Chapter 43 A Breaking Point
Chapter 43 A Breaking Point
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Those words had battered Vivienne too many times today. The pain was there, but now it was dulled by numbness.
“Fine. I choose August.” With that, she stepped around Theo and walked out.
Theo stood frozen, as if struck. He hadn’t expected her to be so resolute.
Dante glanced at the stunned faces around him, smirked indifferently, and followed her out.
Only then did panic grip Theo. He turned to Edmund, eyes brimming with tears. “Dad, does Mom really… not want me anymore?”
Before Edmund could respond, Victor scoffed. “No way. Vivienne’s just playing games, dragging in some random father and son to make you and Eddy jealous. Don’t buy it. She’s faked illnesses and kidnappings before to get your attention, how many times has she pulled that?”
Theo looked at him, uncertain. “Mr. Victor, is that true?”
“Have I ever lied to you? Just wait. If you and Eddy don’t bite, she’ll come crawling back soon.”
“Will she?” Theo’s voice wavered.
“Absolutely!” Victor grinned confidently. “Once a woman has a kid, she’s tied to the family for life. I’ve got a buddy whose wife was standoffish before their kid, afterward, she wouldn’t leave even if he tried to kick her out. His old flame came back, and she begged him not to divorce her, all for the kid’s ‘complete family.“”
He smirked smugly. “Plenty of ways to handle a woman like Vivienne with no income. Eddy, give her the cold shoulder for a few days. I’ll come up with something to make her run back begging.”
Edmund ignored him, turning to Lillian. “Lillian, you fell on your own. Why didn’t you say so?”
Panic flickered in Lillian’s eyes. Edmund wasn’t as gullible as Victor or Theo, her vague words had misled them all.
She looked at him, teary–eyed. “I thought Ms. Everest was coming to apologize to you and Theo, so I wanted to bring her to you… I was too eager and grabbed her. I’m not sure if she shook me off or if I just fell…”
Victor chimed in. “Eddy, Lillian meant well. The video shows she was trying to lead Vivienne to you. She never said Vivienne pushed her.”
He muttered under his breath, “Theo said it was her… Even your own son says that, who’d doubt it? Vivienne’s always been a thorn in Lillian’s side, it’s her own fault people got the wrong idea.”
Theo hung his head. “Dad, I’m sorry. I got it wrong.”
Lillian jumped in. “Eddy, Theo’s young, mistakes happen. Blame me if you want. I shouldn’t have spoken to Ms. Everest…” She gazed at him earnestly. “For the lesson I’ve learned, don’t hold it against Theo, okay?”
Seeing Lillian take the fall stirred gratitude and resentment in Theo.
Theo thought to himself, Ms. Lillian was the good one, Mom just wanted to rile me up.
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16:32 Tue, 25 Mar
Chapter 43 A Breaking Point
51%
+10 Free Coins
Unbeknownst to him, Lillian’s “sacrifice” deftly shifted the blame to him, absolving herself.
Edmund’s stern face softened slightly. “Lillian, this isn’t on you. You wouldn’t have fallen if you hadn’t chased Vivienne. Okay, rest up.”
Just then, his phone rang. Eleanor’s frantic voice spilled through. “Brother, Mom’s out of her medicine, Vivienne didn’t deliver it on time, and her headaches are back. She hasn’t come downstairs all day, it’s bad. Get Vivienne to bring it now!”
Edmund frowned. “What does Mom’s medicine have to do with Vivienne?”
“You know Mom’s had headaches forever, no doctor could fix it. Two years ago, Vivienne brought her some medicine that actually worked. She’s been delivering it regularly ever since.”
16:32 Tue, 25 Mar NNO
