"But I have a habit. Since I have to stay here regardless, I prefer to have trustworthy people around me."Vivian refocused her attention on Hayden, increasing the pressure on her knee, causing him to involuntarily groan.
"So tell me, why did you betray Ethan?"
"I didn't betray Ethan!" The statement struck a nerve, and the usually composed Hayden suddenly became agitated.
Ethan felt an inexplicable relief in his heart at Hayden's declaration. His unease seemed to dissipate with those words – he said he hadn't betrayed...
Vivian chuckled, adjusting Hayden's position so he sat more comfortably on the edge of the coffee table, still bound but less strained.
Hayden, avoiding Ethan's gaze, turned to Vivian. "Who are you really? I investigated Vivian; she was an ordinary, introverted, unremarkable woman, nothing like you with your capabilities. How did you replace her? What happened to the real Vivian?"
Vivian sidestepped his question. "So, you investigated me and then decided Ethan should marry me?"
Hayden, recognizing his disadvantage, reluctantly nodded after a stern look at Vivian.
"Why?" Ethan interjected, his voice betraying a sudden realization. "Hayden, you knew I loved Shawna..."
Ethan caught himself, pausing awkwardly and glancing guiltily at Vivian.
Vivian waved off his slip. "It's alright. I know you didn't marry me because you liked me."
Ethan bristled at Vivian's casual acceptance of his confession, feeling irrationally annoyed at his own guilt.
"It's good that you understand," he snapped, earning another laugh from Vivian.
What's so funny! Ethan fumed internally, trying hard to ignore Vivian's presence, unaware that his attempts only highlighted her influence over him.
Turning back to Hayden, he asked, "So, why did you do this?"
Despite Hayden's claim of no betrayal, his concealment of the switched bride was undeniable.
Shawna, Vivian's sister, was the brightest flower in high society, a source of pride for the Shaw family. Frequently attending social events with her parents, Shawna's beauty and social prowess attracted numerous business deals for their family.
Ethan fell for Shawna at first sight during one such event. He admired her vivacity, innocence, and genuine nature, despite their incompatible personalities. Shawna, whether intentionally or not, toyed with Ethan's affections, neither accepting nor rejecting his advances, keeping him in a state of suspended anticipation.
When the Shaw family faced financial turmoil and Ethan was pressured by Sharpe relatives to name an heir due to his childlessness, he proposed marriage to Shawna as a means to aid her family. Little did he expect Vivian to be the one walking down the aisle.
"I knew you were under pressure to marry soon and that you had feelings for Shawna," Hayden explained. "But I warned you that she wasn't as innocent as she appeared. You refused to see her for who she truly was, and I couldn't let you marry a woman like Shawna without intervention."
"But Shawna is just playful; she's young, and being popular isn't a crime," Ethan argued. "You said she might have multiple boyfriend in the same time, but that's because she's young and beautiful. They chase after her, not the other way around. Marriage would solve everything. How could you decide Shawna wasn't right for me without discussing the matter with me before?"
Vivian rolled her eyes, suddenly empathizing with Hayden's frustration.
Perhaps it was Ethan, the naive and infatuated CEO, who was blind to Shawna's true nature. Hayden must have recognized this and acted accordingly.
"You always defended Shawna," Hayden retorted. "You were so blindly in love with her, how could I tell you she was in a affair with other men behind your back?"
The truth was even more sordid. Shawna never considered Ethan as a serious partner, using him as a trophy to flaunt among her peers. When Ethan proposed marriage, Shawna panicked, refusing to marry a man she didn't love, especially to avoid the embarrassment among her circle that she was going to marry to her servile admirer. She insisted on the plan to have Vivian take her place.
Hayden was aware of it all and silently consented.
