Chapter 2

Vivian's POV

The next morning I was woken by the sound of pounding on my door.

"What time is it and you're still in bed?"

A servant mocked loudly through the door.

"This family doesn't support idle people. Do you still think you're the heiress you used to be?"

I braced myself against the edge of the bed and sat up, a tearing pain suddenly shooting through my chest.

The violent coughing made me curl into a ball.

A puddle of thick phlegm mixed with stark blood threads appeared in my palm.

I walked to the sink in the corner and turned on the faucet to wash it away.

The doctor said I had less than three months to live. Now it seemed he was still too optimistic.

The dining room was filled with exquisite breakfast foods.

"Vivian, you're awake?"

When Lorelei saw me, she immediately showed a sweet smile.

"The housekeeper specially made your favorite toast."

She pointed to the seat beside her, her tone sincere:

"These years while you were away, I temporarily took care of this home for you. Now that you're back, I should return things to you."

She had used this move for twenty years and was still so practiced at it.

"Since you were taking care of things."

I looked up at her.

"When exactly do you plan to return everything to me?"

The smile on Lorelei's face froze for a moment.

She clearly hadn't expected that the fool she once manipulated would now dare to talk back publicly.

"I..."

She bit her lip and looked toward Adrian.

A strong smell of greasy food drifted into my nostrils.

I couldn't hold it in anymore and covered my mouth, dry heaving.

Lorelei gasped in surprise, covering her mouth.

"You couldn't be... pregnant, could you?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for everyone present to hear clearly.

"These years you've been wandering outside, I heard those places can be quite chaotic..."

Adrian slammed down his knife and fork.

He looked up, his gaze cutting into me like a knife.

"Vivian."

He said through gritted teeth.

"You disgust me."

"How could a woman like you be worthy of being Miranda's mother?"

I straightened up and wiped the sour liquid from the corner of my mouth.

Looking at this man before me, his face full of disgust.

Shameless?

Who was it that threw me into an underground gambling den to fend for myself, just to force me to give up custody?

Who was it that cut off my income, leaving me to fight with stray dogs over a piece of bread?

Now the person who pushed me into the abyss stood on the shore criticizing me for having mud on me.

"It's none of your business."

I coldly shot back and turned to leave.

"Stop right there!"

Adrian roared behind me.

"What kind of attitude is this?"

I ignored him and walked straight to the kitchen.

Behind me came Lorelei's gentle, comforting voice:

"Adrian, don't be angry. She's gotten used to running wild outside, she probably can't change right away..."

I turned on the faucet and splashed ice water hard on my face.

Reputation?

These things were destroyed by their own hands three years ago.