Chapter 41
Vivian Sinclair hadn’t returned to the Sinclair Family home for more than a year.
Since moving out, even for the New Year, the Sinclairs hadn’t called her once.
She never expected that the one inviting her back now would be the person she owed the most to.
Vivian fumbled nervously and replied, “Let me think about it p>
Then she quickly hung up the call.
Her mind was still in chaos when her phone rang again.
Seeing yet another unfamiliar number, Vivian immediately declined the call.
Then a text message popped up.
“Vivian Sinclair, have you not had enough of your madness p>
“These days, the whole family has been doing everything to coax you, isn’t it time you learned to be grateful p>
“Now even Grandma doesn’t want to see me—are you satisfied? This is all your fault p>
“I never imagined you could be so cruel p>
“What exactly did Zoe do to offend you? If you’re not happy, I can stop seeing her, what else do you want? I’ll give you everything, isn’t that enough p>
Vivian stared at these deranged messages, growing more and more unable to bear Austin Grant.
She wondered how she could have ever been so blind, so oblivious to this man’s shamelessness, hypocrisy, and sickening arrogance!
Vivian blacklisted him again, wanting nothing more to do with Austin.
But she didn’t know her whereabouts had long since been discovered.
When Vivian went down to the garage, before she could get in her car, someone came up behind her, pressing a hand hard over her nose—and she collapsed, powerless.
Austin Grant turned her face toward him.
Looking at the woman who drove him mad with rage, all he wanted was to crush every bone in her body.
But in the end, he didn’t go that far.
Austin Grant picked Vivian up and carried her into the car, then called Lillian Rivers.
“Mom, I’ve got her p>
“See you at Aerieside Villa p>
After that, Austin put on a baseball cap and mask, and drove off with Vivian, leaving the garage behind.
Vivian had just left when Lina Holloway and Special Assistant Linden arrived at her door.
Vivian woke again to find the world outside pitch-black.
She climbed off the bed and felt around her body first.
No sign of her phone or anything else.
So she reached for the light switch by the bed—she hadn’t found it yet when a low, ghostly voice erupted: “What are you looking for p>
Vivian was startled: “Ah p>
“Austin—Austin Grant p>
“Are you insane?! Was it you who kidnapped me p>
Austin rose from the leather chair, his figure emerging from the darkness as he strode toward Vivian.
Once at the bedside, he leaned down and touched Vivian’s face: “If I didn’t do this, how could I ever catch you p>
“Vivian, you’ve been awfully disobedient lately. You made me search so hard for you p>
“That Jasmine Tanner—she was acting on your orders, wasn’t she? Sneaky as a rabbit, that one p>
“My people had to chase her around like dogs every day, just to track you down p>
“But in the end, hard work pays off. I finally found you—my wife p>
As he spoke, Austin pressed his lips close to Vivian’s ear, his voice slick and greasy, making her skin crawl with goosebumps.
“What do you want with me p>
Austin: “What do you think I want p>
“You’re my wife, all I want is for you to quietly stay by my side p>
“Don’t worry, you’re still pregnant with our child—I wouldn’t hurt you p>
Vivian couldn’t help but laugh coldly: “But I don’t believe you, Austin p>
The moment she said that, Austin smashed his fist into the mattress in fury.
“I’m your husband—! If you don’t trust me, who can you trust p>
Just as he was about to start a tirade with Vivian, the door knocked at that moment.
“Austin, come out for a minute p>
Vivian recognized Lillian Rivers’s voice.
So they were in this together?
Vivian’s anxiety spiked. She grabbed Austin’s arm, demanding, “What are you going to do p>
Austin glanced down at her hand.
See—at times like this, she still relied on him.
He couldn’t help but smile.
“I knew it—from the start, locking you up is always the right move p>
He brushed off Vivian’s hand and quickly walked out.
Vivian heard the door lock behind him. She knew she was trapped.
She clenched her fists and smashed the bed, refusing to go down without a fight.
Rising, she walked to the door, pressed her ear against it, and caught snatches of the conversation between Lillian and Austin: “Medicine… calm down… behave p>
After that, she couldn’t hear anything more.
Vivian felt around and flipped the light on.
She began frantically searching the room.
There was nothing useful!
Vivian moved to the window and looked down.
She was on the third floor—if she jumped, she might kill herself and the baby, and could only give up the idea of escaping through the window.
Just then, thunder cracked and a torrential downpour began outside.
Vivian’s heart sank straight into the abyss.
“What do you think you’re doing p>
Austin burst into the room and found Vivian standing by the open window.
She let the storm lash at her as she clung to the sill, looking one breath away from falling to her death three stories below.
Austin’s heart almost stopped; his face twisted as he rushed forward.
He dragged Vivian back, crushing her against his chest, slamming the window shut and locking it fast.
“Are you insane p>
“Do you have any idea how dangerous that was p>
“Don’t you care about our child p>
Austin screamed, half-mad, but Vivian just stared at him coldly.
“Our… child p>
Knowing the truth, Vivian almost wanted to laugh.
But more than anything, she was repulsed.
Repulsed that this hypocrite could utter these words so righteously, so shamelessly.
He made her into little more than a breeding tool.
Forced her to bear the agony of pregnancy for his first love, to suffer the torture and risk of childbirth!
He was, in name, her husband!
She had trusted him, wanted a life together, and even as a virgin was willing to try IVF first, hoping love might grow with time.
But he never once really wanted to spend a lifetime with her!
He calculated every last piece of her, down to the marrow!
He had the nerve to call it their child?
Vivian’s hair had been blown into a tangled mess, her clothes hung loosely, her beautiful face ghostly pale, eyes inflamed and red.
Even now, she was heartbreakingly beautiful, with a kind of shattered vulnerability that clawed at Austin’s chest with painful tenderness.
“I p>
“Vivian, why are you saying this p>
“Did I scare you p>
Austin tightened his hold on Vivian. For once, they were physically close, but it didn’t satisfy him.
She used to love his touch, didn’t she?
Every hug, she’d give back so carefully.
Every time he reached out, she eagerly responded.
But now, despite holding her so tightly, Vivian didn’t even lift a hand, let alone return the gesture.
Austin’s unease spiraled out of control.
Vivian just demanded, coldly, “Let go p>
“Austin, don’t tell me you have feelings for me and that’s why you’re acting so nervous p>
Her mockery made Austin go stiff all over.
Of course he couldn’t have feelings for her.
He only cared about the child she was carrying—and couldn’t stand the thought of her suddenly turning against him.
Austin gripped Vivian’s arms so hard his voice came out through clenched teeth: “You’re my wife p>
“I care about you and the child, isn’t that normal p>
Vivian didn’t reply. She just stared coldly at the wide open door.
Dreaming of how to make a break for it.
But just then, Lillian Rivers entered.
She carried a bowl of soup.
“Austin, Vivian needs her medicine now p>
Vivian shot Austin a wary look: “What medicine p>
Austin softened his voice: “Vivian, be good p>
“Drink the medicine, and get some sleep p>
“When you wake up, your mood will be much steadier, you’ll behave, follow orders, and never try to run away again p>
Vivian shoved Austin aside, desperately retreating.
“Are you crazy p>
“I’m pregnant and you dare make me take God-knows-what p>
“What the hell are you planning p>
Austin took the bowl from Lillian’s hands.
Under Vivian’s terrified gaze, he stepped toward her.
“You started acting out—that’s why p>
“I couldn’t find you; you blocked my calls, ignored my texts. You’re carrying my child and hiding from me p>
“You know, Vivian? I went back to our old place—you not only got rid of everything, you even sold the house p>
“That really pissed me off p>
“Now Grandma is cold with me, Dad says I’m not fit for bigger responsibilities and stripped some power from me at the company—because of you, isn’t it p>
“Even Gia says it was your scheming that made her embarrass herself that night p>
“Vivian, is that true? You keep doing things that surprise and shock me p>
“Gia, Zoe, both suffered at your hands. Isn’t it time you paid some sort of price p>
Vivian had nowhere left to run.
All she could do was stare at Austin in disbelief. “So you’re going to get rid of my baby p>
Austin: “No p>
“Who said that p>
“Don’t worry, no matter what, you’re carrying my own flesh and blood p>
“Why would I ever hurt them p>
“This medicine was prescribed by a doctor my mother trusts implicitly. All it will do is make you weak so you can’t escape this house p>
“After you give birth, you’ll slowly recover p>
“As for the children, nothing will happen to them p>
“Drink it—come on p>