Chapter 60

Vivian had no intention of engaging with him. She remained silent and tried to slip past unnoticed, but Mason still caught sight of her.

“Vivian?” Mason called out joyfully.

Vivian paused, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. “What is it?” she asked coldly.

Mason moved to step forward, but catching sight of his mud-caked shoes, instinctively retreated two paces. He hesitated, then asked softly, “How have you been lately?”

“I’m pretty fine,” Vivian said expressionlessly, brushing past him without a second glance.

Life’s been better without Mason, she wondered.

Mason watched her retreating figure, hesitated for a moment, then finally called out, his voice trembling with regret, “Vivian, I’m so sorry.”

Vivian stiffened, but she kept walking. Mason’s words hung in the air between them. There was no way she could feel nothing. The love she once felt was real, but so was hatred.

But to her, Vivian had already let it go. As a tiny pebble dropped into a calm lake, it caused only the faintest ripples, leaving the vast waters largely undisturbed.

Just as Vivian was about to hail a cab home, she unexpectedly spotted Chloe clinging to a man who looked significantly older than her.

He looked at least two decades older than her. Though Vivian didn’t like to judge by appearances, this old man was truly hard to describe.

Chloe’s parents passed away years ago. Could this man be a relative? Vivian wondered. Even relatives wouldn’t act so blatantly intimate!

Chloe hadn’t expected to run into Vivian. The moment she remembered that all her misfortunes were thanks to Vivian, her face contorted into a snarl, eyes burning with hatred as she glared daggers at Vivian.

Vivian indifferently averted her gaze and was about to get into the car when Chloe, clinging to the man’s arm, strutted over with a smug look on her face.

Chloe shouted angrily at Vivian, “Vivian, stop right there. Who said you could leave?”

Vivian ignored her. As Chloe stepped forward and reached for her clothes, Vivian swung hard, and a sharp slap cracked across Chloe’s face.

Ever since that incident, Vivian felt herself growing stronger. These people think they can hurt me? What a joke, she thought coldly.

“Vivian, how dare you hit me?” Chloe fumed, her face burning with fury.

“Chloe, you’d better not mess with me.” Vivian’s eyes turned sinister and terrifying. In an instant, the pure and gentle girl was gone, replaced by a dark, obsessive lady.

Chloe refused to admit she’d been intimidated. Whining to the man, she stomped her foot petulantly and pouted, “Honey, she bullied me and slapped me so hard my face is swollen.”

Chloe turned around and caught the man leering at Vivian. The unmistakable look in his eyes told her everything. He was interested in Vivian.

The man finally tore his eyes away from Vivian and, flashing Chloe a sly grin, asked, “Who’s this one?”

“Honey, look what she did to me. She slapped me so hard my face was swollen. Aren’t you going to do something about it?” Chloe pouted coquettishly.

“There, there, Darling. Tell me who she is, and I’ll make her pay,” the man said.

“She’s Vivian,” Chloe said with a sneer. “She’s the girlfriend of a guy who used to chase after me. We’ve got some unfinished business. She works at a company called Dynastis Company,” replied Chloe.

Dynastis Company? Just a small fry. Piece of cake, the man thought.

“Alright, I’ll teach her a lesson for you in a few days,” he promised.

“Well, you are so sweet,” Chloe cooed, clinging to his arm.

Jocelyn had been locked up all night without food or water, on the verge of starvation. At dawn, the door finally creaked open, and a broom was thrown at her feet.

Elisa said coldly to Jocelyn, “Miss Sienna has given all the servants the day off. You’ll clean all the bathrooms in the first-floor guest area. Here are your tools. Grab them and get moving.”

Jocelyn’s eyes turned cold as she sauntered over, her voice laced with disdain. “You want me to clean the bathrooms?”

How outrageous. Do they not know who I am? And they actually dare to treat me like a servant, Jocelyn fumed inwardly.

Elisa couldn’t care less who she was. She snapped. “Miss Turner, this is Miss Sienna’s direct order. Do as you’re told and you’ll get your meal today. If not, leave the Hart residence at once.”

Jocelyn snapped, her voice rising in fury, “I’m a member of the Hart family too.”

“Say whatever you want, Miss Turner, but here’s my advice. The sooner you finish, the sooner you get your meal. Otherwise, we’ll be more than happy to pack your bags and show you the door,” Elisa warned.

Jocelyn spat. “You damned snobbish bastards.”

I can’t let Sienna succeed. Her whole scheme is to kick me out of the Hart residence. I can’t just walk away like this, Jocelyn thought fiercely. I’ll wait for my parents to come back.

Once Dad returns, I’ll make Sienna and her crew pay dearly for this.

Jocelyn shot Elisa a venomous glare, snatched up the mop, and stormed out.

Elisa watched Jocelyn’s retreating figure with a satisfied smile, then strode over to supervise and instruct her on the tasks. Sienna’s orders allowed for not a single chance for Jocelyn to slack off.

At the Hart Corporation, Lana stepped forward and reported softly, “Miss Enna, Charles Harold from Harold Group has requested a meeting with you. Should I let him in?”

Sienna knew about Harold Group. It had been a long-standing partner of Hart Corporation, but when Hart Corporation came under fire, Harold Group chose to sever all business ties.

Having learned from Reno that it was Charles’ son who visited the company last time, Lana made a point of mentioning this to Sienna to demonstrate her attentiveness.

Sienna’s hand paused mid-signature as she set down her pen. “Let him in,” she said.

“Yes, Miss Enna.” Lana nodded.

As Charles entered Sienna’s office and caught sight of her face, strikingly beautiful yet distant, so reminiscent of her mother, he was momentarily stunned, almost believing she had returned.

The aura Sienna carries is just like hers, he thought. No wonder she’s her mother’s most prized successor.

“Miss Enna, this is Charles Harold. Sorry to bother you,” said Charles.

Sienna stood up and poured him a cup of coffee. Charles hastily waved his hands, saying, “Thanks, Miss Enna, I–”

Charles was overwhelmed with shame. The abrupt termination of cooperation last time was solely the doing of his disgraceful son, yet it was his failure in discipline that led him to reap what he had sown. In truth, he had no right to show his face here.

But his days were numbered. He only had this one son, a boy with a knack for offending everyone and utterly lacking in ability. Once Charles was gone, the boy wouldn’t last long.

“Uncle Charles, you’re my mother’s friend. No need to be so formal. Have a cup of coffee first,” said Sienna.

Charles couldn’t bear to hear her address him. “Miss Enna, please don’t call me that. I’m not worthy. What happened last time was all my– Miss Enna, just agreeing to see me today is already more kindness than I deserve.”

Sienna sighed softly and lifted her cup for a sip. The delicate fragrance enveloped her, leaving a lingering freshness on her palate.

Sienna said, “Uncle Charles, I know the last partnership issue wasn’t entirely your fault, but your failure to discipline your son brought us to this point. Let’s cut to the chase.

“If you’re still interested in working with Harold Group, I’ll keep a spot open for you, but the profit margins will be lower this time.”

Charles hurriedly waved his hands. “No, that’s not why I’m here today, Miss Enna. Honestly, your willingness to see me is more kindness than I deserve. I’m truly grateful, and I really don’t know how to repay you.

“Miss Enna, I’m actually here to beg a favor. I want to hand over Harold Group to you. I know our small company may be beneath your notice, but I’m at my wit’s end and have nowhere else to turn.”