Vivienne's POV:
Even when I was confined inside the house, my mother always kept the curtains tightly shut. Not a single ray of sunlight was allowed in. She said she was afraid someone outside might use binoculars to spy on us. Those years with her were the darkest years of my life. I couldn't see light, couldn't see hope every day felt like walking on thin ice, terrified that the slightest misstep would get me locked in the dark room again.
I was sick of that suffocating life. I longed for the colorful world outside, always imagining myself as a bird that could escape my mother's cage. So when my eldest brother found me and said he wanted to take me home, I agreed without hesitation. I didn't want to curl up in the darkness with my mother anymore, living like I was sinking deeper into an abyss. I hated her, resented her. Yet as I grew older, I began to understand… and pity her.
Anyone who has never experienced what my mother went through would never understand. She was pregnant when she learned that her husband had cheated on her—and died trying to save his mistress. How much pain must she have endured? A woman who had once been radiant ended up living in the shadow of the past, carrying hatred toward her husband, toward all men. Her soul twisted, her eyes losing all light.
And over the years, her mental state deteriorated. She shut herself in her room all day. When I visited her, she would sit silently for so long before abruptly speaking:
"Your grandfather abandoned your grandmother. She told me men can't be trusted, but I refused to believe her. I insisted on marrying your father. The result? He betrayed me for real. Men are all the same. If you don't listen to me, you'll suffer sooner or later."
Then she would suddenly grab my shoulders, shaking me, her voice trembling between madness and desperation:
"If you don't stay away from men, you'll end up just like me. Do you understand?"
I looked at her and said, "There are women in this world, so of course there will be men. How can I avoid them forever? Cassian and Calista are both your children are they not good people? Mom, not every man is like Grandpa and Dad. Some men love one woman their whole life. Please don't give up on the world like this. Even if you hate men, that's fine living alone can still be peaceful. But shutting yourself inside the house, refusing to see the sunlight just to avoid men? You're torturing yourself."
"One-man devotion?" My mother let out a bitter laugh as she shoved me away. "You're such a fool to believe those fairy tales."
I fell to the floor, but I pushed myself up, meeting her cold eyes.
"I'll prove it to you."
"And how will you do that?" she sneered. "Use your status as a Lewis daughter to pick up some penniless guy? The more capable a man is, the more likely he is to be unfaithful. Sure, there are loyal men out there. But they're either dirt poor or suffering from some… unspeakable condition. It's not that they won't cheat, they just can't."
Her words became a thorn in my heart. So I made up my mind: I would choose carefully, find someone exceptional, someone who treated me well—someone worthy of being brought home. Someone who would prove to her that good men exist.
My thoughts drifted back. I opened my phone, staring at my contacts specifically at the line that read: Boyfriend whom I deeply love. My eyes shifted back and forth. I wondered: would Gideon's WhatsApp be the same as his phone number?
I tried searching.
And to my surprise, it appeared.
His WhatsApp name was simply "Gideon," with the Nova Haven Group logo as his profile photo. Clearly his personal number, yet the account looked so formal. So typically cold of him.
Rolling my eyes affectionately, I sent a friend request.
He didn't respond immediately, so I lay in bed scrolling. Only much later, when I was drifting off, did the notification pop up Request accepted.
I shot upright, instantly awake, and texted first.
[It's Vivienne ~]Gideon: [Mm.]
The air suddenly went cold. I didn't know what to say. After thinking a moment, I typed:
[Becoming your girlfriend so suddenly feels unreal.][If I sleep tonight, I might wake up thinking it was a dream.]
Gideon: [So?]
I gathered my courage and shamelessly asked:
[Maybe… you could pick me up for work tomorrow?][(Waiting with sparkly eyes.jpg)]
Gideon:[I have an online meeting with overseas partners in the morning. I usually reach the office at six. Are you sure you can wake up?]
My eyelid twitched. I checked the time, already midnight. That meant six hours of sleep at best. If this kept up, my hormones would rebel for sure. But this was a crucial stage in securing Gideon. I couldn't afford to mess up.
[I can wake up!]
Gideon:[Then I'll see you tomorrow.]
Thinking about losing precious sleep annoyed me a little, so I asked:
[Do you always wake up this early?]
Gideon: [Pretty much.]
I frowned.
[I think occasionally is fine, but long term isn't healthy.]
Feeling mischievous, I added:
[I heard men who don't sleep enough end up with kidney issues. Boss Ashbourne, you're older than me, you should really take care of your kidneys.]
The moment I sent it, I pictured his expression and couldn't help smiling.
Then suddenly, my phone rang. A WhatsApp call.
Curious, I answered.
His deep voice filled my ear:
"I didn't expect someone as young as you to have such… strong needs."
He paused, as if making a decision.
"If you're that concerned about my condition, I can come over right now and prove it myself."
"…"
I froze. Was this really the same cold, abstinent CEO everyone in the business world feared? Thinking back to the night of the banquet, he had already acted different from the rumors. Maybe he was simply too good at hiding his true nature.
I couldn't handle being teased harder than I teased him, so I hung up.
Thanks to Gideon's words, I ended up having another… intense dream that night worse than the night I got drunk.
The next morning, my alarm at 5:40 ripped me away from the lingering warmth of the dream. Part of me almost wished it would come true.
Since when did I become such a shamelessly thirsty woman?
That thought alone made me shiver.
I couldn't let myself be seduced first, I was supposed to conquer him. Slapping my cheeks lightly, I forced myself awake. Knowing Gideon might arrive at six, I instantly jumped out of bed to wash up and do my makeup.