When Life Takes A Turn

The Prodigal Heir: Dominating the City -

In a small, less than twenty square meter studio apartment with slightly yellowed walls adorned with celebrity wallpapers, Ethan Shaw had just finished setting up what was supposed to be a romantic surprise. A bed, a dining table, a wobbly cloth wardrobe, and a tiny en-suite bathroom made the space look extremely cramped and old, yet it was arranged with a lot of warmth.

"All set!" Ethan clapped his hands together in satisfaction.

Heart-shaped red candles were placed on the floor and tables, the bed was sprinkled with fragrant rose petals, and colorful balloons floated on the ceiling. On the table, there was a large cake!

In addition to that, Ethan had prepared a letter revealing his family background. After three years of dating, he felt he had fully understood his girlfriend, Vivian, and thought that the third anniversary was the perfect time to be honest.

Ring ring ring!

At that moment, Ethans phone rang. He thought it was Vivian returning and answered immediately, but a deep, masculine voice came from the other end.

"How does my girlfriends phone end up in your hands?" Ethan questioned.

"Theres no need for misunderstanding, Mr. Shaw. Your girlfriend had an accident on Sunrise Avenue. You should come over as soon as possible."

"What? An accident? Im on my way!"

Ethan hung up, changed his clothes, and rushed out in a hurry.

Was she hurt badly? She should be fine, right?

Such a significant accident on such an important day left Ethans mind in chaos.

He rode his second-hand electric scooter, heading towards Sunrise Avenue. Fortunately, the distance was not far, just a little over a mile.

In no time, Ethan saw a black BMW X5 crashed into the guardrail, with the hood completely crushed.

Vivian was sitting by the roadside, with no obvious injuries, but she looked somewhat gloomy.

"Vivian! Are you okay?" Ethan stopped his scooter and rushed to Vivian, carefully checking her over and was relieved to find no injuries.

But shouldnt Vivian be at work right now? Why was she on Sunrise Avenue and driving such a luxurious car!

Ethan was full of doubts, but he didnt ask.

At that moment, a portly man approached.

He ignored Ethan completely, walked to Vivians side, and said, "Everythings been taken care of, lets go."

Vivian stood up, took the mans hand, and smiled faintly.

The two acted in unison, treating Ethan as if he didnt exist.

"Vivian! Who is he?"

Ethan was furious, pointing at the portly man and demanding an answer.

Vivians gaze was uncertain, and the man quickly let go of her hand and introduced himself, "My name is Max Thompson, Im Vivians boss."

"You must be Vivians boyfriend, right? You do look talented. I heard youre delivering food? Its tough work and doesnt pay well. I like you, why dont you come work for me?"

Max was generous, acting like a kind uncle.

"Vivian, Im asking you. Who is he? Why are you here?"

Ethan didnt want to ask, but seeing Max holding Vivians hand and her not refusing, he knew something was off.

"I was meeting a client with my boss and we had an accident on the way."

Vivians gaze was evasive, occasionally looking at Max.

Max, who had a family, didnt want to make it public, and Vivian didnt dare to either.

"Meeting a client?"

Ethan scrutinized Vivian skeptically.

Her clothes were a bit disheveled, not like from panic during an accident, but more like they had been torn and not yet fixed.

Her face was flushed, and most importantly, Ethan smelled the scent of a man on her.

His gaze shifted to Max.

The signs on him were even more obvious, with a faint lipstick mark on his neck!

"Right," Vivian nodded.

"Im sorry your girlfriend got hurt. Dont worry, this will definitely be considered a work injury, and all compensation will be provided!"

Max promised, slapping his chest.

"Ill pay you back, you ahole!"

Ethan, full of youthful vigor, swung his fist at Max.

"Stop!"

At the critical moment, Vivian spread her arms, standing in front of Max with a resolute and disgusted expression.

"Vivian, what are you doing?"

Ethan thought Max had forced Vivian, and as long as Vivian apologized, he could let bygones be bygones.

But he never expected Vivian to do this!

"Lets be honest, I dont want to keep fooling you like an idiot! Ive been with Mr. Thompson for two years!" Vivian took Maxs fat arm on her own.

Seeing that the truth couldnt be hidden, Max chuckled, his eyes narrowing into slits.

"Weve been together for three years, but youve been with him for two years behind my back?"

Ethans heart was bleeding, feeling the world he had built for the two of them collapse in an instant, falling into a low.

"If you were smart, you would have seen it a long time ago!"

"Im just a receptionist at the company, do you really think I have so many shifts every day?"

"Every time I refuse to be with you, do you really think its because Im not feeling well?"

"I often wear the latest fashion, do you really think its a gift from my parents?"

"Ethan, youre so stupid! A fool like you deserves to be deceived!"

Vivians words were like knives, each sentence piercing Ethans heart.

"Young man, your girlfriend is sensible, and I will take good care of her."

Max opened his wallet, took out a bank card from it, and threw it on the ground, disdainfully saying, "Im not an unreasonable person. Ive kept you in the dark for so long, consider this money as my compensation to you!"

"Theres fifty thousand in the card, take it!" Vivian crossed her arms over her chest, looking down at Ethan condescendingly.

"Why? Wasnt I good enough for you?"

Ethan didnt care about the fifty thousand at all.

Hearing this, Vivian laughed out loud, "Ethan, whats the use of you being good to me? You can never give me what I want!"

"You know how embarrassing it is for me to go out on your broken scooter?"

"Look at others, a BMW X5, a luxury car you can never afford even if you work hard for a lifetime!"

"I dont want to struggle anymore, I just want to find a rich man, even if its to be his lover, its better than being your girlfriend!"

It was all about material conditions, Ethan was speechless.

After a long silence, Ethan slowly reached out, still holding a glimmer of hope for Vivian, and said humbly, "Vivian, come back with me, I can pretend nothing happened!"

"Get lost! Now that I see your cowardly and poor appearance, I feel sick! I will never go back to your twenty-square-meter doghouse!"

Vivians voice was sharp, almost roaring out these words.