Chapter 81
Austin Grant came out of the intensive care unit and waited outside the operating room.
Vivian Sinclair sat in the corner of a bench outside the ICU, her baseball cap pulled low over her head. She only took off the earpiece after Austin had left completely.
She had to thank Julian Thorne for his strong influence in this hospital.
She merely asked Major and Minor if she could slip in to eavesdrop on the potential conversation between Austin and Lillian Rivers.
The Major and Minor Brothers replied, “Slip in? Miss Sinclair, there’s no need for that p>
They had an emblem of Julian Thorne on them, and the hospital soon delivered the earpiece to Vivian Sinclair.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have heard the conversation between the mother and son.
Listening to this, some of the doubts in Vivian Sinclair’s heart were resolved.
The last time Vivian Sinclair witnessed Lillian Rivers meeting with the manager of Pinnacle Bank at The Gilded Leaf, although the manager refused Lillian’s instigation, Vivian still intentionally sent their ’private meeting’ photo to the paparazzi.
Only she didn’t expect that this matter hadn’t stirred any reaction in the Grant Family.
Vivian Sinclair thought she might have been overthinking.
But today, she confirmed one thing: there was indeed something at Pinnacle Bank that Austin and his mother wanted, something belonging to Old Madam Grant.
Moreover, such an item was certainly not ordinary, otherwise, it wouldn’t make this mother and son exhaust all means to obtain it.
However, Vivian still didn’t understand why Theodore Grant stabbed Lillian Rivers.
Vivian Sinclair handed the earpiece back to Minor.
“Return this to the nurse and thank her for me p>
Then she got up and left the hospital discreetly and swiftly.
Recently, Vivian had asked Patrick Powell to help her find a new place to live.
The house she and Austin bought together was sold a long time ago.
Later, her apartment’s location got exposed, making it unlivable, so Vivian had Patrick put it on the market for sale.
She also didn’t plan to keep the two houses given to her by Old Madam Grant. After gathering up the property deeds and bracelets, Vivian planned to send them back to the Grant Family after Old Madam Grant was discharged.
Originally, she wanted to fight for what she thought she deserved.
Now, knowing that Old Madam Grant was the true mastermind who schemed against her, Vivian was utterly fed up.
She didn’t plan to take anything.
She just wanted to quickly get away from the Grant Family.
Fortunately, Patrick Powell was very efficient.
When Vivian called to inquire, he had already arranged accommodation for her.
“Boss, the new house is very close to the teahouse, only a five-minute walk home p>
“You can rest assured about the security in this community. I’ve personally inspected it, and it’s no worse than those in villa districts. The overall environment and facilities are top-notch in Ardis p>
“The location is in a bustling area with a bit of life in it p>
Vivian Sinclair had never lived in such a place.
So she went there directly.
Patrick had already settled her luggage and everything else, so Vivian moved in empty-handed.
Upon seeing the house, she was very satisfied.
A 10-story building, she lived on the seventh floor.
With an access elevator, her safety and privacy were ensured.
Moreover, there was a huge French balcony, and all the interior decorations had a romantic French style.
Indeed, the community was in a bustling district, but the building Vivian lived in was in the center of a garden, so it was not noisy. Instead, due to the dense plants and garden, the air was very fresh.
Vivian loved it.
Only then did she remember Patrick hadn’t mentioned the cost of the house before finalizing it.
She immediately asked, “How much is the house, and how did you pay for it p>
Patrick: “Rest assured, the house has already been paid for p>
“Since the apartment was quickly sold last time, I had some of your selling money in hand. Along with the profit from last quarter’s teahouse, which I hadn’t settled with you, I bundled it as the down payment p>
“This house costs thirteen thousand per square meter, a hundred-square-meter big two-bedroom. I made a small loan for you using the teahouse as collateral p>
“If you agree, you can settle the loan in half a month without any interest p>
Of course, Vivian wanted to pay off the loan.
She immediately transferred some money to Patrick and asked him to handle it quickly, avoiding future troubles.
An outright purchase meant a good asset even if she stayed in Ardis without selling it in the future.
If she decided to sell it, it would be easy to do so.
Perhaps Patrick hadn’t expected Vivian to have so much money. After swiftly accepting it, the house issue was settled.
Vivian and Patrick went out for a meal, and as dusk fell, she asked, “How’s Dr. Archer doing p>
Patrick: “As you expected, he turned out to be a seasoned gambler. Very familiar with all the major underground casinos in Ardis p>
“Now I’ve placed him in a casino and have someone watching him closely p>
“Do you think… he can find this Old Tanner p>
Vivian shook her head: “I don’t know either p>
Originally, Vivian wanted to interrogate Dr. Archer for clues about the night Theodore Grant stabbed Lillian Rivers in the Grant home.
But after eavesdropping on the conversation between Austin and his mother at the hospital, Vivian felt there was no need to ask further.
Since Austin couldn’t find out, neither would Dr. Archer.
So Patrick decided to kick him straight into the casino.
And the Old Tanner they were looking for was Jasmine’s father.
Ever since Old Tanner left the Grant Family with Lillian Rivers, he seemed to have disappeared.
It was heard that Lillian Rivers took Gia Grant home herself, and on the night of return, there was an incident with Theodore Grant involving a stabbing.
But why didn’t Old Tanner return with them?
Even Jasmine herself couldn’t reach her father nowadays.
Only the day before yesterday, Jasmine received a text message from Old Tanner saying: Jasmine, quickly bring five hundred thousand to this place to save me! Don’t tell anyone!
The location sent with the message turned out to be an underground casino.
After much hesitation, Jasmine told Patrick about it that night.
However, Patrick seemed to have some concerns, so he didn’t personally accompany Jasmine to the casino, but sent one of his friends with her instead.
When Jasmine got there, Old Tanner wasn’t found.
Asked the casino staff, they seemed concerned and chased them out immediately.
Jasmine then tried calling and messaging Old Tanner, only to find she couldn’t reach him at all.
This increasingly convinced Vivian Sinclair that to understand Lillian Rivers’ situation, Old Tanner might be a key.
Moreover, Jasmine was still worried about her father.
Vivian Sinclair felt the need to find someone even more.
Dr. Archer now had a handle in Vivian Sinclair’s hands, and releasing this gluttonous fish into the sea, she wasn’t afraid of not catching any news.
“Patrick, did you offend someone p>
Vivian Sinclair admired Patrick’s ability to handle affairs. He had managed the teahouse for just a year and a half, but ’The Gilded Leaf’ had already gained some reputation within the elite circles.
The money he earned for Vivian Sinclair was enough to buy that house today.
Moreover, Vivian discovered that his ability to handle affairs was very strong.
No matter how much she asked him to investigate, he seemed able to find connections.
Vivian Sinclair found using him more and more adept now, and noticed Patrick had some omnipotence in Ardis as well p>
However, Vivian Sinclair finally discovered a shortcoming of Patrick in these two days.
He also had some areas he was unwilling to touch.
Such as those underground casino places.
Patrick faced Vivian Sinclair’s half-concerned, half-probing questions with a helpless smile: “Boss, you’re overthinking p>
“But indeed, there are some past events that make me swear not to approach these places ever again in my life p>
“Sorry to disappoint you, boss p>
Vivian Sinclair: So, the business in the teahouse doesn’t count?
She didn’t poke around knowingly, after all, everyone has their own past, and Vivian Sinclair wasn’t so tactless to dig into it.
As long as Patrick was still her man, she wouldn’t deny his ability over this matter.
Patrick: “Boss, yesterday’s gentleman, was it President Thorne from The Thorne Group p>
“If you’re looking for Old Tanner, maybe asking him for help would be faster p>
Vivian Sinclair: “If I rely on him for everything, I won’t be able to escape completely in the future p>
Patrick adjusted his glasses, though puzzled, he didn’t press further.
The next day, while Vivian Sinclair was still in her dreams, Tina Archer phoned her.
“Vivian, I’m delivering the divorce agreement to you. Where are you p>
Vivian Sinclair opened her eyes and sat up.
“Let’s meet at the teahouse, senior sister p>
Upon receiving the divorce agreement, Vivian Sinclair flipped through it roughly.
She discovered the lawyer had included a clause to fight for annual child support.
Vivian Sinclair found it unnecessary because the child in her womb was certainly not a Grant Family bloodline, and she would sooner or later confess this to Austin Grant.
To avoid trouble, she just wanted a clean cut with the Grant Family.
Therefore, Vivian Sinclair returned the divorce agreement to Tina Archer, “Senior sister, although Lawyer Joyce meant well, please act according to my wishes p>
“Otherwise, I will change lawyers p>
Tina Archer didn’t expect Lawyer Joyce to add her own opinions to the agreement and immediately called Bianca Joyce: “Lawyer Joyce, hello. This agreement might p>
Originally intending to quickly mail the divorce agreement to Austin Grant, Vivian Sinclair now saw it would be delayed for another two days.
After hanging up the phone, Tina Archer was full of apology.
“It was my unclear transmission. Vivian, this matter is my fault p>
“This Miss Joyce is very capable, and if you need a lawsuit with the Grant Family later, she can certainly help you achieve your goals, so I used my connections to find her p>
Vivian Sinclair knew her attitude was poor earlier, “Senior sister, thank you for planning so thoroughly for me. How about I treat you to lunch? We can have any feast you like p>
Tina Archer laughed: “Then I won’t hold back? I want a seafood feast costing five thousand per person p>
The two chatted on their way to the restaurant.
But while still talking and laughing on the road, Vivian Sinclair suddenly stumbled upon a news piece: Artist Jordan Vance committed suicide by jumping off a building!
A few bloody red characters, paired with a blurry picture, made Vivian Sinclair’s heart skip a beat.
She was about to call Julian Thorne to inquire about this matter when Julian Thorne’s call came first.
“Miss Sinclair, your teacher Fiona Rhodes, has been arrested p>