Morning.

Sunlight slipped through the sheer curtains and spilled across Vivienne Hartwell’s pale, delicate face.

Her cheeks were faintly flushed. Wrapped tight in the blanket, she breathed in soft, uneven little bursts.

"Mmh..." Vivienne frowned slightly.

It felt like someone was holding her tightly in his arms, his masculine scent and body heat surrounding her from every side.

By her ear, a man’s low voice lingered, gentle and coaxing. "Be good, Amy. Go to sleep early..."

...

Then all at once, a sharp ringtone ripped through the silence and yanked Vivienne out of sleep.

Her scalp tingled. She sucked in air greedily, chest rising and falling fast.

The way that man had murmured her to sleep had felt way too real. The feeling of being right there, inside it, was so vivid she honestly couldn’t tell if what just happened was reality or just another dream.

And...

This wasn’t even the first time she’d had a dream like that.

Vivienne took a deep breath. After she finally steadied herself, she grabbed her phone and answered the call.

"Miss, the old master asked me to remind you to get ready for tonight’s dinner banquet. He wants you to meet the second young master of the Caldwell family." On the other end, the butler’s voice was as respectful as ever.

Vivienne’s brows drew together. "Do I really have to go?"

"Uh..." The butler sounded awkward. "Miss, you know the old master’s temper. If you don’t go, he’ll probably fake being sick again and pressure you."

Vivienne let out a quiet sigh and rubbed her temple, completely helpless. "Fine. Tell Grandpa I’ll go."

With that, she ended the call.

Under the cold light, Vivienne slipped off the lace slip she had on, exposing skin smooth as cream.

When she walked into the bathroom, it was obvious she was trying to suppress the desire that man had stirred up in her. She turned on the cold water and let it pour over her body.

Who exactly was that man, and why did he keep showing up in her dreams?

More importantly... that dream didn’t even feel like a dream. It felt like something that had actually happened.

Until she figured it out, there was no way she was marrying anyone.

Especially not for some ridiculous business marriage.

After stepping out of the bathroom, Vivienne Hartwell changed into a short white dress. Before heading out, she deliberately stopped by a salon and had her originally light-blonde curls dyed black and straightened.

She’d heard the Caldwell family liked women who were glamorous and mature. So of course, today she was doing the exact opposite, taking the road less traveled and going full innocent-girl mode.

As for how she was going to act...

A family like the Caldwells, with all their money and status, would definitely want their future daughter-in-law to be proper, capable, and know how to carry herself.

So...

She was absolutely going to do the reverse.

A pure little sweetheart turning into a top-tier white lotus overnight—honestly, even she was curious how that would land.

Once the styling was done, Vivienne even clipped a white gardenia hairpin into her smooth dark hair for the finishing touch. The whole look made her seem fresh and delicate, like a lotus just rising out of water.

Ding—

Her phone lit up.

Vivienne pulled it out and opened WeChat.

Her best friend Natalie Ashford: "Xixi, I already checked for you. The Caldwell brothers are going to Visi Bar tonight. Solid intel!"

Vivienne narrowed her bright, lively eyes a little, then quickly typed back: "ok"

Since her grandfather’s side was a dead end, then she’d have to start with the Caldwell family instead.

If what she did tonight made the second young master, Lance Caldwell, disgusted with her, then wouldn’t this engagement naturally fall apart?

If the Caldwell family looked down on her, her grandfather probably wouldn’t force her into marrying over there, right?

...

Inside Vance Bar.

Adrian Caldwell pushed open the private room door and walked in at an easy pace. He slipped off his coat and handed it to the waiter beside him, then swept his gaze over his younger brother slumped on the sofa with a long face, along with the group of friends throwing him a "farewell to single life" party.

"Young Master Caldwell is here!"

One of them instantly lit up and said with a grin, "Young Master Caldwell, seriously, talk some sense into your brother. He's saying he'd rather die than marry a woman he hasn't even met."

Lance Caldwell looked up. Just one glance was enough for him to feel the pressure rolling off Adrian like a storm front.

He instantly turned pitiful. "Bro, can you help me talk to Dad?"

Adrian's expression didn't change. His voice stayed low and calm. "Dad just wants someone to rein in your spoiled playboy habits."

"I'm not listening to him!" Lance shot back. "Rein me in? How's that any different from getting an extra mom?"

He grabbed Adrian's arm and all but begged, "Bro, you can't just leave me here to die..."

Before he could finish, his phone rang.

The caller ID read: "Gemini, 22, Designer."

Obviously, just another fish in his pond.

Lance picked up right away. "Baby, don't cry. I'm coming over now!"

That "baby" made Adrian frown. "Baby? Since when did you get this cringe?"

Lance sprang to his feet, pulling on his jacket as he hurriedly said, "I forgot her name."

"..."

At the same time, Vivienne Hartwell, in white thin-heeled shoes, was slowly making her way toward the private room. She brushed past the fiancé who was rushing off to see his "baby."

She had never met the man she was supposed to marry, so naturally she had no idea what he looked like.

But with Natalie Ashford's directions, she knew which room he was in, and she had a rough description of his appearance too.

The moment she pushed the private room door open, her eyes landed on the most striking face in the crowd.

He looked like a masterpiece carved out with insane patience by God Himself. His features were sharp and flawless, his whole vibe cold and distant. One long hand rested casually on his leg, and those cool, unreadable eyes lifted to meet hers.

Vivienne Hartwell’s heart skipped hard.

That look... it felt weirdly familiar.

Like she had seen it somewhere before.

But no matter how fast her mind spun, she just couldn’t place it.

She froze at the door, until a teasing voice suddenly broke the silence inside the room.

"Well, well, isn’t this Miss Hartwell? Came to check on your fiancé?"

Everyone in the circle knew Lance Caldwell, the second son of the Caldwell family, had a trash reputation. Certified player, top-tier red flag. Obviously Miss Hartwell knew it too, or she wouldn’t have come all the way to a bar to keep tabs on him. Too bad her timing sucked. The scumbag had just left, and only then did she show up.

Vivienne curled her lips into a smile, the lazy look in her eyes instantly gone. Then she trotted straight toward Adrian Caldwell, pressed her lips together, and sat down beside him without the slightest bit of hesitation.

Her eyes curved beautifully as she looked at his sharply cut face. Hooking her arm around his with practiced intimacy, she leaned in close and called out in a sweet, syrupy voice, "Hubby~"

The whole room went dead silent.

Vivienne felt amazing.

Honestly, this was perfect.

She looked pure, pretty, almost harmless, but the way she acted? Zero self-respect. In front of this many people, she stuck to a man like glue and casually called him "hubby" the second she opened her mouth.

A daughter-in-law like that?

Yeah, no way the Caldwell family would keep her around.

She might not be able to make everyone like her, but if her goal was to gross people out?

Please. That was easy mode.

The people around them all stared at Adrian as if someone had hit the pause button.

This... this was his future younger brother’s fiancée.

There was no way Adrian Caldwell would even acknowledge her.

And seriously, what was wrong with Miss Hartwell? Calling her future brother-in-law "hubby" in public? Was she out of her mind?

But what no one saw coming was this—

Under everyone’s shocked gaze, Adrian let out a faint laugh. Slow, low, and ridiculously calm, he answered, "Wifey."

Everyone: ...