Chapter 473

"Since it's nothing, let me see."

Emily Garnache tightened her grip on the phone before reluctantly handing it over.

The screen displayed the latest trending headline: Ethan Roscente, CEO of Roscente Group, publicly acknowledged the child beside Sophia Evans as his biological son.

An accompanying paparazzi photo showed a boy with features unmistakably resembling Ethan's.

Vivian Laurent stared at the screen, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Liar.

That night, Ethan had stood outside her door, swearing the child had nothing to do with him.

Now the whole world knew.

The article also mentioned Ethan had sued over a dozen internet trolls for malicious rumors, shielding the child from public scrutiny.

How laughable.

If the boy truly wasn't his, why go to such lengths?

So all these years, Ethan had been abroad with Sophia and their son.

While she remained clueless, like a fool.

A crushing weight pressed against her chest, making each breath labored.

"Here." Vivian shoved the phone back into Emily's hands.

"Vivian..." Emily hesitated.

"What?" Vivian forced a smile. "I'm fine."

At the airport parking lot, Lucas Lefèvre had been waiting.

"Vivian." His voice carried unspoken complexity.

She yanked the car door open. "Why the long faces? Dinner's on me tonight. Call Isabella and the others—we're drinking till dawn!"

The car headed toward Vivian's restaurant.

The sneaky waiter had been fired, and the place now gleamed with renovations.

Inside the private dining room, Finn Deross rushed forward first.

"Master!" He spread his arms for a hug.

Vivian sidestepped him. "Cut it out."

"I missed you," Finn pouted. "You went to Eudora without me."

"Enough." She flicked his forehead. "I'll be reviewing your recent performance."

The group tactfully avoided sensitive topics, and laughter soon filled the room.

Only Vivian knew her knuckles had turned white around her wineglass.