Chapter 987

One Less Rival

Vivian Laurent met Ethan Roscente's gaze squarely. "Yes," she answered crisply.

She had no intention of hiding the truth.

"Annika told me many things." Vivian paused. "Ethan... perhaps you were right."

A flicker of dazed regret crossed her eyes.

"Zero approached me with an agenda from the very beginning." Her fingers clenched unconsciously. "He's long ceased to be the person I remembered."

Ethan listened in silence.

Though bitterness churned in his chest, he didn't interrupt. This was the first time she'd truly opened up to him.

"When we first met, he was still young." Her voice carried the warmth of memory. "Back then, there was still light in his eyes."

Ethan exhaled inwardly.

Zero—his romantic rival—was officially out of the picture.

Vivian continued recounting stories even Isabella Langley had never heard.

"That organization—" Her voice suddenly tightened. "It was hell on earth."

Childhood images flashed through her mind—the frigid training grounds, bloodstained floors, the desperate wails of children.

"The only way to survive was to step over others' corpses." Her fingertips trembled slightly.

Ethan grasped her hand.

Warmth spread from their joined palms.

"I want to destroy that place." Vivian looked up abruptly, her gaze steely.

Her eyes burned with conviction.

"Now that I'm carrying our child, I understand even more..." She caressed her abdomen gently. "Every child deserves a happy childhood."

Ethan studied her stubborn profile.

He knew he couldn't stop her.

"I'll go with you," Ethan declared resolutely.

Vivian froze.

"If you want to blow up the Dark Web, I'll hand you the explosives myself." The corner of his mouth quirked, but his eyes remained deadly serious.

It was his promise.

And his way of loving her.