Chapter 3 Three Million Dollars

It was my birthday the next day.

Gavin took me out to dinner. "I know I've been neglecting you lately. Tonight, it'll just be the two of us."

Figuring my birthday gift would probably be expensive, I agreed.

At a private restaurant, he handed me a diamond bracelet. I had to admit, he knew exactly what I liked.

"Vivian, I know I've put you through a lot lately."

I slipped the bracelet onto my wrist and smiled faintly. "It's okay."

The moment the violin began playing, two people walked over.

Claire was holding Alex's hand, her eyes red from crying. "Alex isn't feeling well. We've run out of his medicine, and I can't find the rest…"

The entire restaurant fell silent for a moment.

Someone whispered, "That father is so busy taking another woman out, he doesn't even care that his own child is sick."

Alex ran straight toward Gavin and threw himself into his arms, bursting into tears. "Daddy, my chest hurts so bad…"

He looked over at me, his little face flushed red. "It's you! You stole my daddy from me again, you bad woman!"

He grabbed a wineglass and threw its contents straight at my face. I dodged, but the red wine still splashed across my shoulder.

"Alex, that's enough!" Gavin was getting angry. "Apologize to Ms. Hayes right now."

"No! She stole you from me. She's a bad woman!"

Claire hurried over and pulled Alex away, visibly hurt as she teared up. "I'm sorry. I clearly haven't taught him well enough. Let me apologize to you, Ms. Hayes…"

She looked so humble and wronged. If I made an issue of it now, I'd be the one in the wrong.

The whispers around us grew louder. Gavin hated having his private life discussed in public, so he frowned and looked at me.

At once, I knew what he was thinking.

Alex wasn't supposed to see me right now, and Gavin's words from before still echoed in my ears. Whenever Alex showed up, I was expected to disappear.

I knew better than to make things difficult, so I waved my hand. "Go. Your son needs you."

Gavin frowned, clearly torn, but only for a second. "Okay. I'll take them home first."

He picked up Alex and hurried out with Claire.

I dabbed the wine from my shoulder with a napkin, then gestured to the violinist. "Keep playing. I'll pay for it."

The music started again, and I calmly finished the rest of my meal.

A server came over and asked cautiously, "Ms. Hayes, Mr. Grant also arranged a birthday cake. Would you like us to bring it out?"

"Sure."

A cake decorated like a black swan was brought to the table. I closed my eyes and made a wish.

'Happy twenty-sixth birthday to myself.'

Like always, I took a picture and posted it without a caption. Everyone could interpret it however they wanted.

Ten minutes later, my phone buzzed with a text. "I'm sorry, Vivian. I'll make it up to you next time."

A moment later, I got a notification saying that $3 million had been deposited into my account.

I figured that would be the last time I'd get something from him, but as long as the money kept coming through, that was all that mattered.

As a gold digger, I was in it for the money.

When I returned to my apartment that night, Gavin was there. He had brought creamy crab chowder, my favorite late-night snack.

"Alex was out of line tonight, but he's only six, and he's sick. I didn't have a choice…"

"I know. You don't have to explain."

Gavin paused. "You're not angry?"

A flicker of panic crossed his eyes. "You weren't like this before."

I smiled faintly. The first two times he called off our wedding, I had thrown a tantrum.

Back then, I had genuinely loved him, so I cared. But now that I didn't anymore, why would I make a fuss?

"You're already exhausted. How could I possibly make things harder for you?"

My words seemed to ease Gavin's mind.

"I promise, once Alex gets better, I'll have them move out. We'll get married right away."

I gave him a polite, carefully measured smile.

I neither refused nor agreed. After all, with Claire around, his son was never going to recover.

Gavin's phone rang, and the special ringtone he'd set for Alex echoed throughout the room. "Daddy, when are you coming home?"

Then, Claire's gentle voice came through. "Alex won't go to sleep. He wants you to read him a bedtime story."

Gavin looked at me apologetically, caught in a difficult position.

I waved him off. "Go."

I let just enough weariness show. "I'm scared of the dark, but I'll be okay on my own."

Gavin still left. As expected, he transferred another $3 million to me.

"We'll stay on the phone. As long as you can hear my voice, you won't be afraid."

The call stayed connected until he walked into Alex's room. Soon, I heard the three of them laughing together.

I hung up and went to sleep. Thinking about the money in my account, I slept soundly.