Chapter 166
The atmosphere at the dinner table was a bit strange.
Sylvia Joyce hadn’t woken up yet.
I heard she drank quite a bit last night, so she’s still not sober.
Julian Thorne asked Jason to check on her and suggested giving her some medicine.
Then there’s Stella Thorne.
She was practically clinging to Vivian Sinclair.
That child really went through a lot of grievances yesterday.
She spent the whole evening cooped up in the room, being coaxed to play, and wasn’t allowed to come out. Now, she’s pitifully holding onto Vivian, crying, “Sister Sinclair, last night Star saw fireworks and those glowing stars, but couldn’t leave the room p>
“They all bullied Star p>
“Boohoo p>
“Sister Sinclair, you have to give them a good scolding for Star p>
“They’re all so mean p>
Vivian felt pity as she pinched Stella’s cheek softly, comforting her, “Alright, Sister Sinclair will criticize them later p>
But Stella’s behavior had already surprised everyone.
She hadn’t caused any trouble at all.
As a result, last night’s banquet, apart from Bianca Joyce’s family, was so smooth that everyone found it slightly unsettling.
In the past, even though the Thorne Family rarely hosted banquets, every time Stella would make some memorable scene?
But yesterday, worried that too many guests would frighten Stella, Sylvia Joyce decided to keep her entertained in the room.
For this, they specially arranged four professional senior teachers to accompany her in the room.
So, this morning she was downright upset.
After finally coaxing Stella, Vivian left with Julian Thorne.
Hearing that she went out today, Sylvia Joyce then slowly sat up from the bed.
She sighed mournfully, “Ah… I really don’t know how to deal with this mess p>
“What am I going to do p>
“Bianca is my dearest, and now Vivian is Julian’s precious p>
“Yesterday, it seems Bianca’s heart was completely broken p>
While Sylvia was feeling sentimental, Jason knocked on the door.
“Madam, I heard you have a headache, I’ve come to take a look as instructed by Sir p>
Sylvia felt a bit better at this.
At least, her son Julian Thorne now knew how to care for her.
At the same old location, when Vivian got out of the car, Julian finally let go of her hand, which had gone numb from being held tightly.
“Be good, safety first p>
After glancing at the figure sitting inside the café, Julian gave Vivian’s cheek another pinch, left Zack behind, and then departed.
Vivian grimaced and waved her hands to restore some feeling before quickly heading into the café.
“Catherine p>
Seeing Catherine Sinclair, who looked frail like she had been sick in the mere two days since they last met, Vivian quickly walked over.
Seeing her, Catherine immediately embraced her.
“Thank you, Vivian p>
Vivian sent a text to Uncle Warren, who then secretly helped Catherine get away.
Catherine seemed very downcast.
Knowing this wasn’t the time for questions, Vivian gently patted her shoulder, “Alright, I’m here. It’s okay now p>
“Whatever it is, we’ll take it slow p>
The car Vivian planned to use was following them, and after Julian left, that’s the car they would take.
After their successful meeting, they decided to head to the orphanage together first.
The car moved smoothly on the snowy roads.
Zack sat in the front seat and silently raised the partition.
During the journey, Catherine began to speak slowly, first talking about what happened at the Sinclair Family after Vivian was taken by Julian that day.
“Mom and Dad and Elias were all nearly furious p>
“The wall was ordered to be demolished to the last brick by your President Thorne. Our Sinclair Family was completely stripped bare and became a laughingstock p>
“In the past two days, this matter has already spread throughout the circle. Anyway, this time, the Sinclair Family has lost its face completely p>
“That night, we all moved to another house p>
“Anyway, I think they’ll never want to return p>
Vivian was unaware of this, so she was quite surprised when she heard it.
“Wow… I really didn’t know, are you alright p>
Catherine: “Of course, I’m fine. Who would laugh at me p>
“Anyway, I’ve always had thick skin since childhood, I don’t care about the Sinclair Family’s face p>
Vivian couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing.
Julian Thorne actually did all this, and it gave her a sense of relief.
But why didn’t he tell her a word?
But, wait a second.
“What do you mean by my President Thorne p>
“Catherine, don’t talk nonsense p>
Catherine gave a faint smile, her face finally showing some change: “He proposed to you last night, right p>
“Now it’s known all over town p>
“And you’re carrying his child, are you still thinking of running p>
“From what I see, President Thorne has a completely sweet and domineering approach in style p>
“Also, did he personally bring you just now p>
“Vivian, I can’t help but ship you two. Let me know when you’re getting married, I want an invitation p>
Vivian: p>
How could someone who was just brooding come alive the moment they talk about someone else’s relationship as if they were injected with energy?
However, Vivian knew that Catherine was genuinely happy for her.
Vivian teased her as well, “I think you might want to delete those six cat apps on your phone first p>
Catherine let out a snicker, finally smiling.
“Forgive me, I used to be addicted to those domineering CEO novels, because there’s always something in them I’ve never experienced. So, how can I not ship you guys now that it’s real p>
“By the way, you don’t know about Elias spitting blood…do you p>
Vivian Sinclair’s expression shifted slightly.
“Why did he cough up blood p>
Catherine gave her a wistful look, “For you, of course p>
“You left without looking back and followed President Thorne. I bet the resentment in his heart is hard to dissipate p>
“Having raised you with care since you were little, his need to control you is like treating a daughter. I imagine he must be feeling terrible p>
“When his biological sister turned out to be a stranger due to a mistaken identification, things already spiraled out of control and were hard to accept. Just when he probably managed to persuade himself to try and mend things with you, you left heartbroken again p>
“But, he deserved it p>
As she said this, Catherine’s expression remained subtle.
A faint sting of pain crossed Vivian Sinclair’s heart. It was impossible to pretend she didn’t care completely.
The bonds forged from growing up together, how could they be easily let go?
Yet, Catherine’s emotions seemed off. Vivian asked, “Catherine, did Elias do something that upset you p>
“And what about the argument with mom last night, what happened p>
Catherine didn’t speak.
Vivian felt a jolt in her heart.
She held Catherine more concernedly and asked, “Or did mom and dad also say something that hurt you p>
Catherine couldn’t hold it in any longer.
She turned and buried her head into Vivian’s embrace, crying aloud.
“Why… why do they never cherish what they have p>
“Why p>
“I know they care deeply for you p>
“I’ve always known p>
“When they decided to distance from you initially, it was to correct a mistake, but deep down, they couldn’t accept the truth that they raised the wrong daughter for twenty-two years p>
“I never hoped to be more important than you in their hearts p>
“So, I never competed or fought for it. I only dared to wish secretly for a sliver of warmth and affection that I never had p>
“But they say… if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have drifted further and further away from them p>
“Vivian, is this my fault p>
“Did I disrupt this family p>
“Did I push you away with my own hands p>
“Dad, mom, and brother, their gazes towards me grow colder and colder, I really can’t take it anymore p>
“I feel like I’ve never truly been a part of that family p>
“Yesterday, mom even slapped me. Just because I advised her not to involve herself in matters she couldn’t control p>
“Did I really do something wrong p>
“Also, didn’t grandpa and grandma come to Ardis that day too? After learning about you, they were so angry that they urged mom and dad to marry me off to Rhenia, to keep me far away from them and avoid being a bother p>
“They even said that if I were married off far away, you would gradually return to the Sinclair Family p>
“Vivian, whether it’s the Holloway Family or any other family, why in their eyes, am I like a commodity, a puppet or a pawn, to be manipulated at will, controlled as they wish p>
“Shouldn’t I be the family member they lost and regained, to be cherished all the more p>
“Why is their affection so hypocritical p>
The more Vivian listened, the more her heart hurt, her brows furrowing deeper with each word.
Yet she could only hold Catherine and then gently, tenderly pat her.
Thinking of Catherine’s situation, Vivian’s heart throbbed with pain.
She could empathize.
She could truly understand the complex emotions lurking in Catherine’s heart: disappointment, sadness, the loneliness after being hurt, the sorrow.
Every one of them, she had truly felt before.
But having already experienced it herself, why should they torture another lost and found daughter all over again?
Vivian Sinclair: “They don’t really miss me p>
“I think it’s just that they see I have regained value, yet am out of their control. The pawn and puppet they’ve raised for twenty-two years have gained their own awareness and will fiercely resist them p>
“So, they just can’t accept this fact p>
“Catherine, it was never your fault p>
“Nor was it my fault p>
“Didn’t you say before? We are both victims p>
“We should find the nurse from back then p>
“And then investigate clearly the truth about our swap p>
“And, why after the truth of the swap came to light, has no one mentioned the nurse? Not even held her accountable p>
“I think, both of us have the right to know the truth p>
As she spoke, the driver had gently parked the car.
Zack raised the partition to remind them, “Miss Sinclair, we’ve arrived at ’Skylight Orphanage p>
Catherine quickly wiped away the tear stains on her face, realizing her lapse in composure.
Vivian also gently extended her hand to wipe away Catherine’s tear marks.
She said with some pain, “Don’t cry anymore p>
“At worst, you can move out p>
“I have a place of my own. It’s where you visited last time p>
“The password is still our birthday. Consider it our home p>
“Move there, leave the Sinclair Family and give them some time to cool down p>
“Remember, whether it’s the Holloway Family or Rhenia, as long as you don’t want to marry, with me here, no one can force you p>
Hearing Vivian’s words, Catherine seemed to gain confidence.
She nodded with red eyes, “Okay, I’ll listen to you p>
Yet she sighed with a sense of loss, “I never thought that in this world, it would be you who would support me without hesitation p>
They were supposed to be opposing, real and fake daughters.
But they became the ones who would never doubt each other, would leave their backs to each other, and would bravely fight for the one they trusted most.
Vivian pinched her face, “When I was in trouble, didn’t you also make endless sacrifices for me p>
Zack came over and opened the car door, Vivian got off first.
Zack continued to extend his hand, Catherine glanced at it, reached for his arm, and jumped down.
“Thank you p>
Zack stared at her closely, “Looks like you really don’t remember me p>