The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 286

Chapter 286

His gaze was terrifyingly cold. It was an icy detachment that seeped from his very bones, a look that only those who survived on the bloody edge of a blade possessed. It made people afraid to even meet his eyes.

Vivian pressed her lips together, her entire posture defensive and resistant.

She had gambled on Soren being wary of Silas, which was why she had acted so fearlessly.

Clearly, she had lost that bet.

Go with him?

She wasn’t exactly willing to do that.

They remained in a standoff for a dozen seconds before Soren leaned in slightly and snatched Vivian’s phone right out of her hand.

“I will keep this safe for you, Vivian.”

Vivian glanced at it but didn’t say a word. Arguing was pointless; he wasn’t going to give it back.

Soren stepped aside, clearing a path. “Are you going to walk, or…”

Not far away sat the vehicle he had arrived in-a black Mercedes van. Standing beside it were three bodyguards in sharp suits and dark sunglasses, looking exactly like cold-blooded enforcers.

Vivian took a deep, silent breath. “You certainly don’t underestimate me.”

“Of course not. Your capabilities are obvious to anyone.”

If they didn’t come fully prepared, letting her escape once would mean they’d never catch her a

second time.

Since dodging them was impossible, Vivian decided to follow along and buy herself some time.

What she absolutely did not expect was that there was already a man sitting inside the van. The light filtered in from the side, illuminating his chiseled, rigid features. His entire presence radiated an imposing, untouchable authority.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, the man turned his head. For a split second, a sharp, blade-like glint flashed in his bottomless eyes.

“Vivian.”

He spoke. “It’s been a while.”

It sounded like a polite greeting, but the chilling tone made Vivian shudder.

Marcus Vaughan did not have a good temper. In fact, he was entirely ruthless and gave no one any leeway. From the very first time Vivian met him until now, she had never seen him smile.

Despite that, his moods were terrifyingly easy to read.

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Chapter 286

The angrier he was, the more eerie and deceptively gentle his tone became.

Just like now.

He sat in the back seat, his premium trousers contouring his powerful legs. He wore a crisp white shirt and a black suit jacket, sans tie. The top two buttons were undone, exuding raw, dangerous masculinity.

Inappropriately, Vivian thought of Silas. Without even realizing it, she was subconsciously comparing

the two men.

Marcus was born into an elite family, but he seemed to have inherited every ounce of the Vaughan family’s cold-blooded genetics. He was sinister, ruthless, and loyal to no one.

Silas was different. His commanding presence came from his sheer confidence. He was powerful, yet he carried an air of refined composure.

He was like a prince born into royalty-cultured, arrogant, and aristocratic, utterly disdainful of stooping to the level of the weak.

That was why, even though she had provoked Silas time and time again, he had never truly hurt her.

If she had tried that with the man sitting in front of her, she would have died a hundred times over.

Vivian pinched her palms to force herself back to reality and said calmly, “Marcus.”

“So you still remember my name?”

Marcus had his hands crossed casually in his lap, yet his relaxed posture exuded a terrifying sharpness. “Do I need to personally invite you into the car?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Soren pulled the car door wide open.

Vivian had no choice.

Just as she bent down to climb in, Simon Young’s voice called out from a short distance away. “Miss Fairchild, where are you going?”

He glanced at the men flanking the vehicle, his heart skipping a beat.

This kind of setup clearly meant trouble.

The tight string of tension in Vivian’s mind loosened a fraction. She kept her tone perfectly casual. “Isn’t it obvious? They’re trying to kidnap me.”

“…” Simon really hadn’t noticed. The guy in the baseball cap had literally just held the door open for

her.