Chapter 237: A Mistake From the Beginning
Owen sipped his coffee, struggling to conceal his surprise. In the past three years, Vivienne had become even more formidable. Her recent actions seemed designed to leave the Mitchell family with no escape. He silently lamented their fate for a moment. Vivienne's transformation, however, was unexpected. There was a time when she would have risked everything for Warren. Had she finally changed?
Owen glanced at Vivienne, his eyes thoughtful. “Have you found out if Warren rescued you five years ago?” he asked.
Vivienne's dedication to helping the Mitchell family stemmed from that incident. She had always remained silent about that night, and Owen hadn't pressed her. His own memories suggested she had experienced something life-altering. She was adept at maintaining a stoic exterior, hiding any struggles. The more vehemently she insisted everything was fine, the more Owen suspected something significant had occurred.
Looking up, Vivienne replied, “I made a mistake from the beginning.” When she'd asked if Warren had visited Forestvale, his initial confusion had curdled into contempt, dismissing the place as worthless. Most people scorned Forestvale for its notoriety, but Warren was supposed to be different.
“No wonder you didn’t show mercy to the Mitchell family,” Owen chuckled.
“Any updates on new leads?” Vivienne asked.
Fidgeting with his mug, Owen replied, “It’s been half a decade. The few leads we had have vanished, and the other party ensured they erased their tracks.” His voice trailed off, casting a somber mood over the room.
Shortly after, Vivienne's phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she felt a headache coming on.
While Benjamin could be kept in the dark temporarily, evading her well-informed uncle Cameron was a different matter. Observing Vivienne's distress, Owen immediately knew who was calling. To avoid a reprimand, he quickly finished his coffee, put on his coat, and stood. “I need to attend to something. I’m leaving.”
Vivienne was speechless. Her backup had just left. After a pause, she reluctantly answered the call, greeting him in a subdued tone: “Hello, Uncle Cameron.”
Cameron's voice, stern yet laced with concern, filled the line. “You didn't think to inform me of such a significant event?”
“It’s under control,” she assured him, leaning back and turning from the door. She playfully spun around, her demeanor light and youthful. “I’m quite capable of handling this myself.”
Her reassurance softened Cameron slightly. He already knew about the Mitchell family's recent property sales. Vivienne's confident assertion of independence wasn't just words; it was a fact.
“Your aunt’s birthday is this weekend. Keep your schedule clear,” Cameron instructed firmly.
“Will do,” Vivienne replied.
Once the call ended, Cameron lit a cigarette, his fingers holding it delicately. His sleeves were rolled up, his silver watch glinting. He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. At that moment, his assistant, Zane, entered. “You wanted to see me, Mr. Sinclair?”
With casual authority, yet tinged with seriousness, Cameron commanded, “I need you to put the Mitchell family in their place.”
Zane sensed the anger behind Cameron's calm exterior. This was personal, a protective measure for Vivienne.
“Understood, Mr. Sinclair.”