Chapter 37
Austin rushed over and held the fallen Zoe Monroe in his arms.
Zoe Monroe reached out to touch the back of her head, and when she raised her hand again, it was already covered in blood.
She felt extremely wronged and said, “Austin… it hurts so much p>
But she still grabbed Austin’s collar and thoughtfully ’explained’ for Vivian Sinclair: “Don’t blame her p>
“It’s all my fault p>
“I originally wanted to explain to Miss Sinclair, but she was just too angry p>
“Austin, this is all my fault alone p>
“If it can calm Miss Sinclair down… it’s just a bit of blood, it’s worth it p>
After saying that, Zoe Monroe passed out.
Austin was both pained and regretful, holding Zoe Monroe as if he had lost a precious treasure, shouting, “Zoe p>
“Zoe!! Don’t scare me, Zoe p>
“It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have been harsh on you, I shouldn’t have ignored you, I knew you wouldn’t do such a thing, yet I didn’t believe you p>
“Someone, someone come save her p>
Zoe Monroe was pushed away on a stretcher, and Austin stood there in a daze, as if someone had taken his soul.
Suddenly, he looked up sharply at Vivian Sinclair, who had been standing nearby.
His gaze was like a poisoned ice dagger, sharp enough to bore a hole into Vivian Sinclair.
He stepped toward Vivian Sinclair and without saying anything, raised his hand and slapped her hard.
’Smack p>
The sound was so crisp.
The entire floor of the hospital could hear it, and all the onlookers were dumbfounded.
For a moment, the surroundings fell eerily silent.
Only Austin’s heavy breathing could be heard.
Vivian Sinclair raised her hand, calmly wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth.
She looked up at Austin with a frosty gaze, devoid of blame, only endless indifference.
For some reason, a twinge of discomfort flashed in Austin’s heart.
But anger still prevailed.
“Are you satisfied now p>
“Vivian Sinclair, I didn’t expect you to be such a vengeful woman p>
“If anything happens to Zoe today, I want you to pay with your life p>
Vivian Sinclair: “Alright, I’ll be waiting p>
With that, she turned and went back to her ward.
Austin watched her retreating figure, feeling as if something was drifting away from him p>
Suddenly, someone in the crowd muttered, “Why do I feel like that mistress did it on purpose p>
“Exactly, she even provocatively said that love is all about who comes first… what wife can stand to hear that p>
“Now I get it, she’s just a mistress, isn’t she? Constantly provoking the legitimate wife. I heard that yesterday she almost caused that lady to lose two lives p>
“It was three lives! I heard it was twins p>
“Oh my God, that’s awful. And the husband just comes in and hits people without understanding the situation, that’s too much p>
“Yes, clearly the mistress brought it on herself p>
As Austin listened to these words, his heart seemed to skip a beat.
His unfriendly gaze swept over the crowd, and they dispersed in silence.
Vivian Sinclair stood in front of the mirror, looking at the swollen handprint on half her face, and thought: This was quite a sacrifice.
However, giving Zoe Monroe that little push wasn’t a loss.
If she hadn’t tried to fake a fall, Vivian wouldn’t have gotten even like this.
Now it was done; if she wanted to fall, she might as well fall completely.
This was the final break with Austin, and she wouldn’t have to act any more.
Taking this swollen face to Grandma should be enough to account for it, right?
Besides, if it weren’t for her constantly trying to pair her with Austin, Vivian wouldn’t have taken this step.
First the miscarriage scare.
Then Austin personally raising a hand against her for Zoe Monroe.
Those two things were enough excuses not to return to the old house.
Vivian was still holding back the urge to directly bring up divorce, which could be seen as giving the old lady some face.
As for everything else, Vivian had no intention of dealing with it.
Vivian took out her phone and sent a message to Jasmine: “Help me pack up the valuable items, and bring them to the teahouse when you’re free tomorrow p>
Jasmine: “Got it p>
Looking at the darkening sky outside, Vivian planned to ’discharge’ herself tomorrow, but just as she was about to lie down, Austin arrived unexpectedly.
He stood in the shadow at the door, slowly walking towards Vivian.
“You caused Zoe to lose a lot of blood p>
“The gash required twelve stitches p>
“A patch of hair had to be shaved, and now her eyes are swollen from crying p>
“Vivian, go apologize to Zoe, and let me cut your hair, and this matter will be even between the two of you p>
“Afterward, no one will pursue it anymore p>
“Do it for our marriage and our child, won’t you p>
Saying this, Austin had already walked to the side of Vivian’s bed.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of scissors, ready to grab Vivian Sinclair’s hair.
Vivian Sinclair couldn’t believe he was so insane!
Looking at the scissors, she didn’t dare to move recklessly.
She could only keep backing away: “Austin, are you crazy p>
“Since you think I harmed Zoe Monroe, why not call the police now p>
“This hospital has surveillance; let the police determine whether I intentionally pushed Zoe Monroe or if it was self-defense p>
“Of course, I will also report yesterday’s incident; Miss Monroe was chasing me with a stick, witnessed by many people, so it’s not like I’m lying about it, right p>
Bringing up the incident, Austin immediately seemed lost in thought.
While Austin was distracted, Vivian Sinclair delivered a swift kick to his groin.
Austin’s eyes widened in pain, and he clutched his lower body, bending over.
Vivian Sinclair kicked away the scissors from his hand: “Dream on if you think you can cut my hair p>
Quickly, she got out of bed, unable to afford big movements or delays, and fled out the door without even wearing shoes.
“Stop –
Austin couldn’t let her escape.
Grimacing in pain, he chased after her.
Vivian Sinclair frantically pressed the elevator button, looking back at Austin who was already chasing her.
She hesitated whether to escape via the stairwell but feared she might misstep in her panic and harm the baby in her belly.
Fortunately, Austin’s walking was quite awkward and slow due to Vivian Sinclair’s kicks just now.
Soon, Vivian Sinclair managed to wait for the elevator.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, she rushed inside, only to crash headfirst into a wall of flesh.
Vivian Sinclair was instantly bounced back by the flesh wall and was pulled protectively back.
“Vivian – Sinclair p>
As Austin chased her, the elevator doors slammed shut.
Watching the numbers descend, Vivian Sinclair couldn’t relax yet, nor could she rejoice, because the person she bumped into was none other than Julian Thorne.
At the moment, Julian Thorne just released his protective hold on Vivian Sinclair’s hand, staring at her severely swollen face.
“Miss Sinclair seems to have made herself look a bit embarrassed p>
Vivian Sinclair: “President Thorne is Ardis’s richest man, presumably very busy. But why does he seem idle lately p>
What she meant was, why was he everywhere?
Vivian Sinclair awkwardly moved to the side, trying to step away.
Julian Thorne replied, “Not idle p>
“Because I originally came to find you p>
Vivian Sinclair:?
The elevator reached the third floor, and the doors opened.
Julian Thorne stepped out: “If Miss Sinclair wishes to throw herself into the net on the first floor, she can continue going down p>
Vivian Sinclair guessed Austin might have already gone to the first floor via the stairwell to catch her.
Not daring to actually go there, she hurriedly followed him out of the elevator.
Julian Thorne led Vivian Sinclair to another internal elevator, rumored to be reserved for the hospital’s VVIPs, high-ranking doctors, and its investor board.
He raised his wrist, and his watch immediately opened the elevator doors.
Vivian Sinclair suspected that Julian Thorne had deep ties with this hospital.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have known she was in this hospital.
Descending directly to the underground parking lot via the internal elevator, Vivian Sinclair was surveying the surroundings for the quickest escape route when Julian Thorne seemed to see through her thoughts and guided her to his Bentley.
“Miss Sinclair, I wonder if your legs are faster than my car p>
Vivian Sinclair was pragmatic.
Seeing she couldn’t escape for now, she simply opened the back door and got in the car.
“Then I must ask Mr. Thorne to give me a ride p>
As the car passed through the hospital gate, Vivian Sinclair saw Austin furiously chasing after them.
But he had no idea where Vivian Sinclair had escaped to, nor did he know she was in the car right in front of him, so he could only kick a nearby flower pot in frustration.
Vivian Sinclair withdrew her gaze, indifferent to Austin’s emotions.
Seeing her so calm, Julian Thorne, who was driving himself today, withdrew his gaze from the rearview mirror.
Vivian Sinclair did not ask why Julian Thorne had come to find her today.
Julian Thorne also remained silent.
Originally, the car was going to drop Vivian Sinclair off at the hotel, but while waiting at a traffic light, Julian Thorne noticed a suspicious black van through the rearview mirror.
The van had been following them through three intersections.
Moreover, the windows were pitch black, making it impossible to see who was driving inside.
Julian Thorne quickly surveyed the van, noting numerous scratches on its body and its tires.
Though the street lamps were dim, they were sufficient for him to gather information.
“Miss Sinclair, you might want to fasten your seatbelt p>
Vivian Sinclair withdrew her gaze from outside the car, puzzled: “What p>
Julian Thorne lowered his eyes, the cold light in them deepening: “Someone is following us p>
Vivian Sinclair didn’t want to get caught up in any car chase, her face changed dramatically: “Then why haven’t you – ah p>
She hadn’t finished speaking when Julian Thorne took advantage of the instant the light turned green, cutting from the straight lane to make a turn and forcefully changed direction.
Vivian Sinclair screamed, hurriedly grabbing whatever she could hold, and shouted in panic, “Slow down—my belly p>