The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 464

Judith gasped in horror, unable to hold back any longer. "Vivian! Watch your words! Ms. Gifford is your mother-in-law!"

"I'm well aware she's his mother. If she were anyone else, I wouldn't even bother saying all this."

Vivian met Cynthia's furious glare head-on. "Cynthia, if you want family harmony, it comes from love, not intimidation. When you demand obedience, what exactly are you looking for? Blind submission?"

She continued smoothly, "Have you ever stopped to wonder why Silas would rather stay in the country than live by your side? I imagine... your marriage with his father wasn't exactly a picture of marital bliss, either."

Judith's face went completely white. This was madness.

Vivian had completely lost her mind!

She opened her mouth to intervene, but Cynthia raised a hand, silencing her.

Strangely, Cynthia's expression had settled into a terrifying calm, but it was the kind of calm that preceded a catastrophic hurricane.

"I invite you to stay for a few days, and instead of learning the rules, you decide to play the teacher. What else do you have to say? Get it all out at once."

"I'm done," Vivian said.

She added flatly, "I'm hungry. I want to eat."

After everything she just said, she actually still had the nerve to demand food?

Cynthia let out a chilling laugh. "It seems a night of reflection wasn't enough. Take her to the storeroom! Let her think things through a bit more thoroughly!"

The two bodyguards immediately flanked Vivian. Their tone was somewhat respectful as they said, "Please, Miss."

But if she didn't cooperate, it was clear they were going to use force.

Vivian's head was spinning wildly.

She cast a weary glance at Cynthia, knowing that arguing further was pointless.

To put it bluntly, Cynthia had forced her to move in for the sole purpose of breaking her spirit. This was a calculated power play to cure her 'wildness' and mold her into a submissive, obedient wife who bowed to her in-laws.

Unfortunately for her.

Vivian was incapable of being that kind of woman.

They took her to the storeroom.

To be fair, a wealthy family like the Sterlings kept even their storerooms impeccably organized. But because it was so neatly arranged, there wasn't a single thing to block the bitter draft.

Then, she walked away.

Vivian stared at the door. Weren't they in the middle of a negotiation? Why did she have absolutely zero patience?

She had been about to say that even though Cynthia was in the wrong, she was willing to fake an apology just to get out of this freezing room first.

The hallway outside fell dead silent. Not a single shadow broke the light creeping under the door frame.

They really had left her here alone.

Vivian shivered violently, feeling the last bit of her strength draining away.

Her body temperature kept rising, and she had the terrible, sinking feeling that she was actually going to die in here today.

Silas... could you please have some kind of telepathic connection right now? Your wife is about to be tortured to death by your mother.

—

Meanwhile, after failing to reach Vivian repeatedly, Zoe Hunt had no choice but to call Simon Young.