Year Five The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 281

Lola remained on guard around Vianne.

Letting Vianne back into the house didn’t mean her wariness had vanished; if anything, she’d only built her walls higher.

Seeing that her mother saw through everything, Silvia finally let herself relax, just a little.

After chatting with her mother for a while, Silvia left the bedroom.

Not wanting to see Vianne, Lola used the excuse of “not feeling well” to stay in her room, making no move to come out.

Meanwhile, Vianne had picked out a new room for herself.

As she stepped out into the hallway, she immediately spotted Silvia coming down the stairs from the second floor. Vianne flashed her a bright, easy smile.

“Silvia, how’s Mom doing? Do you want me to go up and stay with her for a bit?”

She spoke so naturally, as if they were real sisters.

Sometimes Silvia couldn’t help but marvel at Vianne’s shamelessness. She honestly couldn’t think of anyone else who could act so brazenly, as if nothing had ever happened.

“That won’t be necessary.” Silvia’s lips curled into a slight, cold smile as she looked at Vianne.

She took her time descending the stairs, each step deliberate, until she stood in front of Vianne. Silvia was taller than Vianne, and with her heels on, she seemed to tower over her, exuding a commanding presence.

Meeting Silvia’s gaze, Vianne’s eyes narrowed just a fraction. She quickly composed herself, keeping her smile in place. “What is it, Silvia? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Ever since Shipley had been rushed to the hospital, Vianne had changed. She no longer appeared hysterical or unstable. Now, she seemed much more composed, her emotions carefully hidden—something Silvia rarely managed to see through.

Silvia pressed her lips together, regarding Vianne with icy calm.

Suddenly, the front door burst open and Finn strode in, clearly in a rush.

He’d only just left a meeting at work when he saw the message in the family group chat: Vianne was back—again.

Remembering everything that had happened before, Finn felt a chill run down his spine.

He looked at Vianne, annoyance creasing his brow. His voice was icy. “What are you doing here?”

Their suspicion was written all over their faces.

Vianne met Finn’s eyes, her expression tinged with bitterness as she forced a smile. “Finn, I just wanted to come home again. Why is that so hard for all of you to accept? After all, I grew up in the Ashford family—I’ve always seen myself as a part of it.”

“If you really felt that way, you wouldn’t have… wouldn’t have done what you did!”