Her Gilded Revenge For Stolen Fate novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39

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Matthew was completely disappointed in Flora. To him, she was foolish and gullible, the kind of “nice” person who was easy for someone like Vivian to manipulate.

If only she were a bit smarter,‘ Matthew thought bitterly, ‘if only she didn’t always take Vivian’s side against her own family, maybe Father wouldn’t have humiliated me in front of everyone!

Matthew’s face was pale as he looked at Flora, her eyes red and swollen with tears. His patience had run thin.

Beside him, Celia wasn’t faring much better. She was barely holding herself together. If not for sheer stubbornness, she might have stumbled when she heard Flora confirm the book was real.

Only now did Celia realize that Vivian had tricked her. Vivian had burned that poetry on purpose cleaning maid saw it. Vivian did all to set her up.

and made sure the

‘I was careless. I gave her too much time, Celia thought. Even if she could get the manual back now, she wouldn’t get anything useful in it. Her eyelashes fluttered, casting shadows over her downcast gaze.

“Since the manual is safe and hasn’t been damaged,” Celia said, forcing herself to sound calm, “maybe we should focus on what kind of thank–you gift to prepare for Aunt Daphne.”

Celia knew she’d already lost this round. Pushing it further would only embarrass Quentin and make him angrier at her.

But Vivian wasn’t about to let things slide. She smiled gently, “Celia’s right. Instead of wasting energy on rumors, let’s do something useful. But…”

“But what?” Beatrice asked.

“There is something wrong with the maids in Maple Yard,” Vivian said plainly. “They’ve been watching me, spreading lies, and even involving Simon in their gossip.”

Over the past few years, Simon had been sick constantly. Flora had barely slept, nursing him day and night with tears in her eyes. Her own health had worsened, old illnesses flaring up until she no longer had the strength to manage the household.

Behind the scenes, Sylvia had quietly taken over. Officially, Sylvia was just a concubine. But because she handled the family’s money, she held real power in Aurea Manor. Life in Emerald Garden had been comfortable for her for a long time.

Beatrice’s expression grew stern as sh

with her?”

turned to Sylvia. “Sylvia, Vivian is your own daughter. How could you be so careless

Panic surged in Sylvia’s chest. Guilt washed over her face. “Lady Beatrice, it’s my fault. I didn’t realize those sly servants were. up to something. They tricked me.

THE

“Vivian is my only daughter. I’d never let anything happen to her. I’ll go discipline them right away.”

Whether Beatrice believed her or not, Sylvia had to keep explaining. She’d been managing the household for years and reaped plenty of benefits from it. If Flora took charge again, a mess would follow.

“Mom, just scolding them won’t change anything,” Vivian said slowly, drawing out her words.

Sylvia blinked, caught off guard. She asked, “Then what do you think we should do, Vivian?”

“Let’s replace them,” Vivian replied simply. “I’ll pick a few new ones myself, ones who know how to keep their mouths shut and do their jobs.”

Sylvia was far from willing. Every first- and second–class maid around Vivian had been carefully chosen or personally placed by her. She’d spent years scheming and pulling strings to arrange them.

Chapter 39

If she had to replace them all now, all her planning would go to waste.

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Vivian didn’t argue. Instead, she glanced toward Beatrice and tilted her head slightly, letting everyone see the faint scar on her left cheek. She was gorgeous, with delicate features and bright eyes. Her skin was glowing, but that scar stood out, marring her beauty.

That mark was left because Sylvia had shielded Celia. Even the expensive Violet Balm Flora bought had been wasted by Sylvia’s sister–in–law.

It turned out Sylvia’s neglect of Vivian wasn’t a one–time thing. It was just how she usually treated her.

Beatrice’s heart ached for Vivian. She didn’t think Sylvia meant to do it on purpose. But even if it was carelessness, Sylvia should make it up to Vivian, not just give the servants a slap on the wrist.

Beatrice thought, ‘Some people just have no shame. The nicer you are, the more they walk all over you.‘ She wasn’t going to let Vivian be pushed around anymore. “Go ahead and pick whoever you want, Vivian,” she declared. “I’ll approve your choices.”

Her words hit Sylvia like a slap. Sylvia had no ground to stand on, so she stayed quiet and shot a pleading look at Quentin.

Quentin just turned away. He wasn’t about to risk making Beatrice angry. If she accused him of being disrespectful, changing a few servants would be the least of his problems.

Vivian gave a quiet, cold laugh inside.

In her previous life, the moment she was let out of the basement, Sylvia had started scheming to marry her off.

Sylvia spread the rumor that Vivian had tried to seduce Xavier, saying her reputation was already ruined and her scarred face made her unmarriageable.

She kept putting Vivian down and holding her back, until finally she forced her into an engagement with her own nephew, Charles.

Sylvia’s father, Bennett, held a minor post. And Sylvia was the daughter of a concubine, and so was her brother. Her nephew had earned a scholar’s title, but he was mediocre. Climbing any higher would be next to impossible.

Sylvia had picked a man who was all show and no substance, just to finish Vivian off, to siphon away the last of her Fortune and feed it to Celia instead.

Vivian had refused the match. She wanted no part of it. But then the maids from Maple Yard “found” a stack of old poetry and swore they were love letters from Charles, claiming the two had been secretly involved for ages.

In Aurea Manor, Vivian was already branded the girl who’d failed to seduce Xavier; she was a loose, fickle woman whose word meant nothing. In the end, she was forced to accept the engagement to Charles.

And Charles lived up to all of Sylvia’s hopes. He took one look at the elegant, beautiful Celia and was smitten. He did whatever Celia asked without a second thought. Celia had told him to cut out Vivian’s heart, and he did.

Those memories were a nightmare Vivian never wanted to revisit. But here and now, she finally had a chance. There was no way she was letting Sylvia’s spies stay in Maple Yard a moment longer.

“Thank you, Grandmother,” Vivian said, her smile bright and full of the lively energy of youth.

Beatrice looked at Vivian for a long moment, genuinely pleased.

As the group began to leave Maple Yard, Sylvia deliberately hung back.

Facing the courtyard gate, she glanced at Matthew, who was still stumbling away in pain, and then murmured softly so only Vivian could hear, “Vivian, push too hard and you’ll break.

Chapter 39

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“Just because you think you’re right doesn’t mean you can throw your weight around. Matthew is your brother, the future Duke of Aurea. If you embarrass him now, you’ll pay for it a hundred times over later.”

Her voice was thick with warning. Sylvia wished Vivian would just behave, like a well–trained dog, obedient to its master, instead of being so stubborn.

“Mom,” Vivian replied, her smile calm and unshaken. “I think you’ve misunderstood.”

Sylvia paused and looked back at her.

Vivian said meaningfully, “Matthew didn’t lose face because of me. He did it to himself. If he hadn’t tried to throw me under the bus in front of everyone, ignoring right and wrong, Father wouldn’t have exploded at him. Honestly, he brought this on himself.

“If you walk a straight path, being tough isn’t a problem. But if you don’t, that’s when the bill comes due. Again and again.”

The air was chilly. A gust of wind swept through, tossing Vivian’s hair. The strands fell perfectly, hiding the scar on her left cheek. The right side of her face, now exposed, was so stunning that it stole Sylvia’s breath.

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