The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 382

As if sensing her presence, he turned around.

They locked eyes for a few seconds from afar before he opened his arms.

A faint smile touched Vivian's lips as she walked over at a leisurely pace and gave him a brief hug.

"Long time no see. Did you really have to greet me with such a massive gift?"

"...I didn't expect this either."

Zachary Chase chuckled helplessly, spreading his hands as they pulled apart. "But I've already figured it out for you, otherwise I wouldn't have come to see you so late."

Vivian raised an eyebrow. "Who did it?"

"See for yourself."

With that, Zachary pulled out his phone, found a video clip, and tapped play.

In the dimly lit corridor, the hem of a woman's beige dress was partially visible around the corner. She was whispering something to a waiter before pulling a thick envelope out of her purse and handing it over. Judging by its size, there were a few thousand dollars inside.

"Amara?"

Vivian scoffed. "Interesting."

If this hadn't happened, she would have almost forgotten about that woman entirely.

It seemed her dear half-sister had learned to be smart. Instead of confronting her directly, she had resorted to these dirty underhanded tactics.

The image of the bloody glass shards embedded in Silas's shoulder flashed through her mind. Vivian's eyes turned icy as she handed the phone back. "Did you hand this over to the police?"

"No, I figured you would have your own plans." Zachary's gaze was gentle, entirely unable to hide the admiration in his eyes. "From what I remember, you were never the type to let anyone walk all over you. Besides, she's your half-sister, so it's only right that you're the one to teach her a lesson."

"I wouldn't call it teaching a lesson. I just want to destroy her."

"I've already brought her back for you. She's in a hotel room."

"Of course not." Vivian turned slightly, resting her arms casually on the railing behind her, oozing a natural, effortless elegance. She kept a completely straight face. "I'm pretty sure he's dangerously close to falling hopelessly in love with me."

Perhaps it was her deadpan delivery that made it sound so absurd, but Zachary looked down and chuckled.

However, his smile faded a moment later as he looked up at her.

The woman's makeup-free face practically glowed in the darkness. Her beauty was flawless from every angle, yet there was a lingering, haunting sorrow beneath it.

Zachary's smile completely vanished, and he turned his gaze back to the skyline. "I know you wouldn't just approach him without a reason, Vivian. But holding onto certain things... it only tortures you. As a friend, I hope you learn to be kind to yourself."

Vivian didn't look at him. "What makes you think I'm not being kind to myself?"

"Do you genuinely have feelings for Silas Sterling?"

Zachary asked a question that seemed irrelevant on the surface.

She didn't answer right away. In the dark, the emotion in her eyes was unreadable. After a long pause, her voice floated over, distant and cool. "Zachary, men are entirely optional to me. Regardless of whether that man is Silas Sterling or anyone else, there is only one inevitable ending for him and me."