In the memory of the novel "The Ruthless CEO's Delicate Wife," Vivian faced three primary adversaries: the Shaw family, the numerous mistresses vying for the position of Mrs. Sharpe, and the Sharpe family relatives plotting to seize the family fortune.
Initially, Vivian, coerced by the Shaw family through emotional manipulation, deceived Ethan into marriage and intimacy. This led to frequent disagreements over Shaw family business matters, deepening Ethan's disdain for her actions. Caught between familial loyalty and Ethan, Vivian found herself in a no-win situation, with subsequent events fueled by Ethan's growing animosity.
Now, the Shaw family posed no threat. Without the ties of blood, she had no reason to side with them.
As for the mistresses eyeing the title of Mrs. Sharpe? Petty squabbles among women were beneath Vivian's notice. The original Vivian suffered because of her insecurity and timidity, her lack of Ethan's love leaving her vulnerable to the machinations of these women, leading to sleepless nights plagued by their provocations.
But she was not that Vivian. The Vivian now was confident and formidable, her psyche honed by war.
Truly, the greatest danger to her current life was the faction of the Sharpe family coveting the family assets.
Regrettably, Vivian's casual reading of the novel left her with hazy memories of specifics. She couldn't recall where she had stashed the book, and despite her best efforts, only vague outlines of the plot returned to her.
She remembered that among Ethan's relatives lurked a mastermind seeking sole control of the inheritance, orchestrating the death of Ethan's parents and repeatedly attempting to harm Ethan. Ethan only gradually uncovered the identity of the culprit after Vivian's miscarriage, by which point he had developed complex feelings for her. To protect Vivian and divert the villain's attention, Ethan feigned cruelty, breaking her heart and sending her abroad. Only after resolving the issue and neutralizing the threat did he bring Vivian back.
The crucial part where the villain was dealt with was essentially skipped in the novel, which focused more on romantic entanglements than family intrigue.
Vivian knew that following the script blindly would still lead to a happy ending. But as S Country's top intelligence operative, how could she idly wait for the villain to strike?
Especially when that villain caused her miscarriage.
In her past life, Vivian's unique circumstances prevented her from becoming a mother, and nobody, including herself, saw her as mother material. Instead, she invested her earnings into helping children in third-world countries, whose experiences mirrored her own childhood in a war-torn, impoverished nation. Before joining S Country's intelligence agency, she took responsibility for caring for the children in her area until they were sheltered by soldiers sent for aid. It was then that her talents were noticed, leading to her training as a special agent. She completed numerous dangerous missions for Country S.
Just when she was nearing retirement, she found herself transported to this new reality.
Vivian saw this as fate, granting her a peaceful life that she never live before and a new lease on existence.
Most importantly, she might have a chance at motherhood. According to the novel, Vivian became pregnant during her first deception into Ethan's bed, suggesting she might be pregnant now. She was determined to prevent the miscarriage that befell her child in the book.
And she was greedy; deciding to protect her unborn child meant extending that protection to the child's father and his world. Like how she safeguarded the children in her neighborhood, she served in the intelligence agency for decades, believing she could prevent wars and preserve peace. She vowed to shield all she could.
During her previous visit to Ethan's office, she noticed that while the security was better than average, it was inadequate, with a cybersecurity system vulnerable to hacking. Hence, she privately contacted Hayden and decided to apply for the Security Director position, aiming to bolster Ethan's personal security.
Hayden initially thought Vivian's aspirations were unrealistic, expecting Director Smith to dampen her enthusiasm and perhaps exact a small revenge for his own humiliation. But Vivian surpassed his expectations, transforming his mild disdain into profound admiration.
With Vivian on board, Sharpe Group's security division was fortified, sparing the aging Director Smith further strain.
