Chapter 16
“We’ve been serving you like servants for over half an hour here, even took out our store’s most precious jewelry for you to choose from, you’re not going to make a fool of us, right p>
“We’re just ordinary workers, we don’t have the luxury to waste time here with you p>
Vivian looked up at the sales associate in front of her, whose face was full of resentment, and replied with a calm and collected tone, “Did I ever say I wasn’t going to buy p>
She knew it wasn’t easy being a worker, but that was no reason for these sales associates to treat customers based on their appearance!
Just because she was dressed plainly.
Just because Austin had left, and she seemed like she couldn’t afford anything, she had to endure their disdain?
However, she hadn’t brought the supplementary card Austin had given her today’s shopping trip.
Her own funds weren’t enough to purchase everything she had chosen.
Even if they were, Vivian wouldn’t buy everything just for the sake of saving face.
Seeing her look so thoughtful and troubled, the sales associate didn’t believe Vivian would actually buy anything.
Sarcastic words spilled out again, “You’re beautiful, but your heart’s in the wrong place p>
“Your sugar daddy is gone, so why keep pretending p>
Vivian was so angry she laughed.
“Sugar daddy p>
“Alright, get your manager out here p>
“I just want to know if the way your sales associates humiliate customers is a feature of your store p>
“If it is, then I really won’t be buying anything today p>
“You probably don’t intend to force purchases, where customers must buy after looking, do you p>
The other sales associates saw Vivian wasn’t a pushover, so they all fell silent.
Only the associate who had just spoken rudely still looked defiant, “Go ahead, call them! Do you think I’m scared of you even if you call the manager p>
“Don’t think just because you’re a customer, you’re really better than us p>
“If you can’t afford it, don’t pretend you can, people like you deserve to be abandoned p>
A sharp pain stabbed Vivian’s heart.
Her hand, which hung by her side, clenched reflexively.
Master, The Sinclair Family, her brother, Austin… it seemed she was always the one left behind.
It was indeed a fact, but she just didn’t want to admit it.
Vivian turned and walked out.
She returned carrying a fire axe she found from somewhere.
Without a word, she swung the axe at the glass display case.
The gold and silver jewelry inside all flew out, shattering into pieces along with the glass!
When the manager rushed over, panting for breath, they clutched their head and screamed in terror, “Who p>
Vivian tossed the axe to the ground, calmly wiping her hands with a cloth.
“Call the police p>
“Also, please contact my husband, Austin Grant, the CEO of The Grant Group p>
“He will compensate for all your store’s losses today p>
Everyone who witnessed the scene of the jewelry store being smashed was so shocked their jaws nearly dropped.
And that sales associate, upon hearing Vivian’s words, collapsed onto the ground in shock.
At this moment, Vivian felt a great sense of satisfaction.
The police arrived soon afterward.
However, Austin didn’t show up.
It was his assistant, Nicholas Chamberlain, who came to handle the matter.
He looked at Vivian, the CEO’s wife, with a complex expression, seemingly unable to understand why she did what she did.
“The CEO couldn’t make it, so he sent me to assist you p>
“However, ma’am, you’re usually so sensible and courteous, knowing your boundaries, what happened today… sigh p>
Yet, after watching the surveillance footage and realizing Vivian had been disrespected and mistreated, Nicholas quickly found a breakthrough.
“Our CEO’s wife is pregnant p>
“If the stress she faced in your store today poses any risk or harm to the future heir of The Grant Group, you can expect to face our legal team p>
The manager was already extremely anxious, having been intimidated by The Grant’s reputation.
They hurriedly turned and, right there, chastised the sales associate and fired them. They then amicably settled the matter with Nicholas.
The issue was resolved quickly.
Nicholas, in Austin’s name, compensated for all the damages—a total of fifteen million.
Vivian didn’t have to wait too long.
When she and Nicholas left the jewelry store, she thought she saw someone familiar.
Catherine?
When did she get here?
A flicker of unease crossed Vivian’s mind. If Catherine went back and told their parents about today’s events p>
They would be even more disappointed in their out-of-control former daughter, wouldn’t they?
However, Vivian quickly brushed away that sense of unease.
It didn’t matter, as they had already been thoroughly disappointed with her; another ounce couldn’t make much difference.
Nicholas escorted Vivian to the outside of the mall and, adjusting his glasses, said matter-of-factly, “Ma’am, the CEO couldn’t step away, so he instructed me to handle this matter p>
“I’ll compile all the details, including the bills, into a report for the president. Do you have anything else you’d like to add p>
Nicholas Chamberlain said this with a faint trace of disdain in his eyes towards Vivian Sinclair.
As if he was certain that the trouble she’d caused today would further irritate the president.
And it was only out of necessity that he had reluctantly come to handle her mess.
Vivian Sinclair didn’t care about what Nicholas Chamberlain thought of her.
As long as there was even a bit of courtesy on the surface, she wouldn’t make things difficult for others.
“No. Just tell him the truth, straightforwardly p>
What did it matter if Austin Grant grew more disgusted with her?
Just as well, when they both saw the disgust clearly, a divorce in a few months would be even more natural.
Vivian Sinclair turned to hail a cab, but as she was passing the traffic lights, she happened to see Austin Grant, whom she couldn’t reach, sitting at a high-end restaurant’s window.
It turned out he was having a meal with Zoe Monroe and Lillian Rivers.
The three of them were chatting and laughing like a happy and harmonious family.
And she was left behind without a word from him, not even picking up the phone in the end, just to avoid disturbing his happiest moment, perhaps.
Vivian Sinclair finally understood what was going on today.
She opened her phone and calmly took a picture of the scene.
Upon zooming in to scrutinize it, she saw Austin Grant and Zoe Monroe sitting side by side, gazing affectionately at each other, seemingly engrossed in conversation.
Across the table, Lillian Rivers was watching them with a smile, yet her eyes betrayed an uncontainable disdain and mockery.
Vivian Sinclair merely wanted to preserve the evidence, but her senior Tina Archer suddenly sent her a video.
“Vivian, is this you in the video p>
“Are you alright? Are you injured p>
Apparently, the video of Vivian Sinclair angrily smashing the jewelry store had already spread.
Additionally, online comments were almost universally condemning her: “So what if you’re rich? Does being wealthy allow you to smash jewelry stores p>
“Isn’t this disrupting public order and damaging someone else’s property? How come this manager even fired the employees p>
“The policeman should take this woman away! So vicious p>
“Heh, capitalists setting us up, what are we but lowly creatures? We’re just ants at their mercy; who can resist capital p>
“I heard she’s the president’s wife of The Grant Group. Do you not understand the status and identity of the president’s wife? Jewelry stores can’t afford to offend them p>
“Oh my god, have the wealthy become so rampant that they’re above the law p>
Tina kept sending concerned messages: “Vivian, ignore what’s being said online. The videos are a distortion, omitting truth, so don’t rush p>
“Vivian, if you’re wronged, don’t bottle it up inside p>
“Do you want me to come and be with you p>
Despite Tina’s anxiety, Vivian Sinclair remained calm.
“Senior, I’m fine p>
While smashing the counter, she’d already considered the storm she might face.
However, Vivian Sinclair had come up with a solution to her predicament.
She called Tina directly: “Senior, do you have any trusted reporters p>
Tina: “I don’t know of any, but I do have a social media influencer friend. What’s up p>
Vivian Sinclair: “I have a photo. Ask him… if he’s interested in making it news p>
Vivian Sinclair sent the photo to Tina, who exclaimed, “What the heck p>
“What is Austin doing? You’ve just been through such a big ordeal, and he’s having dinner with someone else p>
“Wait a minute, the way he’s looking at that woman seems off. What’s their relationship p>
“Vivian, are you okay p>
Sure enough, even the senior could spot the anomaly at a glance—how could Austin Grant deceive the public?
Vivian Sinclair: “I’m really okay p>
“The women in the photo, one is Austin Grant’s mother Lillian Rivers; the other is Austin Grant’s first love, now his personal secretary, Zoe Monroe p>
“Back then, The Grant Family secretly drove Zoe Monroe away with money in order to forge an alliance with The Sinclair Family p>
“Now that Zoe Monroe is back, the three of them have reconciled and are dining together p>
“Senior, ask your friend if this can be made into news p>
Tina responded seriously: “You wait, I’ll get back to you soon p>
A few minutes later, Tina Archer replied: “Vivian, my friend got excited upon seeing the picture p>
“Are you sure you want to go through with this p>
Vivian Sinclair: “This photo doesn’t prove much p>
“But, it’s enough to keep them occupied for a few days p>
Vivian Sinclair asked Tina to keep her identity hidden, just to make sure The Grants wouldn’t find out who provided the photo.
Tina: “Don’t worry, this friend knows the sway I hold and won’t dare offend me just for money p>
“By the way, I promise to squeeze that fifty million out of that scumbag since Austin Grant treated you this way p>
Vivian Sinclair chuckled helplessly: “Then let’s meet up tomorrow p>
“By the way, the draft I drew a few days ago should also be ready for you to take a look at p>
After ending the call, Vivian Sinclair put the matter aside.
In the evening, Austin Grant still hadn’t returned home, and the photo of the three dining together had already set the internet ablaze along with rumors about the president of The Grants.