Chapter 17
Meanwhile, the news of Vivian Sinclair angrily smashing a jewelry store was overshadowed by the photos of Austin Grant eating with two people.
Various tags appeared one after another.
[President Grant, the new wealthy elite of Ardis, ditches pregnant wife to meet first love and mother, having a pleasant conversation]
[Young Madam of the wealthy family neglected, angrily smashes jewelry store]
[Conflicts in the affluent family resolved p>
[Young Madam enters jewelry store in shabby clothes, ridiculed by staff for being unable to afford anything]
Vivian Sinclair scrolled through them one by one, quite satisfied with the outcome.
Although these news pieces could not shake or even prove anything, nor did they have any substantial evidence to affect Austin Grant’s reputation as a new elite in Ardis, it was at least the first step in exposing Zoe Monroe, the first love.
Didn’t he say she’s just a secretary?
At the Grant family banquet that day, quite a few people saw Zoe Monroe, the secretary.
Now, with the exposure of her identity as a first love, at least the entire upper class circle was aware.
Keeping a first love close as a secretary, the more he wants to hide the secret, the more Vivian Sinclair aims to make it impossible for him to hide.
With herself caught in the media storm, they shouldn’t have it easy either!
Although The Grant Group was making efforts in public relations, it still couldn’t stop the tendency for escalation.
After all, juicy secrets of wealthy families aren’t available every day.
Soon, the relationship between the two expanded thoroughly in the imagination of the netizens.
“Was the Young Madam smashing the jewelry store because of that eating photo p>
“Wow, taking the first love to eat in a public place with your mother, who can withstand that p>
“No wonder the Young Madam went crazy p>
“I heard she’s pregnant too? That Young Madam is quite pitiful p>
“But regardless of what happened, that’s no reason for her to go crazy smashing a jewelry store, this is too bad for public society p>
But soon two other videos leaked online.
One was the cause of various mockery that Vivian Sinclair faced from the shop assistants.
It showed Nicholas Chamberlain and the jewelry store manager reaching a negotiation and settlement process and result through the mediation of Uncle Hat.
Vivian Sinclair found these two videos somewhat puzzling.
They didn’t seem to be from a surveillance angle, more like someone was secretly paying attention from the start.
Vivian Sinclair thought about seeing Catherine Sinclair on site.
Could it be her p>
But would she really lend a hand to help?
Since the Sinclair Family’s real and false heiress commotion, actually Vivian Sinclair and Catherine Sinclair, the real heiress, hadn’t really spoken much.
Catherine Sinclair not targeting her already made Vivian Sinclair very grateful.
It was hard to imagine Catherine Sinclair having any favorable impression of someone who occupied twenty years of her life, let alone provide friendly assistance.
Vivian Sinclair told herself: Maybe she was overthinking it, Catherine Sinclair merely passed by, and the person who leaked these two videos was someone else.
Nonetheless, these two videos did reduce the criticism toward Vivian Sinclair online.
“These shop assistants are too much! Looking down on others, this is the Young Madam of The Grant Group! No wonder the Young Madam was so furious p>
“Who can’t afford it, wasn’t she at least going to eat with her husband and first love p>
“Offending such a big client and speaking so rudely, now I suddenly feel smashing the counter feels kind of satisfying p>
“This Young Madam looks cool and beautiful, seemingly easy to bully, yet acts decisively p>
“Good job, Young Madam! I want to stand up for the Young Madam p>
Seeing the tide turn, Vivian Sinclair stopped paying attention to her news and went to check the comments under the news thread of Austin Grant and Zoe Monroe.
“Just for having a meal, is the Young Madam’s reaction too exaggerated p>
“Huh, taking the first love and your mom out to eat while your wife is pregnant, why don’t you meet this kind of husband yourselves if you’re so tolerant p>
“There’s nothing shady happening, eating openly, not doing anything untoward, you all seem excited, did it touch your husbands p>
“I would like him to be my husband, so handsome and rich, does it matter first love or not p>
“President Grant, please be my husband p>
“There’s no problem with eating, but leaving your wife humiliated in a jewelry store while you go to eat with your first love and mother, isn’t it too much p>
“Yeah, why not pay for your wife and then go eat together p>
“This world is really a huge men-loving world p>
Vivian Sinclair watched the heated debates in the comments, herself engrossed in the gossip, when the door was suddenly knocked.
Jasmine came nervously to invite Vivian Sinclair, “Young Madam, Old Madam wants you to go down p>
Vivian Sinclair: “Have they come back p>
Jasmine: “The young master got his head broken by Old Madam p>
“The master slapped the madam twice p>
“There is quite an uproar downstairs now p>
Vivian Sinclair was taken aback.
Such a strong reaction?
Austin Grant was the whole Grant family’s darling, Old Madam prized him like her own eye, how could she bear to break his head?
Because of today’s incident?
Jasmine explained: “It was accidentally hit too, now Old Madam is both sad and angry p>
“Madam after being slapped twice became much more subdued p>
Vivian Sinclair felt something was not quite right.
After going downstairs, she saw Old Madam Grant with reddened eyes.
Austin Grant actually had his forehead bruised, with some blood on his face.
Theodore Grant sat furiously on the sofa, while Lillian Rivers covered her face, looking more sorrowful than ever.
Vivian Sinclair glimpsed briefly and immediately lowered her eyes, pretending to see nothing.
“Grandma, you wanted to see me p>
Old Madam Grant grabbed Vivian Sinclair’s hand and immediately began to cry, “Vivian, you suffered today p>
“Austin actually left you alone and let others bully you without even knowing it p>
“The worst part is, the mother and son actually had dinner with Zoe Monroe and it made the news; how can you bear this p>
Vivian knew Old Madam Grant was standing up for her.
But she also knew something was off.
No one had brought up her smashing a jewelry store, nor had she been held accountable since returning to the old mansion.
Just now, Old Madam only blamed Austin Grant and his mother, without mentioning her own misdeed today.
Vivian quickly brought it up herself to avoid it being used against her later.
“Grandma, I’m fine p>
“It’s just that I wanted too much, so I impulsively did something wrong today p>
“I won’t dare do it again. Please don’t be angry p>
Old Madam Grant didn’t want to see Vivian really acting like she didn’t care about anything.
Not caring was akin to feeling dead inside, wasn’t it?
No, she wanted them to rekindle their relationship, and hopefully, Vivian would dismiss the idea of divorce!
“Vivian, I will have Austin apologize to you p>
“He made the first mistake. Otherwise, how would you have accidentally damaged some things in the jewelry store p>
“Grandma will take care of this for you p>
Old Madam Grant didn’t wait for Vivian’s agreement; she called Austin Grant over to scold him.
“You fool, don’t you know where you went wrong? Apologize to Vivian quickly p>
Perhaps Austin Grant was stunned by Old Madam Grant’s scolding, and while rubbing his head, he actually said to Vivian, “I’m sorry p>
“I shouldn’t have left you alone today p>
“Honey, please forgive me, will you p>
Vivian almost couldn’t maintain the composure she was struggling to keep.
What was Austin scheming this time?
Lillian Rivers, who was always protective of her child, didn’t intervene this time and actually stood aside watching her beloved son bow his head to her.
This was unprecedented!
If it weren’t night, Vivian would suspect the sun rose from the west.
When something unusual happens, there must be a reason. Of course, Vivian wouldn’t be easily placated by Austin’s light apology.
She helplessly looked at Old Madam Grant.
Old Madam Grant, however, resumed her smiling demeanor, “Vivian, he’s admitted his mistake. Please forgive him, won’t you p>
“For Grandma’s sake, give him a chance p>
“Austin, why don’t you quickly take Vivian upstairs and let her take care of your wound p>
Vivian said, “But Grandma, I’m not a doctor. It might be better to have Dr. Archer come p>
Old Madam Grant said, “Dr. Archer has already left work. Vivian, I’ll have to trouble you. Austin’s wound isn’t serious—just disinfect it, apply some ointment, and put a bandage on it, it will be fine p>
“You two should behave well; don’t make me worry anymore p>
Austin Grant pulled Vivian Sinclair upstairs.
“Let’s go, honey p>
Under Old Madam Grant’s watchful eye, Vivian fought against her disgust and refrained from pulling away immediately.
However, as soon as they were back in the room, Vivian shook his hand off coldly and said, “Grandma can’t see us now, so you don’t need to keep up the act p>
Austin Grant looked pitiful as he held the medical kit and approached her, “Honey, aren’t you the least bit sorry for me p>
“Look at me, I even got my head smashed by Grandma p>
“I really know I was wrong. Are you still mad p>
Looking at such an unusual Austin, Vivian couldn’t help but laugh coldly.
“There are plenty of people who would love to tend to your wounds. Shall I call Miss Monroe for you p>
Austin pulled her wrist into his arms, his gaze clear and cold, “Vivian, either way, you have to tend to my wound tonight! We must give a proper account to Grandma p>
It seems he was putting on this submissive act just to deal with Grandma.
But he had never been so obedient to Grandma’s words before.
Just then, the door was knocked and Mrs. Archer’s voice came through, “Young Madam, Old Madam asked me to check if you need guidance with the procedure. I can read it out to you p>
“First, clean the wound, then disinfect p>
Vivian closed her eyes helplessly.
Then she got up and replied, “I got it, Mrs. Archer p>
“You can tell Grandma that I’ll take care of Austin’s wound p>
Mrs. Archer then left, satisfied.
Vivian, suppressing her anger, snatched the medical kit from Austin’s hand.
Even though she clearly didn’t want to do this, and there was a hint of anger in her eyes, Austin inexplicably felt good about it.
Her emotions seemed quite volatile lately, though she did seem more lively.
Could it be due to pregnancy hormones causing her sometimes gentle, sometimes cold and distant behavior toward him?
“Ow p>
Austin winced from the pain, fully waking up, “Vivian, could you… be a bit gentle like before p>
Vivian’s movements were rough and swift.
She quickly applied the band-aid.
Gentle?
That’s not going to happen.
When she opened the door and asked Austin to leave, he shamelessly asked, “Can I stay tonight p>