Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_19
Beatrice set her cup down gently, her eyes narrowing with a strategic glint. “Joseph, you’re looking at it all wrong. The marriage with the Ellington family was always a means to an end. The moment Vivienne gets tangled up in a scandal like this, the Ellington family will have no choice but to break the engagement. But here’s the thing—they’ll still be desperate to salvage their reputation.”
She looked over at Michael, who had been seething ever since hearing about Vivienne’s alleged crime. “What matters now is how we handle this. We have the opportunity to control the narrative. If we play it right, the Ellingtons will still be our allies, but they’ll need to come to us—begging us for a way out of the mess they’ve inherited. That’s when we strike.”
Michael’s anger started to simmer down as Beatrice spoke, his expression shifting into something more calculating. “So, you’re saying we let them dig their own hole deeper and then offer them a lifeline?”
Beatrice nodded, a slight smile tugging at her lips. “Exactly. It’s a classic power move. We hold all the cards now, and the Ellington family will need us more than ever.”
Arabella, who had been listening intently, let out a small, satisfied sigh. “So, we let Vivienne take the fall, and in the meantime, we set the stage to claim the engagement as our own again. We can twist this into an advantage.”
Joseph, still uneasy, asked, “But what if Vivienne’s name doesn’t stay tainted? What if someone clears her up or even exposes that this whole thing was a setup?”
“Then we deal with that when it happens,” Beatrice said, her voice calm but firm. “Right now, we have the upper hand. If Vivienne is made out to be the villain, the Ellingtons will be forced to make a decision. Either they align with us and salvage their reputation, or they sever ties and deal with the fallout. Either way, we win.”
Arabella couldn’t help but smirk. “If she does manage to get herself out of this, it’ll make her look even worse for being so careless. She’ll lose whatever standing she had with the Ellingtons, and we can pounce.”
Just then, the door opened, and a butler entered with a phone in hand. “Madam, there’s a call for you,” he said, handing it over to Beatrice.
Beatrice took the phone, her demeanor still collected. “Yes?”
The voice on the other end was calm but urgent. “Madam Hawthorn, this is Matthew. I’ve just heard that Vivienne was taken into custody by the police. I’m sure you know that already. But I need to warn you—this could blow up in our faces if the right people get involved.”
Beatrice’s lips curled into a thin smile. “I’m aware. But trust me, Matthew, this is nothing but an opportunity for us. The Ellingtons will be forced to make a choice soon, and I plan to be the one they come running to.”
Matthew hesitated for a moment, his voice lowering. “I understand. Just be careful. If this goes too far, it could create more chaos than we’re prepared for. Make sure you don’t get swept up in it.”
“I won’t, Matthew. Don’t worry. I have everything under control.” Beatrice hung up the phone and looked at her family. “Let’s see how this plays out. The key is patience. We let the pieces fall, and we make our move at the right time.”
Joseph frowned, still not fully convinced. “But what if Vivienne gets cleared of this? What if the truth comes out, and she turns the tables on us?”
Beatrice’s smile never wavered. “Then we’ll just have to find another way to make her disappear.” She picked up her tea again, as if the matter was already settled.
Meanwhile, in the police station, Vivienne stood calmly as she was processed, her mind spinning but her exterior composed. The law enforcement officers had tried to strip her of her phone, but they hadn’t anticipated the call that would soon come.
Her phone buzzed in the officer’s hand again, and this time, they handed it to her reluctantly. “Ms. Hawthorn, your lawyer is on the line.”
Vivienne took the phone, her eyes narrowing. “Yes?”
“Vivienne, it’s me. Don’t worry, I’ve already contacted the right people. The charges are absurd, and they’ll be lifted soon. Just stay calm,” a familiar voice reassured her.
It was Liam, her lawyer and one of the few people she trusted completely. She let out a breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “Thanks, Liam. I don’t know what game they’re playing, but I won’t let them get away with it.”
“I’ll make sure of that. You won’t be in here long.” He paused. “I’ve already spoken to some influential people who will put pressure on the police to clear this up quickly. Just hang tight.”
Vivienne nodded, her lips curling into a slight smile. “I’ll hold my ground. Let them try.”
As she ended the call, she could feel the tension in the room ease just a fraction. She wasn’t going down without a fight, not this time. The game was far from over, and she intended to make sure the Hawthorn family and their allies would regret ever trying to use her as a pawn.
