Her Gilded Revenge For Stolen Fate novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

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For the first time in her sixteen years, Celia experienced the sting of jealousy. As the eldest legitimate. daughter of the householder in the prestigious Snyder family, no one could hold a candle to her, especially not Vivian, the child of a concubine.

But Celia never imagined that one day, the king’s reward would be bestowed upon Vivian. Unbeknownst to her, Celia bowed with a huge smile as she prepared accept the decree.

She thought, ‘Vivian will definitely laugh behind my back, thinking I got too big for my boots.

Celia shut her eyes, the metallic taste in her mouth becoming stronger. She willed herself to stand up, swaying slightly as she leaned on Sylvia for support.

Standing so close, Sylvia could smell the blood, too. She and Celia watched as Vivian stepped forward to receive the decree.

After the royal herald left, Sylvia put on a nervous, respectful expression, took Vivian’s hand, and whispered, “Vivian, remember, back then, as long as your parents were alive, keeping private wealth was seen as selfish and disloyal.

“Why not put His Majesty’s reward of gold coins and pearls straight into Aurea Manor’s treasury? That way, there won’t be any gossip. Mom is just trying to look out for you.”

As Sylvia spoke, she kept her back to Celia, but she could feel the devastation radiating from her.

‘This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. Celia is such a talent and Quentin’s favorite daughter. If Celia can’t have something, then Vivian shouldn’t deserve it, either.’ Sylvia thought.

With that in mind, Sylvia was determined to label Vivian as selfish and disloyal if she accepted the reward and kept it for herself.

As Sylvia continued to lecture and pressure Vivian under the guise of concern, Vivian’s heart remained unchanged.

If this had happened in her previous life and her mom had called her disloyal, she would have felt deeply wronged. But now that she knew Sylvia wasn’t her real mother, all that bitterness disappeared.

After all, Celia was Sylvia’s own flesh and blood. It was only natural that Sylvia would prioritize Celia’s interests.

But that didn’t mean Sylvia could use Vivian as a stepping stone, allowing Celia to thrive at her expense.

Vivian was not a lifeless figure to be overlooked. She would stand up for herself instead of accepting the injustices.

She tightened her grip on Sylvia’s hand and looked her straight in the eye. “Mom, I’m not Celia. I didn’t have esteemed tutors. The only lesson I’ve learned is that if you’re truly loyal to your parents, you must also be loyal to the king.

“His Majesty gave me gold and silver, and I accepted it. That’s how I show loyalty to the king and respect for

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Chapter 15

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my father. If you claim I’m disloyal, are you asking me to defy the king?”

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Vivian ensured her voice was loud enough for everyone in the courtyard to hear. People instinctively turned their attention to Sylvia.

Everyone said that Sylvia was on the straight and narrow, always acting cautiously and taking her cues from Flora.

Sylvia was beautiful, yet easy to overlook. Even though Quentin spent most nights with her, no one in Aurea Manor really paid much attention to her.

The only thing everyone knew was that she had a daughter whom no one cared about. But no one expected Sylvia to be so harsh with her own child to stay on Flora’s good side.

Being disloyal was considered one of the worst crimes. If that label stuck to Vivian, she wouldn’t just lose her reward. She’d be thrown out onto the streets and severed from the family for good.

Sylvia might seem soft and gentle, but she was ruthless beneath the surface.

“Sylvia, stop talking nonsense,” Beatrice said, rubbing her aching temples and sighing to herself.

The king’s reward for Vivian should have been a moment of pride. But first, Celia misinterpreted things, and then Sylvia created drama. Beatrice thought, ‘Do they really think life in Aurea Manor is too easy? It’s like they’re asking for ridicule.

Sylvia’s shoulders shook, and her lips turned pale.

Quentin felt pity for her. “Vivian, Sylvia is only doing this for your own good. Why do you always think the worst of her?” he said.

Vivian replied, “Father, I’m not being malicious. But Mom always belittles me to prop Celia up. This isn’t the

first time.”

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, revealing a scar on her left cheek. “Back then, to keep Celia safe, Mom didn’t care what happened to me. Now, to keep Celia happy, she’s ready to take away what’s mine.”

Vivian turned away, refusing to look at Sylvia, as if she were heartbroken.

However, Flora was overwhelmed with guilt. She never thought that Sylvia, who always put in so much effort to please her, could end up hurting Vivian in such a way.

She walked over and gently held Vivian’s cold fingers. “Vivian, you’ve been through enough. From now on, you’re family to me. Call me Mother, and I’ll protect you like my own daughter,” Flora promised, her voice firm.

Vivian felt a wave of sadness. Across both lifetimes, she hardly had a chance to grow close to Flora. She was Flora’s daughter. Even though they didn’t look much alike, they shared unmistakable soft features.

Since Vivian was a child, Sylvia had been terrified that Vivian’s true identity would be discovered. So, she kept Vivian hidden away in a small courtyard. If Vivian ever tried to sneak out, she would be scolded and beaten, with Sylvia breaking down in tears.

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Chapter 15

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After all those years, Vivian felt like a bird with shattered wings, forever grounded, while Flora remained completely oblivious to her struggles.

When Flora called herself Vivian’s mother, even though it was just in title, Sylvia felt a rush of anxiety.

She forced a smile. “Lady Flora, Vivian is my daughter. I could never bear to see her suffer.

“I just didn’t think it through. I believed her status was too low and that she wasn’t worthy of such a royal favor, so I suggested she turn over the gold coins and pearls to the family.”

Quentin tried to ease the tension. “Sylvia only has one child. She makes sure Vivian has everything she needs. She has devoted her heart to raising her. Now people say she’s a bad mother? If word gets out, it will tarnish the Snyder family’s reputation.”

Lady Flora, usually gentle, hesitated.

Vivian seized the moment to break free from Sylvia’s influence. She stepped closer to Quentin, just within reach, and asked, “Father, just because Mom chose it for me, does that really mean it’s the best for me?”

Quentin dismissed her, impatience clear on his face. “Your mom would never hurt you.”

In truth, he had never thought much of Vivian, his daughter, who was neither pretty nor charming. To him, she was the kind of girl no one would want to marry. ‘Useless,’ he thought, ‘she’s just a hot potato I can’t get rid of.’

Vivian looked around until her gaze landed on Sylvia.

Somehow, Sylvia felt a cold shiver run through her.

Vivian pulled out a small balm with delicate violet designs from her pocket.

“Isn’t this the balm I had someone bring back from Juashiton? They say it’s made from all kinds of rare herbs, supposed to help fade scars. I even gave a few to Sylvia myself,” Flora said, taking the balm from Vivian.

Drops of sweat formed on Sylvia’s nose as she nervously wiped them away, her expression betraying her guilt.

“Mom, smell this. Is this what the balm is supposed to smell like?” Vivian asked.

Flora followed her cue, opened the balm, and took a cautious sniff. With every breath, her frown deepened.

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14:31 Tue, Jan 13