Chapter 197

The man she had once trusted had revealed his true, unreliable nature. She turned her eyes to Warren, her gaze laced with sarcasm. "Was this the promise you made to me?"

Warren saw the sadness in Vivienne's eyes, his heart twisting painfully. He whispered gently, "Vivienne, please listen. It's not as you believe…"

"Warren, I hoped we could at least remain friends, with some respect between us. You were my rock, my everything, yet you continually disappointed me…" Vivienne's voice wavered, charged with emotion yet steady, on the verge of tears. "I never felt good enough for you, so I always tried to match your pace. I overlooked the disdain from the Mitchell family. It was never about their wealth or status; all I wanted was to be by your side."

She looked up, forcing a smile while fighting back tears. "Alright, let's pretend this was all my imagination. From here on, we have nothing."

Her words, laden with grief and blame, resonated deeply with the onlookers. As she lowered her head, the impending tears deepened their sympathy.

Unknown to them, Vivienne was far from crying; she was stifling a laugh. The Mitchells weren't the only ones skilled at performance; she was adept at it, too. With the stage set, she decided to fully embrace her role, with the Mitchell family watching.

The crowd murmured with speculation. All eyes were drawn to Warren. His face was stoic, his eyes deep and cold as he watched Vivienne's performance unfold. He saw the slight, mocking grin playing on her lips and understood: she was not truly wounded. It was all a show, a manipulation to sway public opinion and garner sympathy. Warren's hands clenched into fists, his body seething with indignation.

Melissa, oblivious to the underlying drama, felt relieved. She had feared Vivienne might complicate matters, but it seemed to be unraveling smoothly. Composing herself, Melissa cleared her throat and approached Vivienne, her tone earnest.

"Vivienne, you have given much to the Mitchell family over the years. Though you won't marry Warren, we recognize your contributions. We are ready to offer you ten percent of the company shares if you accept."

A subtle, cold smile played on Vivienne's lips. To accept would bind her to the Mitchells' declining fortunes, allowing them to claim generosity. To decline would label her ungrateful, yet it would let them keep their wealth and reputation—an ideal outcome for them. Vivienne silently acknowledged the cleverness of their plan.

"Your offer is generous, but please, keep the shares within the Mitchell family," Vivienne said smoothly, pulling her hand away. She gave Melissa a disarming smile. "I wish nothing but prosperity and success for Mitchell Group!"

Melissa, observing Vivienne's glowing demeanor, sensed a hidden threat. "What exactly are you up to?" she inquired, her face tightening.

Bowing slightly, Vivienne checked her watch with a poised smile. "Why, I'm preparing a special tribute for Mitchell Group's 30th anniversary, of course."