Chapter 8
Mrs. Holloway wasn’t as composed as I’d expected.
She invited me to a café.
With four hulking bodyguards in tow.
I stared at her mockingly across the table.
Her oversized sunglasses couldn’t hide how her manicured nails were digging into her own palms. After a long silence, she took a deep breath and waved
a hand.
Within moments, the table and floor were covered with luxury gift boxes.
I remained unmoved, almost amused. “Mrs. Holloway, what’s this about?”
Her lips pressed into a thin line as she forced out an apology through gritted teeth. “Miss Lockwood, I apologize for my… Inappropriate remarks last
time.”
I shrugged, “Not accepted.”
She shot to her feet, chest heaving–then physically forced herself back down. “Vivian, Grant has disowned me because of you. Surely your anger should be satisfied by now?”
1 shook my head with a mocking smile. “He disowned you because you treated him like an idiot. Nothing to do with me.”
Mrs. Holloway removed her sunglasses with trembling hands, her perfect posture crumbling for the first time in my presence. “I underestimated you.”
Her voice dripped venom. “What’s so special about trash like you? You reek of poverty to your very soul, yet my son became obsessed. Even talked about marrying you after your studies. I’m his mother. I couldn’t let him ruin his life.
My smile turned razor–sharp. “How noble of you to sit with such trash, Mrs. Holloway. Now if you’ll excuse me call off your dogs.”
She shot
A
hot me a disgruntled look. “Convince Nathaniel to partner with the Holloway group.”
pause. “Once the contract is signed, divorce him. I’ll permit you to marry Grant, But that bastard in your womb stays
behind.”
Tee flooded my veins. I picked up my coffee cup and threw it in her face. “Like mother, like son. Both utterly deranged.”
Mrs. Holloway staggered back, dripping with coffee. “Have you lost your mind? Nathaniel’s just a professor! He’ll never touch our family’s wealth!”
Isnapped. “Fuck your wealth. If your family’s so great, why beg for my help? You call me trash? Your soul is so rotten it makes me sick. Let me leave now, or this ‘trash‘ will drag you through every headline until there’s nothing left.”
Her face twisted like a demon’s-
When the door burst open.
Grant stumbled in, reeking of alcohol. “Mother! What are you doing to Vivian?!”
Mrs. Holloway trembled with rage. “Look what she did to me!”
I tried slipping away during their argument–
Then doubled over at the door as searing pain ripped through my abdomen.
Grant rushed to me. “Vivian What’s wrong?
I slapped his hands away, fuinbling for my phone. My call to Nathaniel was two words, “It’s time.”
Then I dialed 911
Grant forced his way into the ambulance, uselessly crouched in a corner. “Don’t be scared, I’m here
1 rolled my eyes.
He was the reason I was scared.
The Holloway family was a shit–stained pole–touch it and you’re marked for life.
When I woke after delivery, Nathaniel stumbled to my gurney with tear–streaked checks.
Exhausted, I tugged his hand toward our child.
Chapter 8
13.11%
Not far away, I glimpsed a battered figure huddled in the corner watching Nathaniel cradle the baby–his eyes
After a long moment, he sighed and disappeared into the dark.
Later, Nathaniel told me he’d called in favors from his mentor,
Made sure Mrs. Holloway spent a week in detention
The day she was released, Mr. Holloway served divorce papers.
Her precious dignity shattered completely. She fled overseas soon after.
As for Grant? After his parents‘ divorce, a talented half–brother emerged at the company.
Last I heard, his position was crumbling
I forgot about them quickly.
Now, Nathaniel’s favorite thing is to stand at the research institute’s entrance, holding of
Two
filled with undisguised envy and bitterness.
our child while waiting for me to finish work
faces–one big, one small–pressed close together, staring up at me with pitiful expressions.
I couldn’t help but laugh, pinching their cheeks simultaneously. “Alright, alright. But if you kill my plants again, punishment will be severe!”
The pair erupted into cheers instantly.
Nathaniel, balancing the child in one arm, wrapped the other around me and steered us forward.
While crossing the street, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze on me and instinctively turned to look-
only to catch a car window rolling up smoothly.
Behind the tinted glass, a pair of eyes watched with aching envy, fixed on the picture–perfect family of three.
Chapter 8
13 119
Chapter 1
