The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 455

"The assets?" I froze, processing her words a second too late.

Vivian had called me this morning, lambasting me for taking advantage of the Sterlings and accusing me of being utterly manipulative.

I still didn't even know what I had allegedly conned out of them.

Had Lucille gone over and made a scene?

I was just about to ask when the bedroom door slammed open, and Ferris stormed out.

The torn loungewear had been replaced with a crisp dress shirt and an overcoat. It looked like he was heading out. Phone in hand, he was speaking to whoever was on the line. "You're not asleep yet, are you?"

Heading out at this hour? What could be so urgent?

Sitting across from me, Vivian had already leaped up from the couch, her brows knitting together. "Ferris, it's so late. Do you still have business to attend to?"

"Yeah, something came up." Ferris gave a curt nod in our direction, seemingly looking at Vivian, but also seemingly looking at me.

What vital emergency demanded his attention at this hour?

Was there an emergency at the hospital?

I was baffled, but then I caught a faint yet crystal-clear voice through the receiver. "I'm not asleep yet."

Eden Gardens was just too vast, too empty, and too quiet. Even though Ferris wasn't on speakerphone, I could still hear Zoey's sweet, melodic voice loud and clear. "Okay, Ferris. I'll get ready and wait for you."

"Ferris, hold on a second. I still need to talk to you. You—" Vivian chased him to the door, trying to get another word in, but the heavy oak slamming in her face cut her off. Infuriated, she slapped her jade-ringed hand against the wood. "Busy all day long, never answers his phone, and now he's running from me! That boy!"

After smacking the door, she let out a heavy sigh, shot me a dirty look, scoffed in annoyance, and grabbed her bag to leave.

Vivian wasn't going to talk to me anymore?

I, however, had no intention of letting her walk out. I stood up and stopped her. "Mrs. Sterling."

Vivian froze in her tracks.

"When you mentioned assets earlier, were you referring to the millions of dollars Ferris transferred to me tonight? If so, I can state right now that I won't accept a dime of it. I can go to the bank tomorrow morning and wire it all back." I wasted no time, speaking rapidly with absolute clarity. "But what I want to know is, when can we finalize the divorce?"