Chapter 43
Mason’s face darkened at her words. As he reached out, Vivian instinctively recoiled, her voice razor-sharp. “Get the hell away from me, Mason. I have no idea why you have the nerve to think I’m still obsessed with you. Listen up. I don’t like you. Stop your pathetic fantasies and quit acting like a madman. If you keep pestering me, don’t blame me for what comes next. You know damn well what prison is like.”
Mason’s face flushed with anger. Passersby shot him strange looks.
Mason felt his dignity had been trampled and insulted. He spat, “Stop pretending, Vivian. You guys schemed to bankrupt the Quinn Group. Wasn’t it all just to force me to come crawling to apologize!”
Vivian felt like she’d just heard the most ridiculous joke ever. She couldn’t help but scoff, almost losing her composure.
She wondered how Mason could possibly entertain such a delusion. Could it be that I was just too nice to him before? Figures. People always push their luck.
Vivian retorted, “Mason, the Quinn Group’s downfall was your doing. Three years ago, Sophie targeted me everywhere, making sure no company would hire me. Every time I saw your parents, they humiliated me. I admit I once loved you back when you actually treated me well. But Mason, you should know that hearts can turn cold.
“You forced me again and again to apologize to Chloe, and even to donate blood for her. How can you even show your face to me now? Do you really think I could ever love you again!”
Mason froze, staring at Vivian, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, the corners faintly reddened. A strand of her glossy hair drifted across her cheek as if trying to gently brush away the teardrops.
An indescribable wave of panic and helplessness welled up in Mason’s heart, and a sudden thought flashed through his mind. “Vivian is slipping through my fingers. I can’t hold onto her. She scatters with the wind.”
Memories of their sweet moments together flooded back, and Mason found himself instinctively stepping forward, arms moving to embrace Vivian.
Vivian took several steps back, her voice icy. “Mason, we’re done completely. I won’t let you destroy what little good memories we have left. Just leave.”
Mason opened his mouth to explain, but the words died on his lips. Any excuse felt utterly meaningless now. How did things between us end up like this? he wondered.
Vivian turned to leave, her phone screen already displaying 911. If Mason dared to harass her again, she wouldn’t hesitate to make the call.
Mason’s smug confidence vanished when Vivian spat out, “How can you even show your face to me now?” In that instant, all his bravado crumbled.
Her calm, tinged with a trace of hatred, made it painfully clear to Mason that she no longer loved him.
Mason had assumed that once he told Vivian he was willing to marry her, she’d be over the moon and they could go back to how things used to be.
Mason silently watched her retreating figure, his hand unconsciously pressed to his chest. Vivian’s name seemed to have carved itself into his heart.
It was just like their first meeting. Vivian came running toward him in that aqua blue dress, pleading, “Help me?”
Vivian’s words were like breaking the last pair of wings of the once-proud man. Mason returned home a broken man and soon fell gravely ill.
Although the Quinn family had gone bankrupt, they still managed to get by selling off their jewelry, cars, and designer clothes.
Sophie’s heart ached seeing Mason in such a state. Furious, she wanted nothing more than to storm over to the Hart family and give Vivian a piece of her mind.
Mason said calmly, “Sophie, don’t go. This is all our fault.”
To Sienna, the Junior Quinn Group was beneath her notice. After Aiden slapped Linda, she finally knew her place.
That night in the bedroom, Linda kept fawning over Aiden, but he barely glanced at her, his attention glued to his phone. Ever since Hart Corporation partnered with SIE Corporation, Aiden’s prestige had been soaring.
Aiden loved nothing more than showing off on social media, always posting his so-called pearls of wisdom, which were really just humblebrags.
He would scroll through the endless stream of comments, taking his time to read each one. Every comment was full of praise, and he absolutely reveled in it.
Linda was still eagerly trying to please him, but Aiden was growing impatient. He pushed her head away from his stomach, pulled up the covers and said coldly, “I’m going to sleep.”
Linda froze for a split second before she immediately pasted on a smile and snuggled closer to him. “Honey, how should I keep you company tonight?”
Aiden repeated, “I said I’m going to sleep.”
Linda clenched her fists in frustration, hatred, and anger simmering inside her. With a sulky huff, she got out of bed and trudged to the big sofa outside to sleep.
The room was so empty and quiet that Aiden could hear every word she muttered. “Hooey, Jocelyn will be home soon.
“She graduated from a top-tier international university. Have you thought about what position you’ll give her at the company!”
At the mention of Jocelyn, Aiden’s eyes snapped open. He replied in a somewhat friendly tone, “It’s not up to me. You’ll have to ask Sienna.”
Linda seethed with resentment. Why does everything always have to be about Sienna? Ever since she came back, my life’s been a living hell. Even my allowance has been slashed to almost nothing.
Knowing she couldn’t lose her temper, Linda gritted her teeth and tried again. “Honey, Jocelyn is your favorite daughter after all. She always brings you honor and is the most celebrated socialite in our circle.
“Countless people want to be with her. Even the prestigious number one family holds her in high regard.”
A shadow crossed Aiden’s eyes at the thought of Jocelyn.
Though Jocelyn was an outstanding daughter, one Aiden took pride in, who knew how to charm him and enhance his reputation, she paled in comparison when standing next to Sienna.
Aiden would never risk alienating his daughter for Jocelyn’s sake. Aiden said offhandedly, “I’ll talk to Sienna about it tomorrow.”
Linda smirked triumphantly as she wondered, Just you wait, Sienna. Once Jocelyn is back, you’re done for. Since back then, we drove Vivian and the others out, we can do the same now.