Chapter 151
Vivian Sinclair thought she must have misheard.
“Are you out of your mind p>
“When did I ever take your grandmother’s inheritance p>
Austin Grant strode toward Vivian, his face dark.
There was sarcasm written all over his face.
“Still won’t admit it p>
“Vivian, I thought you were above all this, but turns out you’re no different p>
“In the end, it’s just that there weren’t bigger temptations or benefits before. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be living here as someone else’s caged canary p>
“But Mrs. Archer has already told me everything p>
“Said that Grandma left you the chairmanship of her foundation and her shares in Pinnacle Bank p>
“If you took those things out, you could save The Grant Group, help us through this crisis p>
“In any case, I, Austin Grant, have already lost everything. Grandma, Mother, the board, and… you p>
“It’s quite possible I’ll never get the chance to be the group’s heir in this life p>
“Aren’t these consequences enough? How far do you want to go p>
“The Grant Group was my grandpa’s legacy, and the hard work of my dad for decades p>
“Why do you have to be so ruthless? You’d watch it fall apart, never mentioning the inheritance Grandma gave you p>
“Vivian, that’s enough p>
“However much you hate me, isn’t it time to stop p>
Vivian wasn’t even that angry at Austin’s twisting of facts and playing the victim.
She just turned back into the manor, grabbed a clod of mud and grass from the lawn, came quickly back, and hurled it right at Austin’s face!
“If you’re sick, go see a doctor p>
“Why are you coming to me with your crazy drama p>
If Austin hadn’t reacted in time and blocked it, that mud would’ve hit him straight in the face.
Even so, his expensive suit was splattered with muck.
Austin really hadn’t expected Vivian to do something so irrational and childish. Trying to contain his anger, he just stepped forward to reprimand her—but Vivian pointed at his nose and yelled, “Back off p>
“And shut up p>
“What other bullshit do you have to spout p>
“I’ve got that divorce certificate in hand. There’s not a shred of patience left for your crap p>
“Remember—right now, you and your Grant Family are begging me, not the other way around p>
“Making snide remarks, calling me a canary p>
“Austin, you’ve never truly known me. Who the hell are you to judge p>
“Not only have you insulted me, but you’ve insulted Julian too, and you never once looked clearly at who you are p>
“You know very well who the real caged bird-keeper is p>
“And those things are exactly what you and your precious mother are dying to get—The Cypress Foundation and those bank shares, right p>
“Whether I signed, whether I took your grandma’s stuff, Mrs. Archer knows damn well p>
“If you’re still confused, go ask Dominic Archer yourself, see if I, Vivian Sinclair, ever got a cent from your Grants p>
“Oh… Wait, now that you mention it, after the old lady died, she did leave me a box of jewelry and property deeds p>
“But honestly, that’s never what I wanted. Your Grants’ things—I never wanted any part of them p>
“But since you want them so desperately, I’ll fetch the box for you right now. Take it to save your Grants from the flames; consider that as my farewell to President Grant. From now on, stay the hell out of my life p>
Vivian spun around, ready to retrieve the box.
Just then, Stella came running after, led by someone.
Spotting Vivian, Stella burst into tears and ran toward her.
Luckily, Lina Holloway quickly blocked her a bit, so she didn’t run into Vivian’s abdomen, but Stella still clung tightly to Vivian’s arm, refusing to let go.
“Sister Sinclair, wuwuwu p>
“They wouldn’t let Star come find you p>
“Matron Turner is bad, I don’t want Matron Turner. Hmph p>
“Sister Sinclair, Star wants to be your little tail, you can’t leave Star behind p>
Watching the usually wild Stella settle down so quickly, the maids who’d followed outside were amazed, their panic turning to wonder.
They gripped each other’s hands, tears sparkling in their eyes.
“Thank goodness, Miss Sinclair really is the only one who works p>
“Exactly. Last time when miss hid under the bed and wouldn’t come out, wasn’t it Miss Sinclair who talked her down in a few words p>
“Of course—just look at Miss Sinclair. All these years, besides the doctor’s tranquilizers, it’s only her and Mister Thorne who can really handle Miss Stella p>
“No, not even Mister Thorne can do what she can p>
“Miss Sinclair really is the medicine and the nemesis. With her, Miss Stella will only get better p>
Lina Holloway let out a genuine sigh of relief too.
She stepped forward. “Miss Sinclair, seems Miss Stella only wants you these days p>
“If we hadn’t given in and brought her to you just now, you have no idea—she almost tore the roof off, and even slapped Matron Turner p>
“Plus, if I’m right, this is the first time in two years that Miss Stella’s gone this far from the main building p>
Did that mean Stella hadn’t left Crestfall Villa for two years?
Had she been living in this manor’s world all along?
Vivian felt equal parts shocked and heartbroken, so she gently stroked Stella’s head.
“Sister Sinclair isn’t going anywhere. Are you this angry ’cause you’re afraid I’ll go off and play somewhere fun without you p>
Matron Turner actually got slapped.
Clearly, when Stella gets worked up, she’s ruthless, no matter who it is.
When Stella heard Vivian ask, she nodded her little head crazily.
“It’s not time for Star and Sister Sinclair to part yet p>
“Can’t be apart p>
So, was it because she thought Vivian left before their time was up, because she hadn’t gotten to spend enough time together?
Vivian playfully pinched Stella’s soft cheek and walked inside with her.
However, Austin’s eyes were fixed on Lina Holloway.
When he saw her, it was like he’d seen a ghost.
“Why are you here p>
“Dr. Holloway, what are you doing with the Thornes p>
Lina Holloway froze in place.
Shit.
She’d been so focused on calming Stella, she actually forgot about him!
She’d been discovered.
For a moment she faltered, but quickly made up her mind and bolted inside.
Seeing this, Austin felt all the more certain something fishy was going on.
He lunged forward, shouting, “Dr. Holloway! Vivian Sinclair! You’d better come explain yourselves p>
“Weren’t you the family doctor I hired p>
“How did you end up with the Thornes p>
“Vivian Sinclair, you get back here p>
Vivian already had Stella on the shuttle, ignoring Austin’s shouts.
Of course, Austin couldn’t get into the Thorne estate.
He’d barely lunged to the entrance when Felix blocked his way with bodyguards. “President Grant, one more step and don’t blame us for roughing you up p>
Austin’s eyes were bloodshot as he snarled with rage, “Vivian Sinclair, so Old Tanner’s life means nothing to you, does it p>
“Jasmine betrayed the Grant Family for your sake p>
“If her father dies because of you, won’t you feel a shred of guilt p>
Vivian, hearing this, first softly reassured Stella: “Wait here for me, be good for Sister Sinclair p>
“Just a minute, I’ll be right back, okay p>
Stella blinked as she watched Vivian get off and stride toward the door.
Felix stepped aside, and Vivian raised her hand and slapped Austin across the face.
“What, you wanna join your mother in jail? Haven’t had enough practice with kidnapping yet p>
“Austin Grant, you’re rotten to your very bone p>
“You were also kidnapped and threatened, yet you still stoop to this filthy, despicable crap p>
“Don’t forget how you managed to stay alive p>
“You owe me a life p>
“Did you really think kidnapping people would leave you untraceable p>
“Officer Rivers has already found clues. If you don’t want to rot in jail, let them go—fast p>
“Otherwise—wait, wrong, you and your mother can’t have a jail reunion because of your gender differences p>
“But if you cause another kidnapping scandal, do you think your Grant Family… could survive it p>
Vivian had hit his sorest spot.
He punched the iron gate beside him with furious strength.
“So what are you after p>
“I just want the things that belong to the Grants! I just want… you p>
“Why won’t you give me a way out p>
Vivian spat back coldly, “Not a chance p>
“Austin Grant, in this life, even if I die, there’s no way I’ll ever have anything to do with you again p>
“Because I hate you! I wish you were dead—do you get that p>
“As for the things you want so badly, I can give you one path p>
“Didn’t Mrs. Archer tell you p>
“Only the Young Madam who bears the Grant Family heir can inherit that fortune p>
“Instead of begging me, why not go win over your true love? When the two of you produce the family’s next generation, you’ll resurrect the Grants with a bang p>
“By then, with a son, you’ll be back as President, maybe even reclaim your board seat p>
“So why not take that path p>
With that, Vivian turned to leave again.
When she returned to Stella’s side, only a minute had passed.
Stella immediately clung to Vivian’s arm, pouting sweetly, “Sister Sinclair, I don’t like that guy p>
“He’s like a crazy little dog p>
Vivian snickered at Stella’s words.
“You p>
“Let’s go p>
The car drove away, leaving Austin standing there, face etched with sorrow and bitterness.
“So you really want to push me to someone else, is that it p>
“No matter what, you’ll never look back at me, huh p>
He gripped the iron bars, not caring that the hand he’d pounded with was bleeding.
He stared deep into the manor, eyes full of icy hatred.
“Want to get rid of me? Not a chance p>
“Vivian Sinclair… if you’re carrying my child, you can forget escaping me for life p>
Lina Holloway, just about to get into her shuttle, paused when she heard all this. After hesitating, she turned back.
“President Grant, my advice is this: Give up on Miss Sinclair p>
“Because you’re never going to have her p>
“Not in this lifetime, no chance p>
“As for the child p>
She let out a mocking laugh.
“You really think Miss Sinclair doesn’t know a thing p>