Chapter 67
Before Vivian could even react, Julian had already picked her up and carried her down the stairs.
“Calm Stella down p>
Julian tossed this comment over his shoulder to Butler Turner and Lina Holloway, then strode off without looking back.
Butler Turner and Lina got the message and quickly took the opportunity to coax Stella into behaving.
“Miss, you need to be a good girl. Miss Sinclair isn’t leaving, you know p>
“Yeah, Miss, please don’t be upset anymore. Otherwise, Miss Sinclair really might go home in a bit p>
Stella had already been scared by what she had just done.
She blinked, still shaken, and asked, “Did I push Sister Sinclair over p>
Lina glanced at Butler Turner, not sure how to answer, but the butler responded swiftly, “Yes, you did p>
“But it wasn’t on purpose, Miss p>
“You’re just really strong. Just now you wanted Miss Sinclair to hold your hand, so you overreacted a little p>
“Tonight, if you apologize to Miss Sinclair in person, she’ll definitely forgive you p>
Stella’s eyes grew red. She lowered her head obediently, not daring to be rebellious anymore, “Okay p>
Lina was surprised, “Miss doesn’t seem jealous about Mr. Thorne carrying Miss Sinclair p>
Butler Turner: “That is a bit unexpected, honestly p>
Vivian was carried straight into a guest room even larger than her bedroom at the Grant Family’s house.
Julian held his arms protectively over her and stood to the side, while the medical team prepared for Stella gave Vivian a thorough examination.
“Miss Sinclair was a bit frightened, but the babies are perfectly healthy, no issues at all p>
Julian stared at her belly, heart pounding: The babies? Perfectly healthy?
But then the doctor continued, “Miss Sinclair, do you know how far along you are in your pregnancy p>
Vivian thought about it; it really was time for a prenatal check-up, maybe even to set up her files at the hospital.
She worried for a second that Julian was still here, but then, figuring he didn’t know the truth, just answered casually, “Twelve weeks p>
The doctor said, “You’re carrying twins, so by this stage, your belly is still a bit small for the timeline p>
“If you have time, Miss Sinclair, you should definitely go to the hospital for a more detailed check-up p>
The equipment in the estate was all for Stella’s use, so there was no ultrasound machine for pregnant women.
The doctors couldn’t directly determine the twins’ size or their condition.
They could only judge by the heartbeats that nothing seemed abnormal.
Vivian was talking with the doctor, paying no attention to the man who’d been standing there looking calm—until she said “twins,” and he suddenly went rigid all over.
His eyes shot again to her belly, utterly disbelieving.
Twins?
Not only were they his children, but two at once?
At this moment, Julian’s mind was anything but calm.
Actually, ever since he’d found out today, he hadn’t really been calm at all!
Julian couldn’t stop himself from remembering all the risky things Vivian had done before.
Even that one night, when she’d been put in danger by those kidnappers because of him.
Thinking back, it was pure luck he’d managed to keep her safe that night.
After the check-up, the doctors left the room.
Julian wasn’t sure what he was thinking; he just stood there quietly, staring at Vivian.
Vivian started feeling creeped out by his gaze again.
She quietly got up from the sofa, grabbed her luggage, “If there’s nothing else, maybe I should go p>
Julian: “A hundred million p>
Vivian stopped in her tracks like she hit a wall.
“Sorry, what did you say p>
Julian: “You saw how Stella was today p>
“She listens to you, and that’s clear from before p>
“If you’re willing to teach her to draw, and accompany her during her treatment p>
“I’ll pay you for a month. How’s that p>
A month, a hundred million in payment?
His money—was it really that easy to earn?
Vivian’s heart was pounding like crazy.
She thought back to how Theodore Grant had once promised her a hundred million and some shares—still just empty promises, never delivered.
And even though Serenity Studio had gotten the deposit from Austin Grant’s batch of jewelry, the rest hadn’t even been paid yet.
When it came down to it, if she wanted to give her two sons the best life possible, raise them at the very top… it was definitely not enough!
As long as Dr. Lyle didn’t get caught p>
Her secret would stay safe, right?
And she owed him a favor, too—he’d helped expose the truth when she lost that art competition… Honestly, she couldn’t just act as if that didn’t matter, right?
Vivian quickly convinced herself.
“Alright p>
“Then I’ll work for a hundred million—oh, I mean, I’ll cooperate for a month p>
“You want to sign a contract p>
Get the money, and that’s it—accounts settled, favors returned, done and dusted.
This could count as child support from their biological father for the future, right?
Vivian took the deal without any guilt and decided to stay.
Besides, she had nowhere else to go right now.
Hiding here, there was no way the Grants would ever find her.
And it’s just a month—not that long.
By then, the formal divorce process with Austin Grant would be ready to get moving p>
Soon, Vivian was handed the contract.
When she signed and pressed her fingerprint on it, her phone instantly received a banking text message.
She glanced at it—not a deposit, not a first payment, but the full amount!
Even as someone raised in the Sinclair Family, Vivian had never seen anything quite so outrageously generous.
No wonder it was the Thorne Family—efficiency off the charts.
And such an open-handed way of doing things, you just had to give them crazy respect.
Vivian couldn’t help but hug her phone and kiss it twice.
Now she didn’t have to worry about her babies’ education funds or future at all.
From now on, she could draw whatever she wanted and design whatever made her happiest.
There are still other ways to make money, slowly but surely.
This way, her career would be more solid, and she’d never end up making art just for money’s sake.
As Vivian laid back on the bed, finally satisfied and at peace, on the other side, Matron Turner came back with the contract and told Julian about Vivian’s reaction.
Julian heard this and immediately frowned.
“She kissed… her phone p>
He looked stunned.
One hundred million was all it took to make her so happy?
So happy that this pregnant woman even forgot there are germs on her phone?
Matron Turner replied coldly, “Yep, really kissed it p>
“Julian, is Miss Sinclair really planning to stay at the estate for a whole month p>
Julian nodded.
“Let’s start with a month p>
Matron Turner clearly wanted to ask more, but seeing Julian’s face wasn’t exactly bright, she hesitated before changing the subject, “Then should we let madam know about this p>
Julian’s face instantly went ice cold.
“No need p>
“Since she’d rather live out there on her own, away from Stella, never coming back, not caring about anyone here—that’s how it’s going to be p>
“From now on, anything about this family, don’t bother telling her p>
“And as for those family meals we agreed to each month… Matron Turner, if she doesn’t want to come back, don’t send anyone to invite her again p>
With that, Julian turned to his online meeting, clearly wanting to end the conversation.
Matron Turner looked at him, her eyes full of sympathy.
You only ever worry about Stella. Don’t you need your wife’s concern too?
Leaving the study, Butler Turner happened to come over.
“Mom, I’ll have to trouble you to keep an eye on Miss Sinclair from now on p>
Matron Turner nodded, “Don’t worry. There are only two masters in this house, and it’s not every day we get a guest, especially one the young master values so much—someone so important to Miss Stella too. I know what to do p>
Butler Turner took her arm, “Then why do you still look so unhappy p>
Matron Turner sighed, “Madam’s been exhausted all these years because of Miss Stella’s health, I get it p>
“But just because she can’t bear reality, she left—left this whole big house for Julian to handle p>
“I raised Julian and Stella myself, watched them grow up—they’re as important as you to me p>
“That’s why I feel sorry for them p>
“After all they’ve been through… their mother still won’t stay by their side p>
“Forgive me for saying this, but Madam’s heart… it’s too cold p>
Butler Turner’s full name was Truman Turner; he grew up with Julian.
He knew exactly how his mother felt about the young master.
Hearing her say this, even he couldn’t help but fall silent.
“By the way,” Matron Turner suddenly remembered, “last time Madam said she was going to the hospital to arrange some sort of IVF for Julian—because he wouldn’t do a blind date or arranged marriage, so she wanted to leave him an heir instead p>
“Did she ever actually pull it off p>