Chapter 12
Zoe Monroe’s face was already as pale as a sheet.
She realized that her appearance tonight was nothing but a farce.
With tears in her eyes, she looked up at Austin Grant but did not dare to say a single wrong word.
“I… didn’t know… I have nothing p>
Her aggrieved appearance made Austin Grant’s heart ache as if it were pierced by needles.
How could Austin Grant let her be wronged?
He urgently shouted, “Grandma! Why are you making things difficult for Miss Monroe p>
“She’s just my secretary p>
“And why embarrass your only grandson in front of so many people p>
The words Old Madam Grant had just said in public basically announced to The Grant Family that Austin Grant was unfaithful, fooling around outside.
More importantly, Zoe should not have to suffer intentional difficulty from anyone in The Grant Family!
Not even from Grandma.
Austin Grant’s attitude made Theodore Grant very dissatisfied.
“Austin, how dare you speak to Grandma that way p>
“Stand down p>
Though Theodore Grant did not care much about his son’s private life, he was a filial son and could not tolerate such disrespect toward his mother.
Old Madam Grant completely ignored Austin Grant.
Instead, she smiled and beckoned Vivian Sinclair over.
She held Vivian’s hand, her face kind and gentle, “My dear granddaughter-in-law, where is the surprise you said you prepared for Grandma p>
“Grandma has been looking forward to it for days p>
“Even if you only bought Grandma a tea cup for a few tens of dollars, Grandma would like it p>
“Because it’s from you, Grandma will find it precious p>
“On the other hand, no matter how precious the things someone else may bring to Grandma, she would disdain them p>
“You are the one Grandma cherishes the most, the only one acknowledged, and the future mistress of The Grant Family p>
She touched the family heirloom on Vivian Sinclair’s wrist with satisfaction, then moved her hand to caress Vivian’s belly.
“You are the great achiever for our Grant Family p>
“Dr. Archer said you are carrying twin great-grandsons for me. Were you waiting for Grandma’s birthday to surprise me with this news p>
“Vivian, Grandma knows you’ve been wronged all this time p>
“As long as Grandma is still around, she’ll stand up for you p>
Vivian Sinclair’s eyes turned red.
She crouched down, obediently looking at Old Madam Grant, “Grandma, everything is fine with me, no need for you to worry about me p>
Knowing that tonight’s show was meant to humiliate Zoe Monroe, even her cold heart softened a bit.
In all The Grant Family, only Old Madam Grant seemed to genuinely care for her.
And tonight, she truly defended her.
Vivian Sinclair knew her well-intentioned efforts to bolster her standing were also an attempt to save her marriage with Austin Grant.
Though she certainly wouldn’t look back, she wouldn’t cause Old Madam Grant any more grief or trouble while she lived.
As for the divorce… she would put it off for a few more months.
Consider it a longer countdown, during which she could plan her revenge on Austin Grant and Zoe Monroe.
This way, when the time finally came, Grandma would have fewer concerns and could leave peacefully.
The other members of The Grant Family were delighted to hear Old Madam Grant’s words.
“So Vivian is pregnant p>
“I wondered why she was wearing such a loose cheongsam today p>
“And with twins, that’s remarkable p>
“This is great news for The Grant Family p>
Theodore Grant was also surprised.
He knew the adopted daughter from The Sinclair Family was carrying his grandson.
But it didn’t matter much to him.
Because Austin Grant was still young.
As long as he was willing, he could have many children in the future.
But twins were different.
This was double happiness, a great omen!
Especially in the year The Grant Group finally successfully went public.
Theodore Grant’s gaze at Vivian Sinclair became a bit more appreciative and gentle.
If she could give birth to two grandsons, Theodore Grant would allow this adopted daughter from The Sinclair Family to stay as The Grants’ daughter-in-law forever.
And this scene was all witnessed by Zoe Monroe from the sidelines.
She was almost driven to madness by frustration.
Zoe couldn’t hide the hint of hatred in her eyes.
Vivian Sinclair was bearing her child p>
What was she?
Just a tool to carry her and Austin’s pregnancy, and she got all the attention just because of that p>
Especially this old hag!
Why hasn’t she died yet?
Tonight, she had humiliated her so!
She wanted to protect Vivian Sinclair, did she?
Then Zoe would wait until she found out the truth, to see her expression when she realized Vivian Sinclair was just a despicably low tool!
And she, Zoe, was the birth mother of The Grant Family’s rightful heir!
Suddenly, Vivian Sinclair spoke, “Grandma, shall we wait till later to open my gift p>
“Vivian has something she’d like to ask Miss Monroe first p>
Vivian Sinclair slowly stood up.
She turned and walked slowly toward Zoe Monroe, asking, “Where did Miss Monroe acquire this tea set p>
“Coincidentally, I have an identical tea set myself, a rare treasure Teacher Tris gifted me p>
“It’s one of a kind in the world, with unique patterns crafted by his own hands p>
“Yet two months ago, it mysteriously vanished from my home p>
“Does Miss Monroe know anything about this p>
Zoe Monroe fell heavily backward in shock!
She only then realized she had made a grave mistake, “President Grant… I didn’t know p>
Austin Grant, hearing Vivian Sinclair’s sudden accusation, was momentarily flustered as well.
“Vivian, what nonsense are you spouting p>
His eyes brimmed with warning, “Though Miss Monroe is merely my secretary, she’s a guest of the Grants tonight p>
“Are you being so aggressive here to embarrass everyone, to spoil the fun because of you p>
“It’s just a set of tea cups, nothing special p>
“They’re everywhere on the streets, whatever amount you want, I’ll get them for you! And how come only you can buy Teacher Tris’s works, and no one else p>
“Don’t make a fool of yourself here p>
“Get down here immediately p>
Vivian just found it extremely amusing.
Her cold gaze fell upon Austin again.
Was he anxious, heartbroken?
“This set of teacups belongs to me p>
She enunciated each word clearly.
“Because it’s my dowry p>
“And each teacup has a number engraved at the bottom p>
“That’s my birthday, September 25th p>
“If you don’t believe me, pick it up and you’ll see clearly p>
Lillian was the first to pick it up.
And sure enough, there were three numbers at the bottom: 925!
Everyone else, curious, proceeded to pick them up and inspect.
Even Old Madam Grant had Mrs. Archer quickly wheel her over.
Immediately, someone exclaimed: “It’s really 925 p>
“Vivian has been with the old lady all along, she hasn’t even seen this set of cups, so she couldn’t have known beforehand. If she guessed, that would be way too accurate p>
“What kind of coincidence is this? It’s clearly an authentic Teacher Tris piece, definitely not any street counterfeit p>
“So it’s really Vivian’s dowry p>
But if it’s a dowry, how did it end up with this Miss Monroe, given as a birthday gift to Old Madam Grant?
Everyone looked toward Austin with grim faces.
What was unclear now?
Austin gave his wife’s dowry to this Miss Monroe.
And said she was just a secretary?
Now, no one in the Grant family believed anymore that there was nothing between the two of them.
The way everyone looked at Austin became complicated.
Even the Grants felt he’d gone too far this time.
Theodore was already angry at heart, “Austin, what’s going on p>
“Why does Vivian’s dowry appear in your secretary’s possession, even used as a gift p>
“If Vivian hadn’t provided proof today, how would this have ever been clarified p>
Although using a few hundred thousand worth of items to please a woman isn’t much.
But taking a wife’s dowry is the utmost disgrace!
It’s an embarrassment to the Grant family name!
Theodore’s cold, hard gaze fell on Zoe.
He was sure she was a troublemaker.
Zoe felt dizzy, nearly fainting on the spot as she was virtually pinned by the head of the Grant family.
Austin, in a panic, immediately shielded Zoe.
He took all the blame, “Dad, it’s my fault for not explaining clearly p>
Then he turned to Vivian.
“Vivian, when will you stop with this matter p>
“I took the tea set p>
“You didn’t pursue it back then, and now just because Miss Monroe took it out, you make a scene p>
“She gave it to Grandma, and you were jealous because you hadn’t before p>
“Vivian, can you not stand to see others do well p>
“I initially gave this tea set to a senior. This senior was later saved by Miss Monroe by accident, and only then did he give the tea set to Miss Monroe p>
“Miss Monroe did nothing wrong p>
“It’s you, Vivian, clinging to this matter p>
“Vivian, you are my wife, and I am truly disappointed by your rudeness tonight p>
Indeed, when one sincerely wants to protect another, they can lie without blinking.
Impressive.
Well-spoken.
It’s an excuse convincing enough for everyone not to doubt.
Vivian merely clapped her hands, saying nothing more.
It was meaningless now.
Even when Old Madam Grant wanted to stand up for her, she stopped her with a gesture, shaking her head to indicate it wasn’t necessary.
Lillian took this opportunity to mediate.
“Since the tea set unintentionally returned to the Grants through Miss Monroe, I don’t think there’s anything more to pursue p>
“Why don’t we all take a look and see what’s so valuable Vivian gave to Mom p>
“Maybe it’s even better than Miss Monroe’s, otherwise people might really think Vivian falsely accused Miss Monroe out of jealousy p>
Lillian nearly couldn’t contain her glee and joy.
Once the old hag dies, all these treasures will be hers.
And since Vivian caused such a scene, if her gift wasn’t as good as Zoe Monroe’s tea set, she’d be completely humiliated tonight.
The more Vivian suffers, the happier Lillian is.
Who told Vivian to wear that eye-sore of a family heirloom bracelet tonight!
And Lillian believed that Vivian couldn’t present anything good.
She was now under the Grant family’s care; would The Sinclair Family subsidize her?
This tea set is said to be part of her dowry, so even if The Sinclair Family once had connections to Teacher Tris to arrange such a set for Vivian, it wouldn’t mean much to them.
But now, what resources could she possibly have?
However, when Vivian’s gift box was opened, the scene fell silent.
Gia was the first to recognize, “Isn’t this the set of jade accessories Vivi recently made famous p>
Zoe rushed forward in a flash.
She almost screamed: How, how could this be?