Exchanging Luxurious Cars, Exchanging Hearts

Joyce took a good two seconds to gradually regain consciousness.

Clutching her chest, she furrowed her brows in apparent agony.

Vivian, alarmed by her aunt's distress, reached for her phone to call 911, but Joyce stopped her, "It's just my old ailment acting up. Calling 911 will only complicate things. Jerome, take me to the hospital directly."

Little did they know, the CEO of MFC Automotive Company, Jerome, couldn't drive!

Samson, seated in the back, shocked by Jerome's recent revelation, couldn't stop babbling, "Brother-in-law, you can't drive because you don't have a license, or is it some trauma from a past accident? In this day and age, how can anyone not know how to drive? Unbelievable..."

Jerome, uncertain how to explain to Samson, chose to remain silent.

"Samson," Vivian, annoyed, warned him, "Shut up. You're too noisy."

Given the scolding, Samson trembled and obediently fell silent.

Jerome smiled at Vivian, thinking, "She really goes all out to protect me, even scolding her own family."

Vivian sped to the hospital at the fastest pace.

After a thorough examination, the doctor found nothing unusual with Joyce.

Suspicious, Vivian glared at Samson, "Is Aunt really unwell? If I find out you're behind this, I won't let you go."

"It's definitely not me!"

Samson insisted.

He might be an accomplice, but he was certainly not the mastermind.

Unable to joke about Joyce's health, Vivian reluctantly believed Samson, preparing to consult another doctor for confirmation.

Jerome approached Vivian, offering assistance, "I'm fine. How did it go with your aunt? I know some influential experts in this hospital; I can contact them for you."

Given her lack of connections in the hospital, Vivian reluctantly accepted, "Mr Williams, I appreciate your help."

In the hospital room, Vivian inquired gently, "Do you still feel unwell? We've consulted a doctor, and they'll be here soon to examine you."

Joyce experienced life's storms, and responded without panic, "It's an old ailment; no doctor can cure it. I don't think I'll be around much longer. Before I gone, there are still two regrets left. One is not witnessing Samson's graduation, and the other is not seeing you with a boyfriend. How can I face your parents in the afterlife, raising you to achieve so much but ending up with a loveless machine..."

After a fit of coughing, Joyce's face trembled slightly.

Unaware of Vivian's background, Jerome, from Joyce's words, inferred that Vivian had lost her parents at a young age.

Images of a young Vivian enduring cold words at her relatives' home flashed through Jerome's mind, and his eyes moistened, realizing the strong and cheerful girl had a heart-wrenching past.

After Joyce's coughing fit, she turned her attention to Jerome, "Jerome, Vivian and you aren't meant to be. I won't have the fortune of witnessing a perfect departure from this world..."

Jerome's parents were healthier than him, and they had never experienced such a scene of life and death parting. He regretted his indecisiveness when facing Vivian just now, thinking that if Vivian hadn't confessed to deceiving her in front of Joyce, she might not be lying in bed now.

In a short time, Jerome finally made a decision, "Aunt, actually, just now Vivian was teasing you on purpose, we are together."

"Really? Are you two really together?" Joyce sat up from the sickbed, then realized that her reaction seemed a bit too much, hastily coughed to cover it up, and then slowly lay back down, weakly asking, "Vivian, Jerome wouldn't be just trying to comfort me and said it deliberately to fulfill my dream, would he?"

Vivian looked at Joyce thoughtfully, feeling that something was off.

Worried that Vivian was still considering his feelings, Jerome nudged her elbow and flashed a row of small white teeth, "Your aunt is asking you a question."

Whether it was true or not, there was no need to upset Joyce at this time. Helplessly, Vivian nodded, "Um," as a response.

After a series of precise tests and a conclusive diagnosis by experts, it was confirmed that Joyce was fine, and she went home to rest that day.

Joyce's explanation for her recovery was that Vivian's good news had created a medical miracle, allowing her to heal on her own.

Vivian stopped believing such things since kindergarten. But at least Joyce's attitude today showed a firm determination to let herself date.

After much deliberation, Vivian figured that since she couldn't avoid it, she might as well let Joyce misunderstand that she and Jerome were together in front of their family. After all, Jerome was busy with work, so she would have an excuse to avoid him later. After a month, she could break up with him under the pretext of incompatible personalities, and everyone would be happy.

In just a few hours, Vivian unexpectedly gained a boyfriend, at least in name.

...

Upon returning from Europe, Vivian moved out of her aunt's house to live on her own.

Samson went back to school that night, and since Vivian's uncle couldn't drive, she stayed behind, concerned about her aunt's health and the inconvenience of going to the hospital at night.

The next morning, as Vivian descended the stairs during work hours, she saw a Maserati arrogantly parked outside her door.

The window rolled down, revealing a handsome face in the back seat.

He smiled, "Good morning. Get in; I'll drive you to work."

Vivian:?

What's the CEO up to this early in the morning?

Pretending not to notice, Vivian walked past the car, but a sharp voice cut through the air, "Jerome, early morning chauffeur service for Vivian?"

Opening the window, Joyce's face appeared.

Behind her stood Vivian's grinning uncle.

Vivian forced a smile and reluctantly got into the car.

Celia sat in the front seat, focused on driving. Jerome, seemingly oblivious to the low pressure on the left, handed over a bag.

With a slightly frivolous yet devilish smile, he said, "Breakfast?"

"No, thanks," Vivian rejected, not understanding Jerome's behavior.

"Mr Williams, is there something important for you to be at my doorstep this early?"

Vivian emphasized the words "important" to express her displeasure.

"No, I just thought picking up his girlfriend in the morning is a gentleman's responsibility," Jerome replied.

Jerome, with barely visible dark circles under his eyes, didn't mention that he stayed up all night reading several CEO novels just to understand how other CEOs interacted with their girlfriends.

After all, it was his first time, and he felt a bit nervous.

"If I remember correctly, we are fake couple," Vivian retorted.

"Fake couple?"

Jerome looked incredulous.

Then, recalling a novel he read about contract couples turning fake relationships into real, he realized Vivian might fancy such a romantic twist.

Though Jerome preferred straightforwardness, he decided to respect and cooperate with his girlfriend's wishes.

He nodded, "Alright, it's fake from now on, as you wish."

What does 'from now on' even mean?

It was never real to begin with!

Vivian couldn't understand why she got involved with Jerome.

She pinched her brow, "Don't come and pick me up again, and don't mention any personal interaction between us at work."

Jerome, sporting a helpless yet indulgent smile, agreed, "Sure."

Vivian felt something odd about his expression, but at the moment, she couldn't pinpoint what it was.

Suppressing her suspicions, she got out of the car with a stern face.