Three Years Forgotten, Why Go Crazy When I Say Goodbye? novel Chapter 541

She had barely reached the foyer when Susannah Sinclair’s voice stopped her cold. "Vivienne, are you heading out?"

Vivienne’s nerves were already frayed, and the sudden question made her jump. Terrified of looking suspicious, she quickly smoothed her expression. "Yeah, a friend needs my help with something. I'll be back later."

Susannah’s face instantly soured. "A friend? At a time like this? How can any friend be more important than Toby?"

Ever since Vivienne had returned, Toby had developed a fierce, obsessive attachment to her. If she wasn't in the room, he threw massive tantrums, and absolutely no one else could calm him down. Frankly, Vivienne was sick to death of dealing with him.

When Vivienne didn't immediately turn around, Susannah stepped closer, her tone dripping with reprimand. "Vivienne, you need to get your priorities straight. Toby is the most precious thing in the Sinclair family. He is your ultimate safety net, your guarantee of a lifetime of luxury. You stay by his side, you take perfect care of him, and one day, the entire Sinclair empire will answer to you. Isn't that infinitely better than running errands for some random friend?"

Every word was a suffocating reminder that Toby Sinclair was her only lifeline. As long as she clung to him, she would never have to worry about a thing.

Did Vivienne understand that simple logic? Of course she did.

But that entire fantasy hinged on one fatal prerequisite: Toby had to be an actual Sinclair. And she knew the terrifying truth—he wasn't.

The clock was ticking. Before Toby's true bloodline was exposed and the entire empire came crashing down on her head, she had to build her own kingdom. She needed her own leverage, her own capital, and her own unshakeable power. That was the only way she would survive the fallout without being left with nothing and butchered by her enemies.

Ignoring Susannah’s glaring disapproval, she offered no further explanation. "I really have to go." With that, she pushed the door open and walked out.

Seeing Vivienne frozen in the doorway, her face as pale as a ghost, a knowing, sadistic smirk curled Jayden's lips.

Vivienne’s feet felt cemented to the floor. A violent wave of nausea hit her, and her first instinct was to turn around and sprint back to the elevator.

"What? Getting cold feet?" Jayden taunted, stepping into her path, his eyes raking over her body. "You're already here. You're not seriously going to tell me you want to leave now."

He saw right through her pathetic struggle, his voice dripping with absolute authority, cutting off any chance of escape. "Drop the innocent, resistant act. It's boring. Be a good girl, cooperate, and when we're done, I'll give you every single detail of my chat with Smith. Plus, the VIP access codes and the backdoor entry to the Summit. Every last piece."