Three Years Forgotten, Why Go Crazy When I Say Goodbye? novel Chapter 56

Susannah handed the trembling puppy over to Toby. "Be a good boy and go play in the corner." Toby grabbed the dog roughly and ran off, entirely thrilled. This new puppy looked disturbingly identical to Willow's beloved Cooper. From the shade of its fur to the color of its eyes, right down to the specific birthmark on its belly, it was a flawless carbon copy. Even Vivienne was taken aback. "Mom, how on earth did you find a dog that looks exactly like hers?" Susannah scoffed dismissively. "With enough money, there isn't a problem in the world you can't solve. Honestly, you and Julian need to step up. You couldn't even fulfill one tiny request for your own child." She was referring to the time Julian had demanded Willow hand over Cooper, only to be rejected. Toby had thrown several massive tantrums over it, but Julian hadn't forced the issue, and Vivienne hadn't dared to act on her own. The moment Susannah heard about her precious grandson being denied, she instantly bought a replica. "It's just an animal. If the boy wants one, he can have a hundred. He can do whatever he wants, however he wants to do it. A child of the Sinclair family is born to be at the top of the food chain. His life is meant for enjoyment, not following rules." Julian walked into the living room just then. He glanced at the puppy in Toby's arms but didn't say a word about it, merely telling his son to eat dinner before playing. Seeing Julian's total indifference, Vivienne let out a breath of relief. She wrapped her arms around Susannah's waist, leaning into her like a devoted daughter. "You are the absolute best. I wouldn't know what to do without you." Susannah ate up the flattery, patting Vivienne's shoulder affectionately. "You grew up under my roof. You are no different from my own flesh and blood. Of course I'm going to spoil you. Even though the truth about you and Julian shocked me at first, you're still my child. I will always take your side. Besides, with Julian's medical condition, it's a miracle you managed to conceive at all. Giving us Toby and securing the Sinclair bloodline was the greatest gift you could have ever given this family." At the mention of the pregnancy, Vivienne's spine went rigidly stiff. Mistaking her reaction for lingering grievance, Susannah quickly offered more comfort. "I know playing the role of the adopted sister is hard on you right now, but look at the life you're living. You have Julian, you have Toby, and you hold all the power. You are infinitely better off than that pathetic Willow. Just be patient. Once that miserable old woman finally kicks the bucket, we'll rearrange everything. You'll be able to marry Julian publicly and take your rightful place." Vivienne swallowed the flash of panic that had gripped her chest and forced a sickeningly sweet smile. "Thank you, Mom. I love you so much." Some dark secrets needed to stay buried forever. After dinner, Susannah and Zachary lingered for a while before finally preparing to leave. Vivienne dragged Toby to the front door to say goodbye. The boy was still clutching the puppy. In just a few short hours, the dog was completely unrecognizable. It was trembling violently, its eyes glassy and unfocused, and clumps of its fur had been ripped out. Yet, not a single adult in the grand foyer batted an eye. It was as if the suffering creature simply didn't exist. Before stepping out the door, Susannah beamed at Toby. "Whatever you want, darling, just tell Nana. I'll always give it to you." That same evening, back in Willow's quiet apartment, Cooper suddenly began barking uncontrollably. He paced frantically, gnawing destructively on nearby clothes, overwhelmed by an intense, terrifying bout of anxiety. Willow was deeply alarmed. Ever since she had brought Cooper home, he had occasionally whined from a lack of security, but he had never acted this violently frantic.