The IVF Secret That Shook a Dynasty novel Chapter 163

"It wasn't on purpose," Vivica shot back coolly, her tone unapologetic. "You're not young anymore, yet you still get perms like this. It's bound to get caught on things, especially in the winter."

The comment infuriated Evelyn even more. "So I can't care about my appearance just because I'm old? Let me tell you, it's because you let yourself go and looked like a plain Jane that Fletcher was lured away by some tramp."

Hearing this bizarre logic, Vivica let out a cold, bitter laugh. "It was clearly his fault, so why are you blaming me? I couldn't be happier that someone else decided to take trash like Fletcher off my hands."

"Keep telling yourself that! We'll see what kind of man you can find for your second marriage."

"Why do I have to get married again? Can't I just be a free, single, wealthy woman?"

"You—" Evelyn stared at her daughter, her chest heaving with rage. After a moment of silence, she suddenly said, "Vivica, you've changed. You never used to talk to me like this."

Vivica's face was a mask of indifference. "You all beat me so badly I ended up in the hospital with a fractured spine. Did you expect me to treat you the same way? The fact that I'm even willing to see you is a testament to my filial piety."

"You call this piety?" Evelyn was about to continue her tirade, but Vivica reached out and started closing the bathroom door. "Get out. I need to use the toilet."

Forced to retreat, Evelyn took a few steps back, growing angrier with each passing second. She truly didn't want to be here, but the thought of her husband and son still at the police station, about to be transferred to a detention center, had her on edge.

Inside the bathroom, Vivica sat on the toilet, examining the strand of hair wrapped around her finger. The follicle was intact. Perfect.

She wrapped it carefully in a tissue and tucked it into her pocket. When she came out, Evelyn didn't offer to help her back to bed, and Vivica didn't ask, slowly making her way back on her own.

Evelyn was stewing in her chair. Seeing her daughter manage by herself, she scoffed, "See? You can walk just fine. I knew you were faking it just to see your father and brother go to jail."

Having achieved her goal, Vivica wanted her gone. "Whether I'm faking it or not is for the medical evaluation to decide. If you really don't want to take care of me, I won't force you."

Evelyn shot to her feet, ready to leave. "You said it!"

But after a second's hesitation, she clenched her fists and forced herself to calm down. For her husband and son, she had to endure this.

Evelyn's tone softened abruptly. "Vivica, that's your father and your brother! Can you really be so cruel as to let them go to prison? If word gets out, people will talk behind your back!"

Vivica was unmoved. "I don't care."

Seeing her daughter's finality, Evelyn's expression hardened. "Vivica! I'm your mother, begging you! Don't push it! You'll get what's coming to you for turning your back on family!"

Vivica remained silent.

Evelyn gasped for air, her eyes, sharper than knives, fixed on her daughter's back. Realizing there was no room for negotiation, she stomped her foot, muttering curses as she stormed out of the room.

Vivica lay still, her face calm. But a single tear escaped the corner of her eye, silently soaking into the pillow.

Soon, however, her composure returned, the pain vanishing from her eyes. A family like that wasn't worth her tears.

Once her emotions settled, Vivica took out her phone and sent a message to Quintina.

Quintina called back almost immediately. "What do you mean? You really think they aren't your biological parents?" she asked, shocked.

"Yes. What you said yesterday made me realize it. I want to get a DNA test. If it turns out they are my parents, then I'll just have to accept my bad luck. But if they're not…" Vivica trailed off, unsure of what she would do if that were the case. She was twenty-six years old. If she had other biological parents, why hadn't they looked for her all these years?