The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 457

Vivian had known all along that Cynthia was going to make things difficult, so she took it completely in stride. "I have no idea what your endgame is, but you're my elder. I'll follow whatever arrangements you make."

Cynthia looked at her unbothered expression and smiled coldly. "You're very clever."

"I'm not clever. If I were truly clever, I wouldn't have come."

"Are you afraid of me?"

"It's not fear."

Vivian’s slender finger swiped across the top of a cabinet, picking up a faint layer of dust. She rubbed her fingertips together and said, "I want to maintain a good relationship with Silas. No matter what, I shouldn't be fighting with his mother."

Cynthia scoffed. "Then why did you come?"

"If I hadn't, would you have just let it go?"

She wouldn't have.

Vivian had overheard her phone calls to Silas.

She sighed inwardly, turned to face Cynthia, and offered a respectful bow. "Mom, we aren't enemies. I hope that spending these next few days together will help us let go of our prejudices against each other."

The words were impeccably polite, leaving absolutely no room for criticism.

Cynthia gave a soft humph and called out toward the hallway, "Jade, show her around."

A middle-aged woman in professional attire walked in. She looked about the same age as Cynthia and maintained a deeply respectful demeanor, operating exactly like a professional housekeeper.

"Miss Fairchild, this way please."

Vivian nodded and followed her out.

The moment she left, Cynthia immediately pulled out her phone and returned the missed call from earlier.

"What's this? You dropped her off five minutes ago and you're already calling? Terrified I'm going to bully your wife?"

"Mom."

Silas's voice was laced with helplessness.

It was no secret that he had a strained relationship with his mother. However, children raised in their echelon of society ultimately retained a fundamental sense of filial duty deep in their bones.

"Don't 'Mom' me. Have you forgotten what I told you? If your wife has zero understanding of the rules, I will personally teach her how to be a proper wife!"

In other words, anyone could be the young mistress of the Sterling family.

But that person had to either come from a vastly powerful background or possess extraordinary personal merits.

She couldn't lack both.

Silas's car was still idling at the estate entrance. From his vantage point, he could just barely see Jade giving Vivian a tour of the gardens. She looked quiet, refined, and receptive to instruction.

The corners of Silas's mouth curved upward as he withdrew his gaze.

"Alright. Whatever you say goes. My wife is a very obedient person, so, Mother..."

His deep voice echoed softly. "I'll leave her in your care."

He hung up.

On the other end of the line, Cynthia stared at her phone, her breathing halting for a split second.

Leave her in her care?