Chapter 39
Vivian Sinclair’s mind went completely blank.
The Thorne Family had always been searching for her identity as W.
Julian Thorne, in particular, had been relentless, trying to probe her several times already.
Vivian Sinclair had managed to brush him off every time.
But who could’ve known that Julian Thorne had never given up suspecting her!
She never expected that this painting would actually end up in his hands!
Has he found out?
Did he guess it?
So, is that why he went to the hospital, planning to confront her face-to-face?
But instead, he ran into her as she was trying to escape from Austin Grant, and that’s why, up until just now, he kept wanting to clear the air about this?
Thinking about how he had been protecting her so fiercely all night, only now did Vivian Sinclair realize why.
So, he had already confirmed she was W long ago!
But how on earth could he be so certain just from a single painting?
Vivian Sinclair was full of questions inside.
But mostly, she just wanted to run from it all.
She had already locked away her identity as W for good, and did not want it exposed by anyone ever again.
At this moment, Vivian Sinclair’s emotions were a tangled mess.
She thought maybe she should just get up and leave right now—and destroy the painting. Even if he came to her again after, as long as she flatly denied it to the end, what could he do about her?
At this thought, Vivian Sinclair prepared to get up.
She reached out to straighten Julian Thorne’s head, but before she could get up, he slumped right back onto her shoulder.
His face was covered in blood, his whole body battered and disheveled.
Vivian Sinclair propped him up twice, then eventually pulled her hand back again.
If he hadn’t been protecting her, with his skills, he might never have gotten hurt this badly at all.
But if he was willing to protect her, it had to purely be because she was W.
Vivian Sinclair let out a helpless sigh.
She reached down to touch her own belly.
Truly a fated entanglement.
If he weren’t the biological father of the child she was carrying, she really could have just walked away without looking back.
Anyway, his people would be arriving any moment now.
But Vivian Sinclair just couldn’t do it.
“I really owe you p>
Vivian Sinclair sat quietly, letting that head rest on her shoulder, letting this man—bloody and wounded—collapse most of his weight onto her body.
Luckily, it wasn’t too long before a sudden beam of light cut through the darkness.
“Master Julian p>
Special Assistant Linden found them with a group of more than ten men.
Seeing the bloody state Julian Thorne was in, Linden’s expression shifted dramatically.
“Master Julian p>
Julian Thorne was already unconscious.
No matter how many times he called, there was no response.
Linden looked at Vivian Sinclair, as if he had a million questions, but in the end he held it all in and didn’t ask a single one.
“Help Master Julian up p>
Linden carefully lifted Julian Thorne onto a bodyguard’s back, then looked at Vivian and asked, “Young Madam Grant, shall we give you a ride home p>
Vivian Sinclair didn’t pretend to be strong: “Okay p>
She didn’t even know where this place was, and with it being so late, there was no reason to put herself at risk for her own safety.
Linden nodded, leading everyone to hurry out with Julian Thorne.
Once in the car, Linden noticed Vivian Sinclair was still wearing her hospital gown.
And half her face was swollen.
Her shoulders and clothes were all streaked with blood.
No matter whose it was, she clearly hadn’t had it any easier. Linden asked specially, “Do you want to go to the hospital, ma’am p>
Vivian Sinclair: “No need. Please take me to this address p>
Vivian left the address of her old apartment.
There was only that place she could go now.
Linden didn’t hesitate, first sending Julian Thorne to the hospital, then personally driving Vivian Sinclair to her apartment building.
When Vivian got out, Linden rolled down the window, hesitated, but still warned her gently: “Young Madam Grant, what happened tonight… could you please keep it confidential p>
Vivian Sinclair: “Don’t worry, I know nothing p>
Linden adjusted his glasses on his nose, nodding slightly: “I trust you, Young Madam Grant p>
Vivian Sinclair paused, but still corrected him: “My last name is Sinclair p>
She wasn’t someone’s Mrs., wasn’t a wife who took on a husband’s surname.
She was Miss Sinclair.
Even if the Sinclair Family didn’t want to acknowledge her, ’Vivian Sinclair’ was the only mark of her existence in the world.
Not ’Young Madam Grant p>
After Linden left, Vivian Sinclair turned and went upstairs.
She took a long, hot shower, changed into clean, comfortable pajamas, and returned to the living room.
Pulling the painting out from her clothes again, Vivian Sinclair stared at it with a heavy sigh.
If she had known sooner, she wouldn’t have confronted Austin Grant tonight.
Thinking of Austin Grant, Vivian pulled out her phone to check—she had several missed calls from unfamiliar numbers.
She guessed they were from Austin Grant, so she didn’t call back.
At last, the night had passed.
The next morning, as soon as Vivian Sinclair woke up, she got a call from Old Madam Grant.
Vivian hesitated, but knowing what needed to come would come, she still pressed the answer button.
“Hello, Grandma p>
Old Madam Grant’s voice sounded worried: “Vivian, where are you p>
“Why aren’t you resting in the hospital, why did you have to run off p>
“Wherever you are, Grandma will send someone to get you right away p>
Listening to her voice, Vivian Sinclair softened inside.
In the whole Grant Family, only the old madam truly cared about her.
But she was sorry—her mind was made up. She’d promised the old madam she wouldn’t mention divorce for now, but it didn’t change her ultimate decision.
And honestly, if Old Madam Grant hadn’t tried so hard to force her and Austin Grant together, Vivian wouldn’t have felt so stifled she needed to leave the mansion in the first place.
Now that she’d finally gotten out, Vivian Sinclair was not going back.
“Grandma, don’t worry. I’m somewhere very safe p>
Old Madam Grant: “What are you talking about! You’re my granddaughter-in-law! If I don’t worry about you, who am I supposed to worry about p>
“Good child, I know you’ve suffered this time, that Zoe Monroe almost got you hurt, so I already kicked her out—and punished Austin too p>
“Grandma is on your side in this, but you can’t just disappear from the hospital without a word. Do you know how dangerous that is p>
“And Austin spent all night looking for you—overnight, it was like he turned into a different person. Can’t you forgive him just a little p>
“Husband and wife should talk things out—move past it, and keep supporting each other in the future p>
Vivian Sinclair knew she couldn’t change Old Madam Grant’s mind, but she wouldn’t be a puppet in the old lady’s hands either.
She spoke with sincere apology: “Grandma, yesterday in the hospital, I pushed Zoe Monroe p>
“I was angry about it. You can check the hospital surveillance footage if you want to confirm p>
“But Austin Grant probably didn’t tell you this—yesterday, for Zoe Monroe, he slapped me in the face, and then he himself brought scissors to my hospital room, wanting to cut my hair off to give Zoe Monroe as an apology, did he p>
“And he even told me to apologize to Zoe Monroe, to ’make it even p>
Even as she spoke, she found it ridiculous herself.
“Grandma, Austin Grant doesn’t love me. If we keep forcing this, we’ll only grow to hate each other more and more p>
On the other end, Old Madam Grant clearly didn’t know about any of this.
She was silent for so long, Vivian Sinclair thought the call had disconnected, until finally she spoke: “I see, child p>
“You really have been wronged p>
“Then how about this? Give Grandma an address, I’ll send you something p>
“Even out there on your own, you can’t let yourself go without, understand p>
Vivian hadn’t expected the old madam to take this so calmly and accept it so easily—she was genuinely surprised.
Though hesitant, Vivian still sent her current address to Old Madam Grant.
If Austin Grant came looking, she would just move again.
At least she couldn’t let Old Madam Grant’s heart go cold.
Vivian Sinclair’s reasons for leaving were solid, so she settled comfortably into her solitary life.
She ordered some groceries for home delivery, but the dish she cooked… ended up with the entire pot in the trash.
Vivian truly wasn’t cut out for cooking, so she gave in and ordered takeout.
When the doorbell rang, Vivian assumed it was the delivery guy, and quickly opened the door.
But the moment the door opened, Jasmine rushed straight in.
“Young Madam p>
“Young Madam, why are you still eating takeout p>
“That’s so unhealthy, I’ll cook for you p>
Jasmine carried a huge bundle and barged into the apartment uninvited.
Even Vivian Sinclair had to scramble to make space for her to put the bundle down.
Vivian was genuinely shocked, “Why are you here? And what is all this p>
Jasmine wiped the sweat off her forehead, about to explain, but then caught sight of the slap mark on Vivian’s face.
“Young Madam p>
Jasmine, heart aching, cradled Vivian Sinclair’s face, “Who hit you p>
“How could it be this bad p>
“Who the hell—I’m going to kill them p>
Vivian Sinclair: “Your young master p>
Jasmine, quietly: “Then he’s a bastard too p>
But Jasmine’s concern was real—her eyes were red from holding back tears.
“Does it hurt? What are we going to do? You’re so beautiful and now your face is all swollen. How will you even go out? Boohoo p>
Vivian tried to comfort her: “It’s already much better than last night, honestly p>
“This ointment works pretty well p>
Vivian Sinclair said, picking up the ointment.
It was Lina Holloway who had brought it over herself that morning.
Vivian was surprised to see her, and Lina said, “The first thing Mr. Thorne asked when he woke up was for me to bring you this p>
“Don’t worry—this ointment is perfectly safe, no side effects—totally fine for pregnant women p>
Vivian didn’t question it, but the burden in her heart only grew heavier.
The way Julian Thorne felt about W, Vivian Sinclair really had no idea how to avoid this anymore.
But, if she couldn’t figure it out, she’d just stop thinking for now.
She flicked Jasmine’s cheek, “Alright, now say it—what did you come here for p>
Jasmine: “You really don’t know, Young Madam? Old Madam sent me p>
“She told me to take care of your daily needs, and to bring you these things p>
“I was already going to bring them to you at the teahouse today, but now I have every reason to show up all proper here instead p>
After saying all this, Jasmine immediately opened her round, stuffed bundle.
Besides her own minimal luggage, everything else belonged to Vivian Sinclair.
Valuables, some clothes, and a few boxes.
“These are the jewels Old Madam sent you p>
“And this, Young Madam p>
“This is from Old Madam for you p>
She pressed two red booklets into Vivian’s hands. When Vivian looked down, they were two property ownership certificates!