Chapter 3
Vivian Sinclair looked down at her own hands. “Of course. From now on, I’m living for myself p>
“I’m going to start pursuing my own dreams again p>
Tina Archer: “Vivian, I’m so happy for you p>
After hanging up, Vivian glanced at her suitcase.
It was already past midnight, so she decided to wait until the morning to leave.
But she’d only just stood up when Austin Grant suddenly called her.
Vivian hesitated for a moment but still picked up.
On the other end, what she heard was Austin Grant and a woman’s voices.
“Austin, how about… you go home tonight and keep your wife, Vivian Sinclair, company p>
There was a sharp sound from Austin’s side, like he’d lit a cigarette. “Keep her company p>
“Just looking at her disgusts me p>
“Zoe, don’t joke around p>
Zoe Monroe?
So it turned out that Austin hadn’t been staying at the office these days at all, but had already started shacking up with Zoe Monroe.
Hearing Austin say that, Vivian’s heart snapped in pain.
Vivian just felt bitterly mocked, but she didn’t rush to hang up.
This call was obviously dialed ’on purpose’ by someone.
She wanted to hear, just what Zoe Monroe wanted her to hear.
Zoe giggled charmingly. “Austin, do you really hate Vivian Sinclair that much p>
“But you two have been married for a year. You really never had any feelings for her p>
“She’s gorgeous, elegant, and used to be the Sinclair Family’s famous heiress all over Ardis… There’s no way you didn’t like her even a little, right p>
Austin replied with a half smile, half sneer: “Like her? Impossible. I only love you p>
“Zoe, you’re jealous again p>
Zoe playfully whined: “It’s your fault for hiding me away now, making me live in the shadows p>
“I mean, my family’s just average. How could I ever compare to her p>
Austin: “Why do you need to compare p>
“In my heart, you’re worth a million times more than her p>
“Heard her birth mother ran off right after giving birth in the hospital. She wandered into the street and got hit by a car p>
“If it weren’t for that nurse with a vendetta against the Sinclairs deliberately switching babies, growing up in an orphanage would’ve been her real fate p>
“She just got lucky, making the real Sinclair heiress suffer in her place. Now that her real background’s exposed, she’s nothing but a nobody—a wild child unwanted by the Sinclair Family p>
“And back then, she used such filthy, vicious tricks to drive you away. I can’t explain how thrilled I was when it came out she wasn’t the true Sinclair daughter p>
“Now that her pride and identity were all a lie, what does she have left to compare with you p>
“For me, Zoe, you’re the one and only, like the moon in the sky p>
It had only been a day.
But hearing those cruel words again, Vivian could already keep her calm, no longer getting mad so easily.
She hung up peacefully, then saved the recording.
No matter what Zoe wanted to show off or prove, since she’d picked this fight herself, Vivian was taking them head on.
They didn’t even see her as human.
Wanted to humiliate her, drain her dry.
Then she, Vivian Sinclair, would make them taste the pain of losing everything, just as they wished upon her!
Now with evidence dropped right into her lap, she’d start by exposing their sordid little affair.
After sleeping, Vivian spent ages hunched over the toilet, throwing up.
Once she finished, her mind felt much clearer.
This marriage was ending, for sure.
But it wouldn’t be easy.
Now everyone in The Grant Family already knew she was pregnant. Just like Austin Grant, they all believed she was carrying a Grant heir, so they’d never let her go easily.
Austin and Zoe had worked hard to plan all this, and now they thought they were in total control, totally smug about their win.
Especially Zoe.
The phone call last night had been a clear message—that even if she knew Austin was cheating, she dared not make a sound.
Because in everyone else’s eyes, Vivian Sinclair had lost everything.
Once divorced from The Grant Family, she’d be nothing.
And now she was pregnant.
Even knowing Austin Grant had found his first love, she’d just grit her teeth and swallow it.
Zoe wanted Vivian to suffer, never let her have peace.
So she’d do exactly the opposite.
She, Vivian Sinclair, would never tolerate betrayal!
And she’d never been some helpless, dependent parasite clinging to others to survive!
Vivian had barely come downstairs when she ran into the live-in doctor.
“Young Madam, you’re just in time. Today’s injection is due p>
Vivian walked over and picked up the syringe. “Is this really a pregnancy-safe shot p>
Ever since her first IVF cycle, Austin had arranged for a family doctor to come over daily for injections.
Supposedly it was for her and the baby’s health, so they only used imported, safe meds.
Now, Vivian’s stomach was covered with bruises and purple marks.
But to keep Austin from worrying about the IVF, even after losing the first pregnancy, she’d never stopped the daily shots.
Her hope was, maybe with these next time, she’d actually keep the pregnancy.
But now, Vivian saw it all as a scam!
“Dr. Holloway, just how much did Austin Grant pay you off p>
The family doctor, Lina Holloway, was a plain-looking young woman. Hearing Vivian’s words, her pupils shrank sharply.
“You p>
How did she know? How much did she know?
Seeing Lina’s reaction, Vivian knew she’d guessed right.
Yesterday at the hospital, Vivian had threatened Dr. Lyle about the daily injections.
Dr. Lyle had gotten angry. “This is nonsense p>
“Mrs. Grant, even though you’re carrying twins, all your bloodwork is perfectly normal p>
“There’s no sign of miscarriage, so why the injections p>
“It’s extra harm for both you and the babies p>
Vivian had been shaking with rage at that.
“But I’ve had horrible morning sickness every day p>
“Can’t keep anything down, have no appetite at all p>
Dr. Lyle: “Random injections do cause side effects, even in healthy people p>
“Stop it now, or I can’t guarantee no more accidents will happen p>
Vivian immediately had Dr. Lyle run more checks for her.
The results came back: “You and the babies are both fine. You’re actually pretty healthy p>
“As for what those injections really are, we’ll need a sample to test to be sure p>
Vivian knew now—this was all Austin Grant’s doing.
Even if the babies were his and his first love’s, he still wanted her to suffer, wanted her life ruined.
Vivian’s icy eyes turned venomous, staring down Lina Holloway. “I trusted you as a doctor, believed in your ethics. Now, if I take this vial to the police, or to a lab for testing p>
“Charge you with abuse of meds, and intentional injury p>
“Guess, will Austin Grant protect you p>
“And how many years would you get p>
Lina Holloway panicked instantly.
“Young Madam, I was just following President Grant’s orders, you—you can’t do this p>
“This would ruin my whole life p>
Vivian had to fight to keep her fury from spilling out.
Was her life supposed to be ruined?
“Dr. Holloway, you’d better choose whose side you’re really on, starting now p>
Lina was smart.
Even if President Grant had all the power, her own secret was exposed; there was nowhere else to turn.
After Lina slunk away, Vivian looked up at the giant wedding portrait hanging in the living room.
Back then, Austin Grant was still the gentle, attentive husband.
After Vivian’s scandal broke, Austin stood up to all the pressure from The Grant Family and didn’t divorce her.
Vivian had thought he was a responsible man, a soulmate worth a lifetime.
She could only blame herself for being blind, never seeing that all his gentle affection was just an act.
Now Vivian wondered—if even her pregnancy and these “safe” shots were fake, was that old medical report saying she was infertile actually real?
Vivian just wanted to leave this house as soon as she could.
She ordered several strong cleaning ladies online.
While she ate, they took down the massive wedding photo.
Every trace of Vivian Sinclair in the house was swept clean.
Cups, dishes, photo frames p>
All the keepsakes from trips and dates during their marriage.
Vivian tossed them all right into the firepit in the garden.
One match, and it all went up in flames.
It was Vivian Sinclair who was ditching Austin Grant and their marriage first.
Pulling her suitcase, Vivian called Lina Holloway: “Dr. Holloway, I need you to make me a report saying I suffered emotional distress, and now have signs of unstable pregnancy and threatened miscarriage p>
“Send it directly to Austin Grant p>
Since Zoe Monroe didn’t want to stay hidden anymore, Vivian was happy to help—let the world see her.
After hanging up, Vivian stroked her belly apologetically.
“Babies, mommy isn’t cursing you. Mommy just has to deal with these two scumbags, don’t be mad p>
“Mommy loves you, you’re all I have now p>
“You have to grow up strong in here, promise p>
After stopping the injections, Vivian realized her morning sickness was actually easing up a bit.
She had to recover quickly, protect the two little ones inside her.
And before they were born, finish cutting ties to The Grant Family and this whole marriage.
Vivian had just moved into her new rental when Austin Grant called her.
Clearly, he’d already gotten Lina Holloway’s fake medical report.
Austin’s voice was anxious. “Vivian, Dr. Holloway said you had a scare and now there are signs of miscarriage. Haven’t you been home this whole time? Who upset you p>
“Tell me, and I’ll stand up for you as your husband p>
What he cared about most was, of course, Vivian’s pregnant belly.
Vivian intentionally feigned weakness as she asked, “Austin… I heard… Zoe Monroe is back, is that true p>
“I know you could never forget her p>
“And you always thought I forced her to leave, using tricks p>
At the mention of Zoe, the line went silent.
After a long pause, Austin finally answered in a low voice, “Vivian, did you hear some nonsense from someone p>
“Don’t let your imagination run wild. You’re my only wife. Me and her were over ages ago p>
“If this stress is the reason you lost the baby, I’d be heartbroken p>
Vivian just listened to him perform.
She played along: “Austin, I only care about you too much p>
“But hearing you say that, I feel better p>
“By the way, I’m in the hospital resting now for the pregnancy. I won’t be home for a few days and can’t take care of you, so you should go stay at the Grant’s old mansion for a while p>
Vivian was already listing the house for sale.
So she wanted to send Austin away, ideally keep him from coming back anytime soon.
Austin asked which hospital she was at, planning to visit.
Vivian quickly replied, “Things are critical at The Grant Group right now, Austin, don’t worry about me p>
“I’ll call you as soon as I’m out p>
Trying not to gag, Vivian finally let out a long breath after hanging up.
Daughter-in-law of The Grant Family?
Vivian Sinclair—did she care?
The next day, Vivian went to the hospital again.
She handed Dr. Lyle samples of the daily injection, and when he told her it was just saline, Vivian finally relaxed all the way.
So Lina Holloway hadn’t lied.
She admitted frankly it was nothing but saline—Austin Grant and Zoe Monroe just wanted Vivian to suffer through harsh treatment.
Dr. Lyle still didn’t get it. “If it was just saline, why go to all this trouble p>