Chapter 8
Mrs. Archer quickly put the paper away.
Seeing his beaming face, Old Madam Grant grew angry.
She snorted heavily, “Idiot p>
Austin Grant:?
“Grandma, are you scolding me p>
He let out a laugh of disbelief, “You’ve never scolded me since I was little. Now you have a precious granddaughter-in-law, have you really started treating the rest of us like we’re nothing p>
Austin Grant walked to the other side as if nothing had happened, and gently tucked Old Madam Grant’s blanket.
But the one Old Madam Grant favored the most had always been him.
Only, after she fainted last night, Mrs. Archer’s cry for help was so loud, yet he didn’t even dare show his face.
Old Madam Grant was, after all, a little chilled in her heart.
Instead, it was Vivian, who, though desperate to divorce, still gave up the chance and chose to save her.
Old Madam Grant was somewhat moved.
She didn’t bother saying more to Austin, just said, “I’ll move back to the old house from now on. No more nursing home p>
“You all come back and keep me company over these last few months p>
“Vivian already agreed just now. Austin, what about you p>
Austin glanced at Vivian, saw she didn’t even look at him, and could only respond first to Old Madam Grant: “Since your granddaughter-in-law is back, how could your grandson stay out on his own p>
“Grandma, don’t overthink it. Take good care of yourself. Next year you’ll be holding your great-grandchild p>
Old Madam Grant didn’t spell it out to Austin.
Whatever she planned, Vivian didn’t want to know.
She excused herself, saying she needed to go back to the hospital for a checkup and planned to leave for a few days. Just as she was about to ask the driver to take her, Austin came out with his suit.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you p>
On the way to the hospital, Vivian kept dealing with matters related to her car.
After she left the overpass last night, she’d already called the rescue and insurance companies. Now the car was at the repair shop, and the party responsible for the accident would cover it.
She only needed to sign a few documents.
By the time she was done, the car was already headed toward downtown.
Austin: “These things should be handled by the butler p>
“By the way, do you feel any discomfort with your belly? Are you properly getting your progesterone shots every day p>
As he spoke, he reached out to touch Vivian’s head, but she dodged away.
“The smell on you always makes me nauseous. If you don’t want me to vomit all over your car, I suggest you don’t touch me p>
Austin’s body went stiff.
His face turned a bit ugly too.
But her cold and hard attitude left Austin with a strange sense of alienation. “Vivian, what’s wrong with you lately? Your moods are so erratic, sometimes you’re like a hedgehog, sometimes you’re gentle and sensible p>
“Hey, what do I have to do for you to be satisfied p>
Vivian: She was just one step away! Last night, just one step from exposing everything, from tearing it all apart and filing for divorce!
But now she had no choice but to swallow back her urge and hatred to tell all—how could she possibly feel okay?
She wanted nothing more than to tear Austin Grant apart!
Vivian steadied her emotions and replied coldly, “A pregnant woman’s moods are erratic by nature p>
“You’re the baby’s father—can’t you even tolerate that much p>
To shift blame—anyone can do that.
But before they reached the hospital, Austin got a call.
“What p>
“How did you hurt your hand p>
He glanced at Vivian and lowered his voice. “So careless, even with work p>
“Fine, calm down. I’ll be right there p>
After putting on a pretense of coolness and indifference, Austin pulled over and let Vivian out by the curb.
“Vivian, we’re already downtown. It won’t be hard to get a cab p>
“Something urgent came up at work—I have to get back right away p>
“Don’t be mad. I’ve booked a restaurant tonight—let’s have a good talk p>
About last night, Austin also wanted to probe her—see if she’d heard anything she shouldn’t have.
It just wasn’t the right time, so he hadn’t brought it up.
Vivian had already seen through him.
Just now—that was Zoe Monroe’s call, wasn’t it?
She’d long since understood her own standing, so Vivian wasn’t angry at all.
She just slammed the car door hard, then turned away to hail a cab, not even sparing Austin a glance as she left.
He should be glad she was so decisive.
But for some reason, a wave of inexplicable irritability surged within Austin.
He yanked at his collar, then furiously slammed his fist on the steering wheel.
Only when incessant horn honking came from behind did he finally drive off.
Vivian arrived at the hospital.
Apart from Lina Holloway waiting for her, she still had to see Dr. Lyle.
She’d done a checkup last time; she’d come today to get the results.
In his office, Dr. Lyle frowned and told Vivian the truth, “Young Madam Grant, there is no blockage at all in either of your fallopian tubes p>
“And not only are you not infertile, you are in fact one of the rare natural easy-conceivers I’ve seen in all my years of practice p>
“All aspects of your body—your hips, pelvis, ovaries—your test results and numbers are all perfect p>
“I can’t imagine what kind of quack doctor did your last physical p>
“Do you really need IVF? It’s pure torture for you, isn’t it p>
Remembering the months of pain and torment she’d suffered for the egg retrieval, Vivian couldn’t help but dig her nails into her palm.
That report was when the truth about her own background had just erupted.
She’d been at a total loss, feeling she would forever be without a home.
That in this world, she didn’t have a single relative.
Austin had never slept with her, then suddenly suggested they get a physical for conception purposes.
Vivian genuinely wanted to give birth to someone who would truly be family.
So she hadn’t thought much before going for the checkup.
But the report was like a pot of icy water dumped over her head on the spot.
She couldn’t conceive naturally; she had almost no chance of ever being a mother.
It was Austin’s gentle encouragement and comfort that supported her.
Only then did she muster her resolve again to go through with egg retrieval and IVF.
All this past year she was even deeply touched by his supposed steadfastness toward her.
But only now did she finally see the truth!
The medical report was his doing.
The entire egg retrieval and embryo transfer was a staged performance.
Austin’s real reasons: first, to make her bear his and Zoe Monroe’s child.
Second, he wanted to remain “pure” for Zoe. With IVF and pregnancy, he never needed to touch his legal wife.
Third, he believed she’d schemed to drive Zoe away, so he’d always resented her in his heart, and wanted revenge.
And now, even though she was pregnant, he still installed a family doctor who made her endure daily injections and pain for no reason at all.
Realizing how she’d been played by the two of them like a fool, Vivian furiously tore all the reports in her hands to shreds.
Her face was full of anger, her heart churning with hatred.
Divorce?
Divorce would be too good for them!
As for her life—being widowed would be more fitting!
Dr. Lyle, witnessing this scene, was so terrified he was trembling all over.
If you hate someone else, at least don’t hate me.
On the way out of the hospital, Lina Holloway didn’t dare provoke the seething Vivian.
Not until Vivian calmed herself did she suddenly ask, “Will my extreme mood swings affect the baby p>
Lina quickly explained, “Yes p>
“There’s a definite connection with the baby’s physiological, psychological, and behavioral development p>
“Besides, if your mood is poor, you’re more likely to develop postpartum depression p>
“So, Young Madam, try not to get upset so often—take better care of yourself p>
Vivian: “You’re right. For me and my baby, I have to keep my emotions stable p>
So, punishing scum can’t be rushed.
She had to play it slow—slice off their flesh one cut at a time!
Lina didn’t threaten Austin with the video, but instead pledged her loyalty to Vivian. Vivian was very satisfied with this.
She took Lina to a Praxos Road restaurant.
A five thousand–per-person seafood buffet.
After the two of them finished ordering in a private room, Lina shared another piece of information she’d overheard.
“Young Madam, be careful of your mother-in-law and sister-in-law—they… seem to be targeting you p>
Vivian was sipping her tea.
Hearing this, she only nodded slightly, “I know p>
Lina clearly wanted to befriend her. Appreciating the gesture, Vivian asked, “What are you investigating at the Grant Family p>
“Maybe I can help p>
Lina forced herself to stay calm, pulled out her phone, and opened a photo in her album.
It was a breathtaking masterpiece she’d photographed last night in the Grant family’s first-floor side hall.
In the bottom right corner of the piece was a tiny signature: the letter W.
“Young Madam, this painting is an authentic work of the genius artist W, isn’t it p>
“Do you know that W visited the Grant Family a year ago? And then he disappeared, never to be seen again p>
“I want to know any clue about this W p>
“If you help, the Thorne Family will owe you a huge favor p>
Vivian’s expression faltered.
She looked at Lina, puzzled. “The one you’re looking for is the painter W p>
“And the Thorne Family you speak of—is it the one I think it is p>
Lina smiled, “Young Madam, didn’t Mr. Thorne already give you his card p>
“Very few people in this world can get Mr. Thorne’s card p>
“And in all Ardis, there’s only one Julian Thorne p>
Vivian’s heart skipped a beat!
It really was him!
This Mr. Thorne was the biological father of her two babies!
Lina’s words were so direct, and Vivian remembered how respectful she’d been to Mr. Thorne last night—it was obvious her real boss was him.
Clearly, Lina approached the Grant Family for a reason.
Was it just to search for clues about W?
Last night, after much hesitation before bed, Vivian had finally sent a request to the number on the business card.
His side accepted quickly, but after transferring some money, Vivian ignored the chat ever since.
To be honest, she wanted the two children for herself.
She didn’t want anyone else to know the true secret of the children’s birth.
So, from the start Vivian planned to keep it from the Thornes, especially from Mr. Thorne himself.
Vivian did her best to keep her emotions hidden, but her knuckles whitened around her cup.
“Why does the Thorne Family want to find this painter? May I know p>