Undivided

Chapter 1: A Cold Reunion

Torrential rain poured down on a sultry summer night, lightning tearing through the dark clouds, followed closely by the rumbling thunder.

At the Imperial Art Academy, reminiscent of a medieval church with its stained glass windows, the lights inside shimmered through the panes. Tonight, the magazine "Zero Degree" was hosting a commemorative fashion charity dinner here to celebrate its tenth anniversary.

Before the dinner, there was a meet-and-greet, with guests either signing and posing in front of display boards or mingling in social circles.

In such settings, not engaging with acquaintances and sharing a laugh or two could make one feel awkward and out of place.

Fortunately, Elise never had this problem.

"Is Charlotte Carter not coming tonight?" someone asked.

"She probably won't," came the reply.

"Well, that's understandable. Spending millions on a pile of junk, she probably wants to do charity but doesn't have the means right now."

Their voices were soft and gentle, almost sounding concerned if one didn't listen carefully. The topic was dropped just as quickly, with the ladies exchanging knowing glances and sharing chuckles.

Elise, the center of attention, remained silent. Although she laughed along, it wasn’t hard to see her lack of interest, even a bit of distraction.

Noticing this, someone subtly changed the subject. "Elise, is that dress the one you tried on in Paris a few days ago? It’s gorgeous."

"No, the one I tried on then was just a sample. This dress was from last autumn’s haute couture week," Elise answered.

Having haute couture dresses was not uncommon among them, but wearing a gown worth millions only once, like Elise did, was extravagantly luxurious.

The others couldn't hide their envy, as usual, following up with complimentary remarks.

Elise seemed indifferent. After sipping half a glass of red wine and leaving them with a casual "enjoy," she left with Kyle Grove, the soon-to-be deputy editor of "Zero Degree."

As soon as Elise left, the ladies visibly relaxed.

Tonight, Elise was clearly not her usual self, uninterested in their jokes about Charlotte Carter and indifferent to compliments about her dress, making her hard to please.

"What are you thinking about? Stop wasting time on those plastic flatterers and help me keep an eye on the banquet hall. Tonight's a big night for us. If that b***h Sienna dares to make a scene, I want you to deal with her!" Kyle said with a smile, nodding to the guests as he walked towards the banquet hall. His voice, though hushed, carried a hint of suppressed irritation.

Elise raised an eyebrow but before she could respond, a commotion erupted behind them, causing both to turn around.

The flashbulbs at the entrance erupted into a frenzy, signaling the arrival of a high-profile guest. Reporters, previously engaged in interviews, swiftly abandoned their current subjects, rushing towards the end of the red carpet, clustering around the display board.

Kyle squinted to identify the new arrival. "Looks like it's Victoria arriving. Keep an eye on things here for me, I'll come over."

He was quick to act, moving even as he spoke.

Elise watched from a distance as the crowd surged. She was initially indifferent, but a glimpse of a familiar yet strange figure beside Victoria made her spine stiffen instantly.

As if sensing her gaze, the figure beside Victoria looked her way. His gaze, cutting through the crowd and flashes of light, seemed to carry the coolness of the summer night rain, distant and piercing.

A quarter of an hour later, the red carpet photo session in front of the display board concluded, and the guests were ushered into the banquet hall, taking their seats as previously arranged.

Tonight's banquet hall was a creation of Elise Hamilton's design.

The lights in the hall cascaded down like a waterfall, with a live band playing Mozart's "Symphony No. 40 in G Minor." Each table was adorned with warm jade white roses, freshly air-flown that morning, their petals full and edged with a soft pink blush. Waiters in vests and bow ties gracefully navigated the room, balancing platters with practiced ease.

Such opulence, yet it all seemed so fleeting.

Kyle's earlier worries proved unnecessary. Knowing Elise had personally overseen the dinner's arrangements, those who might have caused a stir had long since abandoned the idea. The evening proceeded without incident, even through the company president's speech.

Following the president, the editor-in-chief of "Zero Degree," May, took the stage. May loved to share her inspirational thoughts, reminiscent of the legendary Miranda Priestly's strategic brilliance. This time, her speech unexpectedly included seismic changes within the magazine.

As she hinted at the "new deputy editor," all eyes instinctively turned towards Kyle.

Kyle stood up, poised like a victorious swan, barely containing her joy.

Others, however, glanced at her briefly before their attention shifted to Elise, like Victoria.

Victoria Grant, now forty-two, was an icon with numerous awards, having been married to influential figures multiple times. He held significant sway in the entertainment, fashion, and social elite circles.

He leaned in slightly, teasing the man beside him in a tone typically used for gossiping about younger relatives, "Why aren't you with Elise? Had a tiff?"

The man looked up towards Elise, his fingers lightly tapping against his glass, oddly in sync with the platinum watch on his wrist.

After a long pause, he didn't respond, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

Victoria took his silence as agreement, quietly offering advice on how to charm a woman.

He nodded, his gaze still fixed on Elise—

Two years apart, and Elise hadn't changed. Even in her unexpressive state, her beauty was stunning, rivaling the brilliance of the stars around her.

The after-party following the dinner was arranged as a charity auction, with the remaining guests moving to a smaller hall nearby.

"Lot number 029, a Tahitian natural black pearl and diamond necklace, donated by Ms. Victoria..."

While the auctioneer introduced the item on stage, Elise had already scanned through the list of auction items.

She scoffed inwardly, anticipating that tonight someone would spend lavishly just to win a smile from the famous actress.

No sooner had this thought crossed her mind than the auctioneer announced, "Starting bid, 800,000!"

"Bid at 850,000!"

"900,000!"

"One million!"

The price escalated rapidly.

When the bidding reached three million, many glanced towards Elise's rear right, some even whispering among themselves in this setting.

Elise remained still, not needing to look back to picture the calm demeanor of the bidder raising the paddle.

"Five million, we're now at five million."

"Five million once, five million twice, five million thrice!"

"Bang!"

The gavel struck with a dull sound, sealing the deal.

"This necklace, for five million...? Who is that man?" a young starlet at the back, new to the scene, asked her agent, noticing the excessive final bid.

"Vincent Sterling..." the agent murmured thoughtfully, "Why has he suddenly come back?"

The young girl, new to the world of fame and fortune, caught the key name and asked curiously, "That man's named Vincent Sterling? Is he that influential?"

The newcomer was not yet connected to Vincent’s circle. Her agent, more concerned with informing her other more established clients, was busy texting under the table.

Many in the room, like this agent, were busy spreading the news.

Vincent Sterling, the scion of the Sterling enterprise, had been in Australia for two years, expanding the overseas market, and had not been seen in the country. His unexpected and high-profile appearance tonight seemed like a signal—

The prolonged internal struggle within Sterling Enterprises had ended.

Unless something unexpected happened, the city would be buzzing about this influential new figure after tonight.

In fact, attending this charity dinner was not in Vincent's original plans.

But being meticulous in his actions, he had agreed to accompany Victoria at the last minute, showing the same patience he had when attending various events with his elders in the past. He not only participated but also bid on and won the pearl necklace donated by Victoria, a piece the actress claimed to have cherished for years.

Such fashion magazine-organized small-scale auctions were usually about symbolic donations. Vincent's aggressive bidding was a grand gesture to both honor and impress Victoria.

With a contented smile, Victoria said, "When old Perry is free, you and Elise should come over for dinner."

That was an acceptance.

As the auction concluded, many eyes fell on Vincent.

He remained seated in a dimly lit corner, loosening his Windsor knot, legs crossed, leaning back.

With the large number of guests and his late arrival with Victoria, many were unaware of his presence until now.

Those who knew him naturally came forward to greet and chat, while those who didn’t sought to make his acquaintance.

Elise sat unmoved in her seat, her gaze fixed on the now-empty display stand, her expression as cold as ice.

Kyle watched anxiously. The thrill of defeating a rival and earning a promotion had completely evaporated as Vincent repeatedly raised his paddle for Victoria’s pearl necklace.

Elise quietly asked, "When did your husband return? Did you two have a fight?"

"No."

Elise only answered the second question; she didn’t know the answer to the first.

After a while, a pair of familiar black leather shoes slowly entered her field of vision. The style of the shoes and the unique way they were tied immediately brought their owner’s image to Elise’s mind.

"Elise, let's go home," he said, his voice neither loud nor soft, ordinary in a way that momentarily gave Elise the illusion they were a regular couple who saw each other every day.

"I drove here... I really..." Kyle, teetering on ten-centimeter heels, was subtly pulled outside by Elise, struggling to keep her balance. "Why drag me into this if you're going home? I don't need a ride..."

"You need a ride."

Elise’s cold glance silenced any further protest.

Outside the art academy, the storm had just subsided, the night so thick without a trace of light, the wind half cool, half carrying the humid heat of a summer night.

The driver respectfully opened the passenger door.

Seeing Vincent showing no signs of getting in, Elise instinctively stepped forward, but Vincent suddenly raised his hand to stop her and then subtly glanced at Kyle.

Kyle, getting the hint, hurried to the passenger seat, leaving the spacious back seat for the couple.

"Just drop me off at Starport International, please, thank you."

After giving the driver the address, Kyle sneakily glanced at the aloof couple in the backseat through the rearview mirror.

—Both were looking forward, ignoring each other, with enough space between them to fit a 200-pound person.

As the Bentley merged onto the main road, the car remained utterly silent for a full three minutes. Kyle felt that if the quiet continued, the four of them might just suffocate in the silence.

Just as she was about to break the silence with a conversation starter, Vincent suddenly spoke, "Congratulations on the promotion, Ms. Grove."

Kyle laughed nervously out of instinct, "Thank you, thank you." She added, trying to return the compliment, "Mr. Sterling, it's been a while. You really made a splash tonight."