Her Gilded Revenge For Stolen Fate novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Luna was so furious that she couldn’t get a word out.

She never dreamed that Vivian, who always seemed so quiet and withdrawn, was actually scheming to the core.

Vivian had purposely brought the pregnant Celine to Aurea Manor, claiming she’d brought a witness.

But when Luna tried to expose Vivian’s lies, she ended up being the one to step forward, pulling back Celine’s veil herself, only to reveal a face strikingly similar to Celia’s.

Just picturing Celia’s familiar features on the face of a concubine, someone forced to please men with her looks, was mortifying for Luna.

Luna couldn’t even imagine how much shame and humiliation Celia, so kind and innocent, must be feeling, probably wishing the ground would swallow her up.

‘Vivian is truly vicious,‘ Luna thought.

Luna was so furious she could barely catch her breath, glaring daggers at Vivian, but she just couldn’t get a single word out.

Luna had to admit that she’d been careless and let things get out of hand.

Luna had been way too full of herself, always underestimating Vivian, and now one misstep had led to another.

Vivian ignored Luna completely. She turned to Quentin and said, “Father, I may not be beautiful, but I am still your daughter. Under your guidance, I know propriety and virtue, and I understand honor and shame.

“Even if I were to fall for someone, it would be for a true gentleman, someone upright and honorable, not some despicable liar who keeps concubines before marriage.”

Celia was so furious at Vivian’s sanctimonious speech that she nearly spat blood.

Vivian was waving the Snyder family’s banner, acting like she was raised with all the right values and would never lower herself to secretly promise herself to Charles, especially knowing what kind of scumbag he really was.

If Celia tried to force Vivian to admit she was the one who gave Charles those poetry manuscripts, it would be like dragging Aurea Manor’s reputation through the mud.

Beatrice would never allow that.

Quentin wouldn’t, either.

‘Vivian is truly a master schemer, Celia thought, gritting her teeth so hard that it felt like she might break them.

Her complexion flickered between ashen and flushed with rage, and she wished she could erase Vivian from existence.

Luckily, Celine’s face was almost a mirror of hers.

Everyone just thought Celia’s expression was contorted with rage; no one would ever suspect the true, hidden venom simmering beneath the surface.

As Vivian spoke, she went out of her way to butter Quentin up, showering him with praise.

Quentin, who always saw himself as a scholar, found it hard to keep lecturing Vivian after being flattered like that.

He cleared his throat, then pointed the switch in his hand at Charles, his tone cold as ice. “Spill it. What’s really going on here? If you dare hide even a bit, you’ll answer for it.”

Chapter 59

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The Linden family wasn’t exactly influential, and Charles came from a lesser branch; he’d never even had the chance to rub shoulders with Quentin.

Charles could only guess at Quentin’s character from the few words Sylvia let slip.

Sylvia was always cautious, barely saying anything, and when she did, it was all praise.

So in Charles’s mind, Quentin was a veteran of the political world, a man with thunderous methods and unfathomable authority.

Whatever was running through Charles’s mind scared him so much that his knees were knocking together; he was shaking like a leaf in a storm.

Charles collapsed on the ground, bowing his head before Quentin.

He begged, “Your Grace, please spare me. I know I was wrong. I swear, there’s absolutely nothing going on between Lady Vivian and me.

“I only made a scene because greed got the better of me. I wanted to climb aboard the Aurea Manor ship by marrying Lady Vivian and chasing after all that wealth and glory.

“I’ll never dare dream of it again, please, have mercy and don’t hold it against me.”

Charles pleaded, not holding back at all; the thuds were loud and desperate.

Before long, his voice grew hoarse, sounding wretched and pitiful.

Sylvia only had this one nephew, and she’d watched him grow up since he was little.

He was the Linden family’s precious lifeblood; they cherished him so much. She felt very heartbroken seeing him like this.

Sylvia wanted to go help Charles, but Celia shot her a look that stopped her cold.

Right now, Quentin was clearly out to punish the real culprit. If Sylvia didn’t know when to back off and tried to step in, she’d be asking for trouble.

Quentin might go easy on Charles because of the old favor and their childhood friendship, but he’d definitely end up at odds with Sylvia.

‘Wouldn’t that just be playing right into Vivian’s hands?‘ Celia thought.

Quentin’s jaw clenched, his expression flickering as he forced out a question through gritted teeth. “Who is this Celine?”

Charles croaked out, “Your Grace, Celine used to work for me as a maid.

“She’s gorgeous, soft–spoken, and always so gentle. I liked her, so I kept her close, planning to make her my concubine after I got married.”

Even though Celine looked uncannily like Celia, Charles didn’t dare breathe a word about it.

For one thing, Celine couldn’t stand the thought of the moon in his heart, Celia, being dragged down into the dirt of ordinary life.

For another, he was scared that if he admitted he was just looking for a stand–in, Quentin would totally lose it and things would get way out of hand.

See g Charles collapsing there, his sweat running down his face, Vivian felt the storm of frustration in her chest finally start to clear.

Chapter 59

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She smiled, one side of her face was all grace and beauty, the other twisted and almost monstrous, as she strode over to Charles, step by deliberate step.

Vivian said, “Mr. Linden, you really do have a sharp eye. You just picked a maid at random, and she turned out this stunning; honestly, she could pass for Celia’s real sister more than I ever could.”

Vivian’s voice was gentle, but every word was laced with venom; her remarks hit like daggers, and everyone’s face darkened on the spot.

Celia looked like she was about to snap; her eyes were shot through with red, and she was shaking with rage.

‘How dare she humiliate me like this?‘ Celia thought.

“Vivian, quit twisting the truth. Celia is the true lady of the Snyder family. She has absolutely nothing to do with that disgraceful wench,” Luña shot back.

Vivian took a step back, her face all innocence. “Miss Archer, you must be mistaken. I wasn’t trying to stir anything up, just saying. Celine and Celia really do look alike, and that’s all.

“Come on, the world’s a strange place. Isn’t it pretty normal for two people with zero blood ties to end up looking almost the

same?”

“How dare-” Luna was so angry her vision blurred; she couldn’t even get the rest of her words out.

Luna turned to look at Beatrice and Flora.

‘These two are Celia’s grandmother and mother; surely they wouldn’t just stand by and let a concubine’s daughter act out like this, would they?‘ Luna wondered.

To Luna’s surprise, Beatrice stood there calmly, leaning on her cane, while Flora was casually twirling her beads, looking completely at ease.

Neither of them showed the slightest sign of anger.

Vivian wasn’t surprised at all by how things turned out.

‘What goes around comes around. Punishments never miss their mark, Vivian wondered.

At first glance, it looked like Charles was just chasing after the Snyder family’s riches, hoping to hook up with Lady Vivian.

But in truth, the whole thing was a trap; with Vivian as the real target, every step planned out in advance.

If Vivian hadn’t seen through Charles’s act, hadn’t found Celine before anyone else did, hadn’t stood her ground and cleared her name-

This whole marriage mess would’ve been dumped on her, no questions asked, clinging to her forever; she’d never escape it, no matter what.

And then, a decent girl would’ve been sent straight into a wolf’s lair.

No one could really guarantee Celia’s not mixed up in all this..

Beatrice and Flora couldn’t say a word in her defense; without any proof, all they could do was stand aside, powerless to, help.