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Chapter_97
Dorian initially struggled with his doubts, unsure of the truth of his suspicions, but after seeing Beatrice’s cold response, his heart grew even colder. The frost inside him deepened as he spoke, voice laced with disappointment.
“Mom, since you know exactly what’s going on, why pretend otherwise? Do you really think Arabella has the money to hire all these people to stir up trouble? Can you honestly tell me you had nothing to do with any of this?” Dorian’s words were sharp, each one cutting through the tension that filled the room.
Beatrice’s response was quick and dismissive. “I couldn’t care less!” she snapped, her tone unyielding. “The bottom line is, Vivienne and the Ellington family caused all of this. Vivienne’s a Hawthorn too, and she has to clean up her mess!”
Dorian was visibly hurt by her words, a deep disappointment filling his eyes as he responded. “Oh, Mom, do you remember how you stopped me from acknowledging Vivienne all those years ago? Now, suddenly, she’s a Hawthorn again?” His voice was heavy with the weight of unspoken history. “I won’t get involved in Vivienne’s decisions anymore.”
His heart was heavy as he recalled the humiliation that Vivienne and Evelyn had endured when they were driven out of the Hawthorn family. His words turned colder, almost mechanical. “Mom, we’ve cut ties. I came to see you today because we’re still family—though it’s just in name. And frankly, I’m not enjoying this visit. So, I’m leaving.”
Without waiting for a reply, Dorian turned and left the room, his steps heavy with finality. Beatrice, seething with anger, slammed her fist onto the bed. “That ungrateful brat!” she muttered, frustration clear in her voice. “I should’ve strangled him when he was born!”
Michael, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. “Mom, did you really send people to cause trouble at Dorian’s place?” His tone was no longer indifferent; there was a layer of resentment in his voice. “In the past, you bullied him, and I just watched. But now… Now that the Hawthorn family is on the brink, I need answers.”
Beatrice remained silent, her lips pressed tight, unwilling to acknowledge what had been said.
Joseph, unable to remain quiet, chimed in with urgency. “What do we do now? Vivienne won’t see Mom, the Ellingtons don’t respect us, and we can’t count on Percival. We went through so much trouble to get that formula from Dorian. We were almost back on top, and now this happens!”
Before Beatrice could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. The door swung open, and to Beatrice’s surprise, it was Iris who entered—a stunning, middle-aged woman dressed in a crisp white suit. Beatrice’s expression shifted instantly from frustration to excitement. “Iris! You’re back!” she exclaimed, relief flooding her voice.
Iris walked in, carrying a bag of fruit, her eyes immediately taking in the disarray—spilled coffee and a shattered cup on the floor. “What happened? I just got back and heard something went wrong. Why are you in the hospital?” she asked, a note of concern in her voice.
Iris was Beatrice’s only daughter. She had left for Ozoria with her husband ten years ago and rarely returned home. Beatrice had always spoiled Iris, and seeing her now brought tears to her eyes.
“It’s all because of Vivienne and Dorian!” Beatrice’s voice trembled with frustration. “They’ve ruined everything!”
Iris, surprised by the mention of Vivienne’s return, nodded slowly. “Is Vivienne really back?” she asked. Though Iris had heard of how Vivienne and Evelyn were cast out of the family, she had always felt pained by it. She had returned this time because of the news surrounding Vivienne and wanted to check on her niece, whom she had always cared about.
“Dorian should’ve never brought that troublemaker back!” Beatrice seethed, bitterness dripping from her words.
Iris frowned, processing the situation as Beatrice and the two brothers exaggerated the events. After hearing both sides, Iris’s expression grew serious. Her voice, usually calm and composed, became more authoritative. “Clearly, Arabella was in the wrong. She should apologize. Where is she? Why isn’t she here taking care of you, Mom? You’re sick, and she’s nowhere to be found?”
…
Meanwhile, at Cloudcrest High School, Vivienne and Percival had finished lunch and arrived at the school grounds. As soon as they entered the school, Vivienne was surrounded by a group of Arabella’s supporters. They immediately began to accuse her of stealing Arabella’s fiancé and taking credit for healing Ms. Faye.
“Vivienne, have you no shame?” one of them sneered. “Not only did you steal Arabella’s man, but you also had the gall to take credit for healing Ms. Faye!”
Another voice chimed in. “You’re a teacher, and you’re stealing your sister’s accomplishments! How low can you go?”
Vivienne stood unfazed, her expression calm, even amused, as she listened to the accusations.
But then, from across the room, the students from Class Eighteen spoke up in defense of Vivienne. Logan, who had long admired her, stood up quickly. “This is nonsense!” he declared, his voice firm. “Are you all brainless? Just because Arabella says something doesn’t make it true!”
Charlotte Redwood, never one to hold back, added, “Exactly! Arabella’s whole story is a lie. The Baker family already issued a statement. Arabella didn’t heal Ms. Faye. In fact, she almost killed her! If it weren’t for Vivienne, Faye would be dead by now!”
The students who had been swayed by Arabella’s lies began to hesitate, murmurs spreading through the crowd.
Still, there were those who didn’t believe the Baker family’s statement, thinking it was just an attempt to protect Vivienne. One person sneered, “The Baker family is clearly biased. They’re just covering for Vivienne because of her connections with the Ellington family.”
Another person added, “Arabella is Dr. William’s top student. She wouldn’t have nearly killed anyone. It’s clear the Baker family’s statement is flawed.”
The group’s attacks intensified, but Arabella, sensing the tide turning, approached Vivienne and Percival with a false, pitiful expression plastered on her face. “Sis,” she began, her voice dripping with feigned sincerity, “I’ve always been patient with you, but this time, I can’t stay silent. You owe me an explanation.”
Vivienne, her expression cool and unimpressed, smiled back at Arabella. “Are you still living in a fantasy, Arabella?”
Her words cut deep. The Hawthorn family was on the verge of bankruptcy, yet Arabella had the audacity to demand an explanation from her? Vivienne couldn’t help but wonder where her sister’s sense of reality had gone.
Arabella faltered, her eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?” she spat.
Just then, one of Arabella’s classmates handed her a phone. “Arabella, something’s happened to the Hawthorn family,” they said, urgency in their voice.
Arabella took the phone, puzzled. When she saw the news about her family’s crisis and Beatrice’s hospitalization, her face went pale. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at Vivienne, disbelief clouding her features. “Sis!” she exclaimed, her voice shaking with fury. “You did this! You could’ve apologized, but instead, you let things get worse. And now…”
She turned to Percival, her words bitter. “You’re just a puppet of the Ellingtons. You think you can control everything with their backing? How long do you really think you can rely on them?”
Vivienne, with a cold smile, raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with relying on the Ellingtons? If they can support me, I’ll take advantage of it. You wish you could, but you can’t. Are you angry?” she asked, her voice a mixture of mockery and confidence.
“Really angry!” Charlotte shouted, slamming her hand on the desk. The tension was palpable, the divide between the two sides growing wider with each word exchanged.
