Chapter 77

But Vivian overestimated herself. Wishful thinking had made her paint too rosy a picture of reality. Scars might fade, but the pain stayed with her. Even healed wounds couldn’t erase the past.

Vivian let out a cold laugh, her gaze brimming with biting sarcasm as it fixed on the female classmate. “Don’t you have a phone? Or have you been living under a rock? How could you not know the Quinn family went bankrupt?”

The woman thought she could take the chance to humiliate Vivian, but to her shock, she ended up being the one humiliated instead.

“Alright. We’re all classmates here, so let’s not dwell on that. How about we catch up? What has everyone been up to these past few years?” someone suggested.

When it came to Vivian, Bella raised her voice and said, “Vivian? I know all about her. She works at some no-name company, barely making four to a few hundred dollars a month.

“It’s so embarrassing. And those clothes? Please, they’re obviously knockoffs just to keep up appearances.”

Vivian didn’t bat an eye. She just shrugged and said with a faint smile, “Yeah, that’s right. So honestly, there’s no need for you to be jealous of me.”

Bella snapped, “Vivian, as if I’d ever be jealous of you.”

‘Can’t she tell she’s being mocked? Didn’t she catch that?’ Bella wondered.

“Seriously, Bella, why else would you dig so deep into my life and blurt it all out? Isn’t it just because you’re green with envy seeing me doing well, pulling in a few hundred dollars a month?” Vivian mocked.

Bella sputtered, stunned, and wondered, “When did Vivian get so sharp-tongued?”

“Vivian, is that you?” The bartender came over with drinks and, spotting Vivian, greeted her warmly.

Before Vivian could respond, the waitress continued, “Vivian, I haven’t seen you at work lately. The manager said you quit. Did you really leave? The hourly rate’s gone up now. Want to come back and work with us again?”

Hearing this, the whole group shot Vivian disdainful looks. ‘So this is the kind of place she used to work,’ they wondered.

Marcy smirked triumphantly. She’d already spotted Vivian working here last time, and just now, while in the restroom, she’d casually dropped a hint to the waitress. The girl picked up on it right away–guess that tip is well spent, she wondered.

Vivian ignored the way everyone was looking at her, though deep down, she still felt a twinge and the urge to escape reality.

During this time, working alongside Anya and with Sienna’s guidance, Vivian had grown in both mind and experience. She was no longer the timid, people-pleasing girl she once was.

Vivian smiled faintly, “Really? That’s great. But my day job keeps me pretty busy now, so I don’t have time for side gigs in the evenings anymore. Thanks for remembering me. Keep working hard. I hope you can go back to your hometown soon.”

The waitress’s pupils dilated sharply as her guilt deepened. She and Vivian had been quite close when they worked together. Vivian was always kind to everyone.

She was an out-of-towner who came here just to make money, hoping to one day settle down back in her hometown. Over the years, by pinching every penny and juggling multiple jobs, she had managed to save over 60 thousand dollars.

She dreamed of saving up 100 thousand dollars before returning to her hometown to live with her grandparents. She didn’t expect that Vivian still remembered it.

But for a mere seventy-dollar tip, she’d gone along with their little scheme.

She couldn’t bear to stay any longer, yet she knew she couldn’t mention the tip. As just an ordinary worker, a single complaint from a customer could cost her this job.

She respectfully set a glass of strawberry apple juice in front of Vivian, offering a grateful smile. “I’ll do my best, just as you said. Thank you.”

Vivian’s eyes held only serene confidence, showing nothing else. Her poise made those who had sneered earlier feel ashamed, their gazes dropping.

With quiet satisfaction, Sienna observed the scene from upstairs.

“Miss Enna, Miss Sinclair is right over there,” Lana approached and reported.

Sienna nodded, then turned and headed that way. “Have someone keep a close eye on Vivian,” she instructed. “Don’t let anything happen to her.”

At the bar, a woman in a sleek black dress was leaning over the counter.

1/2

Her elegantly coiled hair gave her the timeless grace of a classic beauty from another era, her features dignified and naturally graceful, with an air of quiet strength in her expression.

A few eager men nearby were about to approach, but Sienna, dressed in a black overcoat and exuding such an intimidating aura, made them all instinctively keep their distance.

Recognizing Sienna’s intimidating presence, the men thought better of it. Swallowing their bravado, they exchanged a few awkward jokes and quickly dispersed.

“Nora…” Sienna’s voice was gentle, tinged with nostalgia, as she reached out to softly brush a stray lock of hair from Nora’s face.

It was as if Nora heard a familiar voice. Still half-drunk and dazed, she slowly opened her eyes and saw Sienna standing before her. No, this was Sienna, all grown up.

Thinking she must be dreaming, Nora let out a bitter chuckle and reached out to caress Enna’s face. “Enna, all these years, you never once visited my dreams. Now that I’ve fallen so low, you finally decide to show up? Is that it?”

Sienna opened her mouth, but words failed her.

“Enna, you know what? I’ve missed you so much. If I could go back to when we were eighteen, I’d never have said those words to you,” Nora said.

“It’s alright,” Sienna said, unconcerned. Nora only said it for Sienna’s good.

A single tear escaped from Nora’s eye, her lashes already rimmed with red from prolonged crying.

“Enna, do you forgive me?” Nora drained her glass in one gulp, then let out a bitter laugh. “Enna, guess what? Ethan cheated on me.”

Surprise flickered in Sienna’s eyes before she composed herself. “When’s the divorce?”

Nora let out a bitter laugh, her eyes brimming with sorrow. “Enna, you always cut straight to the heart of things, so decisive. Divorce? Yes, that’s what I should do. But what if I just can’t let go?”

Sienna fell silent. Nora went on, her voice thick with emotion, “Sienna, I’m twenty-nine now. I’ve loved him for fifteen years. We’ve been together for fifteen years. Childhood sweethearts, inseparable since we were kids, you know?

“We even have a lovely little boy. He’s five now. I just want to give him the best. Ethan says that girl reminds him of how I used to be, and now he calls me crazy. Can you believe that? Sienna, I regret not listening to you.

“I gave too much, and look at me now. Am I pathetic? Sienna, you’re so beautiful, stunning yet aloof, just as I imagined. But you never smile. Your eyes hold frost, and no matter how hard I tried, I could never melt that coldness away.”

Sienna reached out and gently cradled Nora’s head against her chest. “You’re the best,” she said softly.

Nora sobbed softly in Sienna’s arms until her cries gradually subsided. Sienna gently brushed aside Nora’s hair, revealing the tear-streaked cheeks of her face.

Sienna took out a handkerchief, wiped away the tears, then gathered Nora in her arms and quietly led her out of the bar.

“Miss Enna, shall we go to the Sinclair residence or the Preston residence?” Lana asked.

Sienna replied, “The Preston residence.”

“Understood.” Lana turned the car around and drove to the Preston residence.

By the time they arrived, it was already nine o’clock, and the mansion was ablaze with lights. Lana pressed the doorbell. A voice came from the intercom, “Who is it?”

The butler looked at Sienna, then noticed the person in her arms. “Mrs. Preston?”

Sienna replied, “I’m her friend. She’s had too much to drink.”