Her Gilded Revenge For Stolen Fate novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

“Mom,” Vivian explained softly, “I just walked over here. I didn’t do anything.

20 vouchers.

“I know that Crystal Hex Lantern is incredibly precious. Celia poured her heart and soul into creating. Whoever broke it would be considered a traitor to our family.”

With such a rational explanation, Vivian cleared herself of blame, which only intensified Sylvia’s anger.

Afraid someone might notice, she quickly dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

“Cut the act. Everyone knows I messed up your face back then. Since that day, you’ve had it out for Lady Celia and me.

“Now, out of pure jealousy, you deliberately trashed the lantern Consort Daphne prepared for the Queen Mother. You’re being totally irrational,” Sylvia said, her voice shaking.

She sobbed her heart out, looking like a heartbroken mother who had been deeply wounded by her child.

She glanced at Beatrice and kept laying it on thick. “I’m telling you, Vivian, you’re blaming the wrong person. Those bandits were why you, Lady Celia, and I fell from the carriage. You should be mad at them, not your family.

“You don’t care about our family’s situation or how tough your dad’s having it at court. You wrecked the lantern and got us in hot water with Consort Daphne and the Queen Mother. Do you have any clue what mess you’ve created?”

The courtyard was so silent on could hear a pin drop.

Dorothy was both worried and frustrated, afraid her family might get tangled up in this mess.

She quickly said, “Vivian, our family has taken care of you for years. You’ve always had everything you needed, and Flora even wanted to legally adopt you as her daughter. What more do you want?”

Vivian thought, ‘It’s just because Flora wants to put me under her name that Celia’s gotten all worked lost her usual composure.

up and

‘If things had gone like they did in my previous life, she would’ve been way more calculated, making sure every detail was perfect and painting herself as the total victim.

‘But instead, today, she had to hold my hand and guide me to the Crystal Hex Lantern.

‘This might fool Dorothy and the others, but Beatrice is too sharp to fall for this act.

“Aunt Dorothy, that’s not true. Celia was the one who led me to the lantern. I didn’t go there on my own,” Vivian said.

Celia looked like she might collapse, her pretty face crumpling with distress.

She let out a bitter laugh. “Vivian, are you saying I destroyed the lantern I slaved over for ages just to frame

77

Chapter 20

you?

20 vouchers

“I’m the real heiress of Aurea Manor. I have everything, so why would I ever hold a grudge against you? Do you think I’m that petty?”

“Come on, Celia’s totally not the petty type; Vivian’s just ridiculously spoiled,” Nina muttered.

She had just voiced what everyone was thinking.

They thought, ‘Lately, Vivian’s behavior was far from well-behaved.

‘First, she snatched the silk shop that originally belonged to Celia, using the leverage of being framed.

“Then she went out of her way to bring Hadley early to treat Simon to win Flora’s favor.

‘To top it all off, she went to the palace with us for a party and ended up saving Prince Nicholas and Edward. The king was so impressed he rewarded her with gold and pearls.

‘Wasn’t that just begging for attention? But Beatrice and Flora were clueless, letting her walk all over Celia without putting her in her place. No wonder she’d gotten so cocky and kept pushing boundaries.

‘At least Sylvia is clear-headed. She understood her daughter and, instead of covering for her, put justice before family and called Vivian out!’

Nina had always been close to Celia and couldn’t help but speak up in her defense. “Vivian, if it wasn’t you, then how did the lantern get ruined?”

“Whatever. Not my problem.” Vivian rolled her eyes and started walking away.

Quentin’s face darkened at Vivian’s brazen attitude.

For years, he’d bent over backwards to impress Daphne, hoping to catch the king’s eye and prove he wasn’t just some nobody riding his family’s coattails.

Presenting the lantern was a perfect opportunity, but Vivian had ruined it.

“You ungrateful brat, still making excuses?” Quentin snapped.

He glanced around, grabbed a broom from the corner, and strode toward Vivian, ready to strike.

Beatrice stepped in, blocking him. “Quentin, we don’t know what happened. Don’t blame her without proof.”

She frowned, glancing at the tearful Celia.

Any other girl would’ve panicked under such scrutiny. But Celia’s face remained a perfect picture of sorrow, playing the victim flawlessly.

Though Quentin had long inherited the family title and was no longer the cautious son seeking approval, he still lacked confidence facing Beatrice.

Besides, he was well-known in Aurestus for being a devoted son. There was no way he’d go against Beatrice’s

14:32 Tue, Jan 13

Chapter 20

wishes.

:

A

677

20 vouchers

He dropped the broom with a heavy sigh. “Mother, look at how Vivian’s acting. If we don’t control her now, she’ll get us all in trouble.”

“Punishment only comes with wrongdoing. There’s no evidence Vivian broke the lantern,” Beatrice said firmly.

Vivian arched an eyebrow, surprised by Beatrice’s support.

Flora stepped forward, took Celia’s hand, and tried to comfort her. “Your grandmother’s right. Maybe it was just an accident.”

Celia’s tears flowed harder. She felt utterly betrayed, wondering why Flora would defend Vivian.

‘Is it because Vivian got Hadley to come? Guess Simon’s the apple of her eye. I’m nothing to her,’ she thought bitterly.

Sylvia’s heart broke for Celia, but she couldn’t comfort her. Her eyes darted, and she schemed up a new plan.

Her shoulders shook as she clutched her chest, looking devastated.

Quentin noticed, asking, “Sylvia, do you know something? Don’t cover for Vivian.”

Sylvia’s voice trembled. “I wouldn’t dare hide anything, my lord. I saw Vivian bring caustic soda before. That stuff can ruin paintings. Could the lantern have been destroyed by contact with it?”

Everyone turned to look at Vivian, thinking, ‘Never expected her to be so ruthless.’

Vivian stayed cool. “Mom, I just went over to take a look. How could I have caustic soda?”

Sylvia rushed over, grabbed Vivian’s sleeve, and shook it. Instantly, a cloud of powder scattered across the ground.

“Explain this if it’s not caustic soda,” Sylvia demanded, her voice trembling with fake anguish.

“Mom, you’re so clever and meticulous, ‘figuring out’ how I supposedly hid caustic soda in my sleeve to ruin the lantern,” Vivian said, dripping with sarcasm.

AD

Comment

Send gift

No Ads

14:32 Tue, Jan 13