Chapter 29
Zoe’s tone was full of jealousy and suspicion.
Austin stepped aside and spoke, “Zoe, you never used to be this anxious or fearful p>
“I’ve been married to Vivian for more than a year now, and I haven’t touched her once. What are you still suspicious about p>
“Do you really not trust me p>
Zoe’s voice sounded pitiful to the extreme: “But lately you keep looking at her. Do you know how restless that makes me feel p>
Austin was stunned.
He… kept looking at Vivian?
Did he?
Afterwards, even Austin didn’t realize his own tone became a bit rushed: “That’s because she’s carrying our child. I have to look after you and try to comfort her as well p>
“There’s nothing else going on p>
Zoe: “Really p>
It took quite some effort for Austin to calm her down, and when he looked up, Vivian was nowhere to be seen.
She had already disappeared.
Vivian had slipped behind a hedge.
She saw a little boy, seven or eight years old, sketching by a patch of roses, painting butterflies dancing among the blossoms.
But he seemed a bit restless.
Before Vivian could walk over, the boy dropped his pencil and rushed off to chase a kitten that darted out.
Vivian came up to the easel, gazing at the reeds, an itch rising in her heart.
Not far away, Julian happened to be passing and about to go through the hedge, when he unintentionally caught sight of her.
His steps ground to a halt.
The Dean, who followed behind, asked in confusion, “President Thorne, what’s wrong p>
Julian looked away. “It’s nothing p>
The two of them continued walking, but they didn’t pass by Vivian. Instead, they took a detour into a small grove.
The Dean rubbed his hands, glancing at the young man before him.
Julian Thorne lost his father at seventeen, and while still in high school, wrested back absolute control of The Thorne Group from a pack of sly old board members using sheer cunning and strategy.
By nineteen, he’d firmly secured the throne of the commercial empire his father left behind.
At twenty-one, he graduated early from the nation’s top university with the highest honors, then continued expanding his territory at a ruthless, accurate, and rapid pace, swallowing up and acquiring other companies in the same industry.
By now, The Thorne Group had long since become the leading company in Ardis, and one of the country’s top three corporate giants.
And Julian, at not even twenty-seven, wasn’t just the richest man in Ardis—he ruled atop the country’s Golden Bachelor rankings.
Uncommonly handsome.
A face chiseled like a sculpture with a flawless physique, making countless fangirls nationwide lose their minds p>
But he was impossibly mysterious.
It was said he seemed indifferent to women.
But that’s not what the Dean was thinking about right now.
Instead, he asked nervously, “President Thorne, about the acquisition you mentioned last time… Do you think the price we suggested was too high p>
“You’ve come to inspect personally now, and our sanatorium’s facilities and environment really are the best in the country. If you buy, you’ll absolutely get your money’s worth p>
Julian stopped by the lakeside, turning to the short, slightly chubby middle-aged man next to him.
“But you’re running the place poorly, and your investments have gone terribly wrong. You’ve been losing money for a year now, with all sorts of massive deficits p>
“Right now, you’re just barely keeping up appearances, making sure your clients and their families don’t notice p>
“At this point, you can’t even cook the books anymore, can you p>
The Dean’s face froze.
He stammered, unable to refute.
He hadn’t realized Julian had investigated them so thoroughly.
“It’s all my fault… I let everyone down p>
“But if I didn’t want someone reliable to take over, I wouldn’t have come to you at The Thornes p>
“President Thorne, I believe only you can keep this place running properly from now on p>
Julian: “So you set the price at a billion p>
“Dean Jenner, do I look like a sucker to you p>
The Dean’s face was full of panic: “I wouldn’t dare, President Thorne p>
“But just the land alone must be worth half a billion, right p>
“Actually, the sanatorium has always turned a profit. And, running it has been my lifelong dream. It’s my useless son… I only handed management over to him for a few months to try to train him up, but who knew he’d drag the whole place down with him p>
“I asked for so much just to make sure I have a way out p>
The sanatorium was in a remote location.
The land was vast, and the surroundings beautiful. It was worth something, but in the next ten years, there would be no new developments planned for it.
So, for the long term, it really wasn’t worth a billion.
The Dean, dejected, was about to turn and leave, but Julian suddenly called him back.
“Five hundred million. That’s the maximum p>
“If you’re willing, I’ll keep you on as Dean. But your son won’t be allowed to touch any part of the sanatorium’s projects again p>
“If I find out otherwise, you know what will happen to him p>
The Dean was at once both relieved and worried. At least he had a way out, and could stay at the sanatorium; of course he was willing.
As for his son… he would keep him under strict control from now on—there shouldn’t be any problem.
“Thank you, President Thorne, thank you p>
Special Assistant Linden came over, and Dean Jenner quickly found an excuse to leave, eager to share the good news with the sanatorium’s senior staff.
Linden: “Master Julian, you’re taking over the sanatorium… Is it to send Miss Sinclair here p>
Julian didn’t answer, just put his hands in his pockets and stared quietly out over the lake.
Linden sighed. “Even Lina Holloway’s up at the villa these days. Is… Miss Sinclair’s situation getting worse again p>
“Master Julian, the W situation seems stuck. If we can’t find them soon… Shouldn’t Miss Sinclair try a different treatment p>
“Back then, when you and Miss Sinclair were kidnapped together, she developed PTSD afterwards, and hasn’t stepped out of her home since p>
“Those awful kidnappers! No matter how much power you wield today, Master Julian, each time you only find the smallest traces and they’re gone again just like that p>
“Those people… it’s like they’re a bunch of sewer rats living under Ardis. Unless you tear the city up entirely, they may get away forever p>
Linden wore an expression full of hatred, but Julian remained calm as ever.
No one knew what he was really feeling inside.
But Linden had noticed, year after year.
He knew Julian hated them more than anyone.
“It means Ardis still has some shadowy force nobody’s managed to catch p>
“But sooner or later, I’ll drag them all out p>
Linden nodded nonstop, agreeing and vowing to help Master Julian carry it out.
Suddenly, Julian turned and strode off behind him.
And ordered Linden, “Don’t follow p>
Julian walked back to the fork in the hedge he’d passed earlier.
Vivian was still there.
Not only had she not left, she was sitting on a picnic blanket, having afternoon tea with the boy who’d run off earlier.
“Sis, eat up! If you eat well, your baby won’t be hungry p>
“Do you like this chocolate flavor p>
“And this one, it’s strawberry p>
Vivian couldn’t resist the invitation and so politely sampled everything.
“Miss Sinclair p>
“About W—may I ask you a few questions p>
Vivian looked up, slightly dazed to see a tall, handsome young man in front of her.
Where had he come from so suddenly?
Wait!
Why did his voice sound so familiar p>
Julian lowered his eyes slightly, crouched down, and met Vivian’s gaze directly.
Vivian’s eyes widened instantly.
Julian Thorne p>
Why was it him again?
At that art show, she’d just glanced at him, hadn’t even really remembered what he looked like!
She only recalled a pair of piercing, commanding eyes.
Now, meeting those eyes, Vivian remembered everything.
He was Julian Thorne!
“Why won’t you people ever leave me alone p>
“I’ve already explained everything to Dr. Holloway. There’s nothing left to say p>
Vivian quickly scrambled up, put on her shoes, and hurried off.
Julian, with his long legs, followed her at a leisurely pace.
Because of the baby, Vivian didn’t dare to run, so Julian easily kept up with her.
Seeing his shadow always right behind, Vivian felt miserable inside.
She couldn’t help thinking: How strange, the people she’d never met before are now everywhere since she began keeping that secret only she knows!
If he ever discovers she’s carrying his child, Vivian isn’t sure she’ll be able to wait for these two babies to be born.
Even if she managed to give birth secretly, the Thorne Family would never allow the children to remain outside their fold.
So Vivian had to stay as far away from this Mr. Thorne as possible.
With that thought she rushed deeper into the hedge maze.
She’d hoped to shake him off, but unexpectedly, managed to lose herself instead.
Vivian spun around, only to find Julian still leaning leisurely against the hedge.
His eyes seemed to pierce through her: “Lost p>
“If Miss Sinclair is willing to talk about W, I don’t mind helping you find your way out p>
Vivian: “No need p>
“I can find my own way back p>
With that, she retraced her steps.
But this time, maybe too flustered, she only dug herself deeper in until finally hitting a dead end.
Julian kept following unhurriedly.
Seeing her face grow more and more anxious, he offered another olive branch at just the right moment.
“Well, Miss Sinclair p>
“Looks like rain’s coming. You wouldn’t want to catch a cold now, would you p>
As Julian spoke, his gaze flicked over to her stomach.
Vivian immediately stood up straighter, wary.
She covered her belly and stepped back.
“I don’t understand—why does your family need to find W so badly p>
“I’ve already said everything I can about W, there’s really nothing left to p>
Before she finished, Austin’s voice suddenly called from not far beyond the hedge, “Vivian, are you in there p>