Chapter 4
Vivian Sinclair: “Someone just doesn’t want me to have a comfortable pregnancy p>
She thought of the bruises mottling her belly, the daily vomiting that left her dizzy and drained—how could she not hate it?
Dr. Lyle shot her a look full of sympathy.
“So what… are you planning to do now p>
Vivian was waiting for the right moment.
Just then, her phone flashed with a news alert: The Grant Group had successfully gone public.
This opportunity… hadn’t it just arrived?
In five days, the Grant Family would be throwing a grand banquet for all the elites of Ardis.
Vivian, the Grant family’s daughter-in-law, learned about it from Lina Holloway.
“Young Madam, I only found out because I personally reported your health status to President Grant. Is this news of any use to you p>
Vivian Sinclair: “You didn’t say anything you shouldn’t, right p>
Lina Holloway: “Don’t worry—I just said that you’re bedridden at the hospital, on daily IV nutrition, and not allowed visitors p>
Vivian Sinclair: “You did well p>
“Last time, you said you didn’t want money. Can you tell me now what you do want p>
Lina didn’t hide it anymore. She spoke up about her motive: “I’ve heard the Grant family’s banquet will be at the old mansion p>
“If you’re attending, Young Madam, could you take me along p>
Vivian instantly understood—Lina had her own agenda for this banquet.
Vivian agreed to Lina’s request.
Elsewhere, after hanging up, Lina immediately dialed another number.
“Hello, Mr. Thorne? It’s Lina Holloway p>
“I’ve found a way to get into the Grant family p>
A heavy voice answered from the other end: “You’re moving too slowly p>
Lina pushed up her glasses with a nervous, guilty tremor in her voice: “The Grants really are hard to get close to p>
“But rest assured, I’ve made a deal with their Young Madam p>
“Mr. Thorne, you said the painter you’re looking for was last seen at the Grant Family’s old mansion, so you had me investigate, hoping for some clues p>
“But I still haven’t figured it out—this mysterious artist… are they male or female p>
Mr. Thorne’s voice was cold, and even through the phone, Lina couldn’t help but shiver:
“There’s only one codename: W p>
Five days passed in a blink.
The Grant Family’s banquet was held as scheduled at their old mansion.
Vivian drove her newly purchased little EV, only to get stuck in traffic on the overpass.
Less than an hour remained till the Sinclair Family’s night banquet began.
Lina Holloway was waiting at the exit off the bridge, but Vivian had calculated—it would take at least another forty minutes to get off the overpass.
Realizing she was about to be late, she wondered if she should abandon her car and walk down. Suddenly, a loud “bang” erupted behind her.
Cars collided in a chain reaction, and Vivian was swept up in the chaos; her new vehicle was rammed forward—
Her forehead slammed into the steering wheel.
Blood instantly flowed.
Panicked, she immediately reached for her stomach.
Thankfully, she’d worn her maternity safety belt—her belly hadn’t been hit.
Vivian barely had time to breathe a sigh of relief before she hurriedly unlocked the door and got out.
Crying and moaning rang out behind her; some people were seriously hurt.
“Miss, are you alright p>
“Miss p>
A concerned bystander came up to check on her.
Vivian thanked them politely, then quickly moved away from the scene.
If the police arrived, she’d miss the banquet tonight.
So she had to hurry and leave.
Vivian rushed ahead, cutting through the crowd.
It took all her effort to get off the overpass on foot, where she saw two black cars waiting at the intersection ahead.
A business van.
A sedan.
Lina was just getting out of the business van, bowing toward someone inside.
As Vivian approached, she overheard Lina: “Sir, I understand p>
Lina turned and spotted Vivian.
“Young Madam Grant p>
Lina saw Vivian’s face covered in blood—and jumped in fright.
She rushed over and grabbed Vivian.
“Young Madam, what happened? Are you p>
Lina’s face was filled with worry.
Vivian croaked out, her voice hoarse, “There was a car accident on the overpass, but I’m alright p>
“My car’s totaled, and it’s hard to get a taxi right now p>
“Can you give me a lift p>
Vivian looked at the black cars in front of her.
Both were ordinary domestic models, but somehow, on this danger-filled night, they radiated an eerie and intimidating presence.
They made people shy away—too menacing to approach carelessly.
Vivian didn’t care who Lina’s people were—she just needed to get to the Grant family.
Lina’s expression flickered with unease.
She hesitated, glancing at the shadowy figure in the business van.
“Um p>
She didn’t dare ask for such a favor from whoever was in the car.
Suddenly, the window rolled down.
Special Assistant Linden smiled out: “Dr. Holloway, sir says for you to get in—help your friend with her injury first p>
Lina realized the car probably had a first aid kit onboard.
She hurried Vivian into the van.
As soon as Vivian got in, she noticed the man—
He was dressed head-to-toe in black, sporting a Chinese-style buzz cut.
Even at night, he wore sunglasses, emanating a chilly, forbidding aura that warned strangers to stay away.
Everything else—Vivian couldn’t make out.
Lina was visibly nervous: “Sorry to disturb you, sir p>
She led Vivian to the back seat.
Vivian nodded politely to the man, keeping silent as she followed Lina to sit.
Lina immediately inspected Vivian’s wound.
There was a pretty big gash on her forehead.
“Young Madam Grant, you should really go to the hospital to get stitches p>
Vivian Sinclair: “Not yet p>
Lina understood—Vivian was determined to show up at the Grant mansion with her head injury untouched.
The Grant Group’s CEO was rumored to be attending tonight with his brand-new female secretary as his date.
Meanwhile, the pregnant Young Madam Grant was being completely ignored.
If the Young Madam showed up battered, with a bloody wound on her head p>
It would certainly cause a huge scandal at the Grant family’s banquet.
Lina wanted that outcome—but even she thought this Young Madam was pushing herself too hard.
Still, Lina would respect her choice.
After all, her own goal was simply to accompany Vivian to the Grant mansion.
The more chaotic things got at the Grant family, the easier Lina’s job would be.
After cleaning the blood off Vivian’s face, stopping the bleeding, dressing and bandaging the wound, Lina gently patted Vivian’s hand: “Don’t worry, Young Madam—sir will make sure we arrive at the Grant mansion on time p>
Vivian looked up at the mysterious man.
In the darkness, he seemed to blend into the shadows.
But she felt his presence, powerfully and unmistakably.
This man’s aura was nothing ordinary.
Who was he?
Since when did Ardis have someone like this?
Vivian Sinclair: “Sorry to trouble you p>
“I’m willing to pay p>
Lina was about to say that wasn’t necessary, but unexpectedly, a deep voice from the shadows replied, “Okay p>
Lina was stunned.
When they got out, Vivian was getting ready to scan a payment code, but the man didn’t take out his phone.
Instead, he handed over a business card.
“Phone’s dead p>
“You can add me as a contact and transfer me directly p>
Vivian glanced at Lina, then at Special Assistant Linden in the front seat.
She didn’t know what this man was really up to, but since she owed him a favor tonight, she couldn’t act ungrateful.
Vivian took the business card with both hands—then, catching sight of the name, she froze, thunderstruck.
Julian Thorne p>
Why did this name feel so familiar?
Vivian quickly remembered: wasn’t this who Dr. Lyle mentioned that day—the nurse who mixed up the sperm, the real father of the child in her belly?
The richest man in Ardis, CEO of The Thorne Group, successor to a century-old secretive family—Julian Thorne, Mr. Thorne p>