Chapter 36: He Was Unwilling
Vivian Lowell briefly explained Shelly Lowell’s current situation to David Dawson.
"The moment she found out she was the heiress of the Lowell Family, she dumped you without a second thought. I imagine you must realize what kind of person she is by now."
Vivian Lowell looked down at David Dawson, who was sitting on the floor. Seeing his dejected appearance, she said, "Honestly, it’s not worth it, getting yourself into this state over her."
Vivian Lowell didn’t know what David Dawson had been like before.
But according to the information she’d dug up, he used to be a hard worker. At the very least, he had goals and the drive to achieve them.
Now, his hair was a mess and his face was grimy. He looked like a complete wreck.
Hearing Vivian Lowell’s words, David Dawson’s eyes widened, and he roared, "Impossible! She’s not that kind of person! She must have her reasons, something she couldn’t tell me! She..."
David Dawson was trying to deceive himself, to make excuses for Shelly Lowell.
Vivian Lowell shook her head, grabbed David Dawson by the collar, and pointed to one of the security monitors. "Look. She’s right there."
WHOOSH.
David Dawson shot to his feet and stood in front of the monitor, his eyes fixed on Shelly Lowell.
Shelly Lowell and Mason Grant were standing by the edge of the dance floor. After a few days, it seemed Shelly had truly been practicing her dancing; she appeared to have mastered the basic steps.
Her hand was on Mason Grant’s shoulder, while his rested on her waist.
The image was a little grainy, but Vivian Lowell could still tell that Shelly Lowell kept leaning her head toward Mason Grant’s face.
The two looked very intimate, whispering to one another.
For David Dawson, the sight was like a knife to the heart.
David Dawson slammed his fist on the table and muttered, "How could this be? How could she do this!"
Clearly, David Dawson still couldn’t accept what he was seeing.
Vivian Lowell sighed. "It hasn’t even been a month since she left you, has it? And she’s already moved on to another man—not to mention they’re about to get engaged."
"Do you think she ever really cared about you?"
’Obviously not.’
’Poor David Dawson. Used by Shelly Lowell, and in my past life, he met such a tragic end.’
David Dawson gradually calmed down and fell silent. He stared at the monitor for a long time. Just as Vivian Lowell was considering whether it was time to let him leave, he turned to face her.
In that instant, Vivian Lowell felt the entire air around David Dawson change.
He was exceptionally grim, his eyes cold. "What do you want?" he asked.
"Me?"
Vivian Lowell wasn’t afraid. She just watched him nonchalantly and said, "I just don’t want to see you be ruined by her. Of course, if you want revenge, I can help."
"If you don’t, you can go now. The door’s right there. My assistant is waiting outside. I can have him escort you out of here; no one will see you."
David Dawson sized up Vivian Lowell in silence for a few moments. Then he said, "I have some intimate photos of Shelly Lowell and me. Could they be of any use?"
’Oh?’
Vivian Lowell shot David Dawson a look of sudden interest, a radiant smile gracing her lips. "If you’re willing, then of course they can be put to good use."
"However—since they’re intimate photos of the two of you, Shelly will know for certain it was you if they get out."
"The Lowell Family, Robert Lowell and Sharon Galahad, are not people to be trifled with. You’d be making an enemy of them and would likely face their retaliation. Have you thought this through?"
David Dawson nodded, his voice flat. "The one thing I hate most is having my feelings toyed with. She used me for so long. I refuse to let her walk all over me to get this perfect new life."
Vivian Lowell understood. She saw his resolve but still said, "Leave the rest to me. You should go back to the hotel and get some rest first."
"After this is over, I can arrange for you to lay low abroad. How does that sound?"
David Dawson nodded and handed his phone to Vivian Lowell. "The photos are in the gallery. I hope you keep your word."
"Mm."
Vivian Lowell took the phone and opened the gallery.
In the gallery, just as David Dawson had said, were numerous intimate photos of him and Shelly Lowell. There were also, of course, some more revealing photos of Shelly by herself.
Seeing these, the corners of Vivian Lowell’s mouth curved into a smirk.
’It seems David Dawson isn’t a complete fool after all. For all he gave Shelly Lowell, he at least got a little something in return.’
Vivian Lowell opened WhatsApp and contacted a hacker friend. She sent him a selection of the photos and told him to hack into the banquet hall’s network later.
Then, he was to play the images on a loop on the big screen.
The thought alone was thrilling. Vivian Lowell turned and exited the surveillance room.
「Outside the surveillance room.」
Vivian Lowell’s assistant had arranged for someone to escort David Dawson to a hotel room to rest. Seeing her assistant, Vivian said, "Book David Dawson a flight to Vespera for tomorrow morning."
"And arrange for a car to take him to the airport. After you’ve done all that, you can go home. It’s late."
"Yes, boss!" the assistant agreed cheerfully. After telling Vivian Lowell the room number, he turned to get started on his tasks.
Vivian Lowell, meanwhile, returned to the banquet hall.
This time, Eleanor Rhodes hadn’t moved, as expected. But when Vivian Lowell returned, Henry Sterling and Wendy Wynn were gone.
"Where’s Professor Sterling?"
She asked someone she knew in a low voice.
Unexpectedly, Eleanor Rhodes overheard and answered coolly from nearby, "Wendy Wynn said she felt a little unwell after one glass of wine, so she had Professor Sterling escort her back to her hotel."
"..."
’Unwell after just one glass of wine?’
Vivian Lowell sneered inwardly.
’It seems that woman, Wendy Wynn, is quite the actress.’
As she was mulling this over, the time approached half-past seven. Sharon Galahad took the stage, ready to announce that Shelly Lowell was the daughter of the Lowell Family.
Vivian Lowell leaned back in her chair, watching with keen interest as everything was about to unfold.
However, what Vivian Lowell didn’t notice was that Julian Faulkner had snuck a couple of glances at her.
Just as when she had left, his eyes held a questioning look; he clearly wanted to know where Vivian Lowell had just been.
Because... he thought he could smell another man’s scent on her.
’Hmm...’
’It was a hard scent to describe, but Julian Faulkner felt certain his sixth sense wasn’t wrong.’
’But what right did he have to ask?’
Julian Faulkner couldn’t think of one, so after one last, deep look at Vivian Lowell, he averted his eyes and decided not to ask.
Sharon Galahad took the stage.
She held Shelly Lowell’s hand, raised a microphone with her other, and began to speak softly.