“Indeed! The mother who raised such an outstanding daughter must be remarkable hersell”
I stood there, watching Grant and Mrs. Holloway retreat in disgrace.
For the first time, I truly understood the meaning of karma.
Chapter 7
I ran into Scarlett at the banquet.
She hadn’t changed at all–still dazzling as ever.
Champagne glass in hand, she sauntered over and greeted me with a smirk. “I never thought I’d see you again in this lifetime.”
1 tilted my head, pretending to think. “Hmm. I climbed the social ladder, I guess?”
Scarlett blinked, then burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. “Oh my god, Grant and his class–obsessed mother must be fuming. Seriously, what era does she think this is? Even back then, I thought she was unhinged.”
I smiled but didn’t comment.
his money?”
After a brief hesitation, Scarlett leaned in and lowered her voice. “Do you know why Grant suddenly became convinced you were after hi
I scoffed. “His mother’s doing, obviously,”
She gave me a knowing look. “She fabricated an audio clip. It was spliced to make it sound like you were admitting you targeted Grant for his family’s status–that marrying him was your ticket to a better life.”
Her lips curled with disdain. “And Grant believed it the second he heard it.”
For a moment, I just stared at her. Then I shook my head and laughed. “How pathetic.”
He must have doubted me from the start. Some part of him had always looked down on me.
So when his mother handed him that “proof,” it only confirmed what he’d secretly believed all along.
He never even thought to ask me for the truth. He just sentenced me on the spot.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Scarlett and I turned at the same time.
Grant stood there, eyes bloodshot, his expression shattered. “Scarlett, you knew–why didn’t you say anything?”
A ficloor of guilt crossed her face. I sighed and stepped between them. “Grant, calm down. You chose not to believe me. Not her. Don’t shift blame just to ease your own pult.”
His laugh was hollow, his eyes glistening “Vivian I loved you.”
1 stiffened.
His gaze traced over my face like he was memorizing it, heavy with grief. “I loved you so much it scared me. I kept wondering–why would someone like you ever want me? Then I heard that recording, and I thought… Ah, so this is the answer. I couldn’t stand the idea that you might only want my money. It felt like the ultimate humiliation.
His voice cracked. “But later? I wished that was all you wanted.”
A bitter smile twisted his Eps as a tear slid down his cheek. “Vivian, I’m sorry. I was the one who didn’t deserve you.”
The words came years too late, in the worst possible place.
I lowered my eyes. “Now that everything’s out in the open, can you leave me alone from now on?”
He let out a joyless “mm” and turned away, his movements heavy like a broken machine.
Beside me, Scarlett theatrically pressed a hand to her chest..
She rummaged through her clutch and pulled out a business card, handing it to me with a familiar tone. This is my husband’s business card. He’s been wanting to find an opportunity to speak with Mr. Graves privately. I figure, rather than letting the Holloway family take advantage, why not collaborate with me instead?”
I accepted it pofiely, thanked her, and waited until she was gone before crumpling the card into a trash bin.
guessed I would never learn the art of social inaneuvering that came so naturally to high society.
Luddly, Mathaniel didn’t care about any of it.
He just hurried me home and made me noodles. “You barely ate tonight. Exhausted?”
As I slurped the noodles, I told him about Grant’s mother’s scheme.
Chapter 7
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His face darkened. “The Holloway family,” he said coldly, “will never get a deal with my lab.
I grinned.
Nathaniel’s latest research breakthrough was groundbreaking. Whichever corporation secured partnership would dominate the industry for the next
decade.
And as the lead researcher, he had veto pow
power.
No wonder Mr. Holloway was so polite to Nathaniel.
As for Mrs. Holloway, she was probably in for a rather… undignified time.
Chapter 7
