains open with dramatic flair. Sunlight flooded the room. "Rise and shine, you two! The day's wasting!"

Nathaniel jolted awake, his expression darkening. In one swift motion, he seized Sophia by the collar, hauling her backward.

"You little brat," he growled. "Finally decided to show your face, huh? Locking us in here was a bold move. Too bold."

Sophia shrieked, flailing like a trapped bird. "Let go, you idiot! I was helping you! All my efforts—wasted!"

She twisted toward Vivian, desperation in her voice. "Vivian, save me! He's lost his mind!"

Despite the chaos, Vivian remained motionless, her back turned to them. Unnervingly still.

Sophia frowned, pausing mid-struggle. "Something's wrong with her." She shot Nathaniel an accusing look. "You were supposed to comfort her last night. What happened?"

Nathaniel shoved his hands into his pockets, his gaze lingering on Vivian's rigid form. "She's in self-preservation mode."

"Self-preservation?" Sophia echoed.

"When the mind takes a hit too hard," Nathaniel murmured, "it shuts down. Some people cry. Some rage. Some drown themselves in vices." His voice softened. "She chose sleep."

Sophia scoffed. "Vivian? Traumatized? She'd never doubt Adrian's survival. This isn't about him."

Nathaniel exhaled sharply. The truth weighed heavy. "Ethan Blackwood is dead. He died saving her. The doctors couldn't revive him."

Sophia's face drained of color. "What?" Her voice cracked. "Ethan Blackwood—dead? That's impossible. The man was a force of nature. Newport City's untouchable king doesn't just—"

"I saw his body," Nathaniel cut in flatly. "White sheet. Cold steel gurney."

A bitter taste filled his mouth. Ethan had been his rival in every way—business, love, life. He'd spent years chasing the man's shadow, only for death to steal that chance forever. Now, Ethan would remain an unconquered legend.

The room plunged into suffocating silence.

Then—Vivian's phone buzzed on the nightstand.