Undivided

Chapter 3: Unveiling Shadows

The following morning was bathed in brilliant sunshine, with light streaming through the lush greenery of the villa neighborhood, fresh after the rain. Elise stirred, barely lifting her head before collapsing back onto the pillow.

Her waist was imprisoned by Vincent's strong arm, restricting her movement. Not that she wanted to move much at that moment, feeling a blend of soreness and numbness throughout her body.

It was odd. Vincent wasn't known for his intense desires. Usually, their intimate moments were infrequent and routine, but last night, he seemed to be making up for two years of absence, passionately pursuing her until the early hours.

Considering his performance, Elise couldn't help but wonder if he was exceptional in bed, not that she had any other experiences for comparison.

As she lay pondering, she fumbled for the remote on the nightstand and pressed the button to open the curtains. But Vincent, half-awake and frowning, quickly grabbed the remote and closed it again, draping his arm back over her waist.

"You take your hand..."

Before she could finish, Vincent withdrew his arm, pulling the blanket over them and muttered irritably, "Don't disturb, go back to sleep."

Typical Vincent, Elise thought, no sentimentality in him.

Not particularly eager to get up either, she lightly kicked him and turned away, grabbing her phone.

The previous night's gala was still a hot topic in the morning, but the discussions mostly revolved around the celebrities.

Victoria Grant, having been the absolute center of attention in every photograph, was frequently mentioned. Fashion bloggers even named her the best dressed of the evening, showering her with praise. The theme was, "When the queen steps out, the rest step aside."

Elise scrolled through her feed. Every photo of Victoria was either cropped or blurred in the background, even the official video of "Zero Degree" followed this pattern.

It wasn't surprising, given Vincent's tendency to stay out of the public eye. However, after last night's event, the insiders were well aware of the return of the Sterling scion.

Sterling Enterprises, the Sterling family's business, was known for its complex internal factions and ongoing power struggles.

In this generation, Vincent's father, Charles Sterling, held significant sway over key construction projects and the core revenue-generating Elysium Group. However, Charles's recent health issues have stirred the waters within the company.

As Charles's only son, Vincent bore a heavy responsibility. His capability matched his responsibility; despite his seemingly gentle and humble demeanor, he was known for his decisive and ruthless actions. Rarely did anyone of his generation dare to confront him directly.

Moreover, Vincent was harder on himself than on others. To consolidate the Sterling family's power and counter the rival factions, marrying Elise Hamilton, a famously pampered heiress, seemed a trivial matter to him.

When the news of their union first broke, many found it unbelievable, even speculating it to be a temporary measure.

As the engagement banquet proceeded as planned, Vincent, previously positioned at Elysium Group's Metropolitan Co., was called back to the headquarters to serve as the Director of Development. His strategic marriage to Elise was increasingly seen as a move to consolidate power within the inner circles of the Sterling family.

The buzz surrounding Vincent and Elise's marriage was a hot topic, persisting from the announcement through to their return from the honeymoon. However, the gossip gradually faded six months into their marriage.

But just when the chatter seemed to have subsided, Vincent unexpectedly requested a transfer to Elysium Group's overseas division, intending to settle in Australia for market expansion. This move naturally stirred up a whirlwind of speculation.

Upon his return to Elysium Group's headquarters, Vincent spearheaded the launch of a new sub-brand focusing on "Hot Spring Resorts," named "Mist and Clouds." At that time, few believed in the project's potential, and his forceful push faced internal resistance from the group's higher echelons, unable to show quick results.

Yet, Vincent never compromised, decisively cutting off any internal opposition. His thunderous approach effectively overshadowed all dissenting voices for a time.

Having weathered the pressure until the hotel's completion, Vincent had reached a pivotal moment to further advance his influence. However, his sudden decision to move overseas left many puzzled.

Two years passed, and now, the very mention of hot spring resorts instinctively brought Elysium Group's "Mist and Clouds" to mind for both the affluent and the aspirational. The brand had firmly etched itself into the public consciousness, a silent but powerful testament to its success.

Vincent's quiet return after such a long absence reignited the dormant curiosity of many. From last night to this morning, whispers and speculations about his reappearance were rampant.

Elise's phone was bombarded with unread messages, all inquiring about Vincent's whereabouts.

Kyle Grove, however, didn't probe into Vincent's matters. Instead, she sent a teasing voice message early in the morning:

"Still in bed?"

"Vincent's skills in bed are extraordinary, huh?"

Elise only played the first part, but before she could listen, the next sentence blared out through the speaker.

She tried to pause it, but her reflexes were slow, and the voice message replayed, echoing in the silent room like a teasing confirmation.

Tensely, Elise listened for any reaction from behind.

Vincent's breathing, which had been even, seemed to stop.

She stiffened, slowly hiding her phone under the pillow, her body taut and toes curling involuntarily.

Vincent had woken up.

Lying on the left side of the bed, he glanced at Elise's rigid back, and silently chuckled.

Soon, he got out of bed.

Elise heard his footsteps approaching from the other side of the bed, and instinctively shut her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering uncontrollably.

For a brief moment, she braced for a confrontation, but the footsteps moved past her and faded into the bathroom. Realizing Vincent had no intention of exposing her feigned sleep, she felt a surge of frustration.

Opening her eyes, she stared at the bathroom door, then abruptly sat up in bed, leaning toward the nightstand at Vincent's side.

She reached for a stack of documents, barely managing to grasp them.

"Elysium Group Designer Hotel Development Proposal."

Initially meant as a distraction, the title caught her attention, her eyes reflecting a change in interest.

When Vincent emerged from the bathroom, he found Elise propped up against the headboard, engrossed in reading the documents. Her nightgown, disheveled from the night's activities, was hiked up in disarray, revealing her long, straight legs that shone with a startling whiteness.

Noticing his movement, Elise’s eyes lingered on the papers, asking without looking up, "Elysium is planning to build a designer hotel?"

Vincent hummed in affirmation, slightly lifting his chin as he buttoned the top of his shirt.

Elise fell silent, continuing to flip through the pages. As the only daughter of her generation in the Ji family, she was the darling of her extended family. Marrying into the Sterling family had only solidified her position in the social elite of the city.

Her life, filled with invitations to various parties and leisurely vacations, was the envy of many. Few remembered that she was actually a talented graduate from SCAD in interior design, not just a superficial socialite.

"I remember you studied interior design at SCAD. Interested?" Vincent suddenly asked.

Elise looked up, staring at him for a few seconds, surprised that her husband even remembered that detail.

After a moment, she concealed her delight, pondering a nonchalant response, as if bestowing a favor by showing interest.

But before she could speak, Vincent added, “When the hotel is completed, I’ll arrange for you to have a preview tour.”

"Preview?" she echoed.

"You're not thinking of getting involved in the design, are you?" he said without hesitation. "No, the hotel isn’t a place for you to practice."

Elise couldn’t help but retort, "The setting for last night’s gala was my design."

Vincent paused, then turned to look at her. "So, it was your work," he said, realizing something deeper.

"What do you mean by that?"

"It means even more reason not to let you get involved."

He finished strapping on his watch, eyes half-dropped in finality.

Feeling a bit guilty, Elise’s ears reddened, and she sat up straighter. "Actually, last night wasn’t a true representation of my skills!"

Her voice rose in defense, demonstrating a lack of logic only high volume could compensate for.

Vincent looked at her, a faint smile on his lips, waiting patiently for her to explain.

She began to elaborate on the complications surrounding the gala. The original theme was “Round Table,” echoing the first issue of "Zero Degree" a decade ago. However, due to budget conflicts between the group's headquarters and the sponsors, they had to merge the fashion gala with a charity event planned for the next quarter.

With time constraints and the shift in focus, Elise’s initial design had to be scrapped. Normally averse to last-minute changes and known for her pride, she had initially decided to walk away from the project. Only after Kyle's persistent persuasion did she reluctantly redo the proposal. The final design, though luxurious, lacked distinctiveness.

Dissatisfied with her work but unable to justify it, Elise faltered in her explanation, eventually kneeling on the bed in defeat.

Vincent, dressed and ready to leave, wasn’t surprised by her silence. His gaze softened, "Kneeling before me won’t help. You might as well kneel at the Potala Palace; perhaps that would be more effective."