Chapter 3

3.

Vivienne and Jillian didn't come home that night, and for the first time in years, I slept in without an alarm.

The lawyer delivered the divorce papers, and just as I finished signing them and placed them on the table, they returned.

They brought Ewan with them.

Vivienne looked at me with irritation. "Don't think I'm back to make peace! I promised Director Marshall a family interview today, and he'll be here any minute!"

I frowned. Director Marshall had been a mentor to me.

When I first started as a manager, he was the one who used his connections to get me trained by the best in the business.

I didn't want him to have made the trip for nothing, so I agreed to the interview.

A short while later, the director arrived and motioned for us to sit on the sofa.

"Ewan, don't sit down. Get the camera ready. We're starting!"

Ewan, who had been sitting smugly next to Vivienne to provoke me, scurried off to set up the gear.

Even though it was a family interview, Vivienne and Jillian refused to sit anywhere near me.

Director Marshall noticed the awkward tension and tried to smooth things over with a smile.

"Vivienne, take Jillian and sit next to Arthur. How are we supposed to show a happy, harmonious family like this?"

Vivienne cared about her public image above all else, so she didn't show her blatant hatred for me in front of the director.

She pursed her lips and moved over with Jillian.

"Vivienne, Arthur, what is the secret to keeping your family so harmonious and loving for thirty years?"

Vivienne and Jillian just stared at me with cold eyes, waiting for me to provide the answer.

In their minds, there was no harmony left to speak of.

I answered slowly, "The secret is my one-sided sacrifice."

Director Marshall gave me a meaningful look.

Vivienne and Jillian were clearly unhappy with my response, their faces darkening.

The director gave a nervous laugh and a reminder.

"Vivienne, Jillian, don't look so grumpy. It won't look good on camera."

Vivienne clicked her tongue and took a few minutes to adjust her expression with Jillian.

But even after ten minutes, they couldn't muster a single pleasant look toward me.

At that moment, Ewan put down the camera and walked over with a smug grin.

"Director, why don't I sit next to Vivienne? They both like me, so their expressions will definitely improve. You can just edit me out later; I'll just be there to fix the mood."

Vivienne's face lit up, and before the director could even agree, she patted the seat next to her.

Jillian smiled and added, "Uncle Ewan! You should sit in the middle! They can just Photoshop you out in post-production!"

Ewan gave me a triumphant look and sat down boldly between them.

I was pushed nearly two feet away, looking completely out of place.

Director Marshall let out a heavy sigh, feeling helpless.

"Fine, we'll handle it in post-production."

The director then turned back to us as a couple.

"What is the most memorable event you two have shared from your youth to your later years?"

When Vivienne remained silent again, I was about to answer, but Ewan cut me realize.

"The most memorable thing for me is how Vivienne knows I have low blood sugar. She's been bringing me that collagen tonic every morning for ten years, waking up at the crack of dawn to make it. It's so moving!"

He spoke while interlacing his fingers with Vivienne's. She gave him a doting look and ruffled his hair.

"It's the least I could do."

I let out a cold, sharp laugh.

In thirty years of marriage, even though everyone knew who we were, she would never have physical contact with me in front of others.

If I even tried to get close, she would snap at me for being immature and worry about the tabloids writing hit pieces.

Yet here she was, holding Ewan's hand in front of the director, practically sitting in his lap.

And Jillian was chatting happily with Ewan as if he were her father.

Director Marshall sighed and tried to speak up for me.

"Ewan, how am I supposed to film this? Even with editing, you can't just keep interrupting!"

Ewan leaned into Vivienne's arms and said softly, "I'm sorry, Director. I didn't mean to. I'm just so used to being with Vivienne and Jillian. I accidentally slipped into the role of the leading man. I won't do it again..."

He was apologizing to the director, but his eyes were fixed on me, filled with mockery.

Vivienne pulled him closer and glared at me, shouting, "Arthur, why can't you say something to help Ewan? You didn't answer when you were asked, and now Ewan is getting scolded for helping you. Do you have any conscience at all?"

Jillian gave me a look of pure disgust and told her mother, "Forget it, Mom. Don't be mad. Let Ewan finish the interview with us. They can just edit his face onto Dad's later. Dad's too old to say anything useful anyway!"

Ewan smirked at me and snuggled into Vivienne's chest, asking mockingly, "Is that okay? I'm worried Arthur might have a problem with it."

"Let him have a problem! Director, do as Jillian says! Don't even bother editing him out! Ewan has done so much for this family; he's one of us. It's the same if you interview him!"

Vivienne shielded him in her arms, coldly and ruthlessly erasing my place in the family.

Director Marshall looked at me with pity, but I stood up, feeling calm and resolute.

"Director, I won't be continuing with the rest of the interview. They have Ewan; that's enough. Vivienne, I've signed the divorce papers and left them on the table. Don't forget to sign. I'm leaving now."