Chapter 143

Vivian returned to the city in a haze of self-loathing, the weight of her failure crushing her with every step. Everyone could see how distant Adrian remained, even though he, too, was battling his own injuries. He was in pain, but he wouldn’t allow himself the comfort of leaning on her he didn’t want to touch her, let alone speak to her. The tension between them was unmistakable, and it was obvious to everyone why. The truth about her actions in Fawnrun City had caught up with her. The ruthless way she had humiliated a young executive, and her direct involvement in the disciplinary scandal that followed, had left her marked both literally and metaphorically. It wasn’t just Adrian who recoiled from her now. The other executives involved in the ordeal treated her with disdain, their glares burning into her every time they crossed paths.