My son glanced cautiously at Victor and spoke carefully,"Dad,could it be a mistake?This is against the law.No matter how jealous Mom is of Vivian,she would never do something like this,wouldn't she?"

"The doctor said Vivian had food poisoning.Your mother has been cooking all the meals we’ve had these past few days.If it wasn’t her,then who else could it be?"

"I think she’s just trying to use my concern and anxiety for Vivian to force me into submission so she can negotiate terms with me."

Victor stared at me with a dark expression and raised his hand to command the bodyguards.

"From what I know about her,the antidote must be with her.Search her!"

I opened my mouth to explain but was interrupted by the bodyguards’rough actions.

In front of my son,daughter-in-law and Victor’s brothers,the bodyguards tore my clothes off roughly.

I struggled desperately but could not break free.

Whispers filled my ears.

My clothes were in shambles and I desperately reached out to Victor,crying and begging him to stop.

My coat was torn off,revealing a hideous scar on the back of my shoulder.

Victor was visibly stunned when he saw it.He hesitated for a moment,about to stop the bodyguards.

However,Vivian,who was resting in his arms,suddenly clung to the corner of Victor’s clothes with her fingers and gave a weak warning.

"Ugh…I don't feel well."

With just one sentence,Victor hardened his heart.

"Hurry up and keep searching!"

He gently stroked Vivian’s face."It will be fine soon,Vivian."

The bodyguards received the order and searched with even greater force and no restraint.

When a bodyguard reached for my bra straps,my daughter-in-law spoke weakly.

"Dad,isn’t this a bit inappropriate?After all,Mom is..."

Before she could finish,Victor shot her a look and she immediately fell silent.

At that moment,Vivian slowly opened her eyes.Seeing everything unfolding before her,a hint of triumph flashed in her gaze.

Then she panicked and spoke,"Mr.Holloway,what are you doing?This has nothing to do with your wife..."

"I had black bass for lunch yesterday and completely forgot I’m not supposed to pair it with eggplant.When your wife cooked for us,I specifically asked her to make eggplant for me,so that's why."

"It was simply my mistake.It’s all my fault today.I fainted without saying a word,causing you to wrongly accuse your wife."

When Victor heard this,his hands trembled and he suddenly looked at me lying naked on the ground.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

I collapsed further,tugging at the corners of my lips.

What could I say?Vivian had deliberately set this trap,making sure Victor sided with her,leaving me no way to defend myself.

Victor stood up shakily,took off his suit jacket and draped it over me.

I frowned and dodged,forcing myself to stand.

"No need.I won’t bother you anymore.I’ll leave now."

Seeing my pale yet stubborn face,Victor’s forehead veins throbbed.

He wanted to ask how long I would keep acting so unreasonably.

He wanted to ask what he should do to worry less,to not get angry with me and to stop me from running away over such trivial matters.

But again,Vivian timidly tugged at the corner of Victor’s clothes."Mr.Holloway,I don’t feel well."

Victor quickly stepped back and held Vivian’s hand.

My son and daughter-in-law also came over,asking Vivian about her well-being.

Looking at them,I saw that they really seemed like a close-knit family,while I felt even more like an outsider here.

I turned to leave,but suddenly,my head was spinning.

I had no idea how much time had passed before I opened my eyes and found myself lying in a familiar room.

Victor sat by the bay window,sipping tea and reviewing financial statements.

I tried to sit up,pushing myself upright.The moment I moved,Victor noticed.

He let out a quiet sigh of relief,though his face remained impassive."How are you feeling?Still unwell?"

He walked over as he spoke,"I had someone in the kitchen make porridge.I’ll go serve it for you…"

As he talked,he caught a glimpse of me getting out of bed and rushed over to help.

"You should stay in bed and rest.The doctor said your health is very poor.You need to take care of yourself."

I avoided his touch and staggered toward the living room.

My daughter-in-law was cooking porridge in the kitchen.When she saw me,she invited me in to eat.

My little grandson had just returned from school.Beaming with joy,he rushed toward me like a spinning top.

My heart immediately softened as I crouched down,having difficulty embracing him.

But unexpectedly,he ran right past me,bumping into me just enough to make me stumble and threw himself straight into Vivian’s arms.

"Vivian,you’re so pretty and smell so nice.Not like Grandma…She’s always messy and smells like oil and sweat."

The air in the living room instantly turned heavy.

Victor remained silent for a long time and then gently patted my shoulder."Children are just too innocent.Don’t take it to heart,Elena."

I could only stand frozen.

Watching my grandson cling to Vivian,I looked down at my loose,worn clothes and rough hands.A lump formed in my chest.

Perhaps sensing my downcast mood,Victor pursed his lips and rubbed our grandson’s head.

"Why would you say that to Grandma?Apologize to her."

His tone was not stern,but the boy frowned.

"I’m not apologizing.I didn’t say anything wrong."

He pouted and stomped his feet in anger."You adults are such hypocrites."

"Grandpa,you clearly said Grandma was dirty and smelly and that you didn’t want to sleep in the same room with her."

"You also said she was as fat as a pig,staying at home all day doing nothing,just lazing around.You said she’s not as hard working as Vivian,who still goes to work even though she’s pregnant."

"Grandpa,you obviously agree with me,so why should I apologize?"

My little grandson looked up with a flushed face,speaking with surprising logic and confidence for someone his age.

I was completely stunned upon hearing that.

Looking at my reflection in the kitchen glass,I saw a warped figure in sloppy,rumpled clothes.

For a moment,my mind went blank.I had worked tirelessly for the past thirty years like a servant,a slave.And yet,this was what I got?Slander and contempt from the very people I loved?

"Hello?Who is this?Say something."

Victor’s voice rang out from behind me,snapping me out of my thoughts.

I turned and saw him holding my phone,answering a call.The line was open,but there was only silence on the other end.

Victor frowned and was about to speak when I snatched the phone from his hand.

"Who said you could answer my calls?"

Victor froze in place.

I glanced at the familiar number flashing on my phone and ended the call.

"Who was that?"he asked,his voice tight with restrained anger.

I responded calmly,"Someone you don’t know."

"Then introduce me to him.Elena,don’t forget that you’ve been my wife for thirty years.There shouldn’t be any secrets between us."

"Oh?And what about the secret you kept from me?Dating Vivian for five years behind my back?"

My voice suddenly rose and the living room fell into an awkward,suffocating silence.

My son and daughter-in-law exchanged glances,their eyes darting between us.

Victor rubbed his temples,temporarily at a loss for words.

Just then,my phone lit up again.

I glanced down.It was a text from that person.

[Is it inconvenient for you to answer the phone now?]

I replied with a simple,[Yes.]

A pause followed and then another WhatsApp message popped up.[Should I come to the Holloway Family's residence and pick you up myself?]

A small laugh escaped my lips.[No need.I’ll make my way out.]

Victor noticed the faint smile tugging at my lips.It made him visibly uneasy.

He looked like he was about to ask who I was messaging and why I was smiling so warmly,but before he could speak,Vivian stepped forward.She gently tugged on his sleeve and spoke in a soft,delicate voice.

"Mr.Holloway,it's time for me to go to work.Will you give me and the baby a ride?"

Victor cast a final glance at me for a few seconds,then turned to look at Vivian and smiled softly.

"All right."

As he helped Vivian out the door,he threw a comment over his shoulder as if it were an afterthought."I’ve got business today and tomorrow,so I won’t be coming home."

"While your son and his wife are working,make sure to take care of your grandson.Don’t neglect the housework.I know you’ve been wronged this time.Once I’m done handling things,I’ll come back and spend more time with you."

However,Victor did not return for an entire week.

During weekdays,while my son and daughter-in-law went to work,I took on the task of sending my grandson to school.

After handling all the minor tasks for the day,I picked up my phone and opened Instagram.

My social circle was filled with people who were once the pampered sons and daughters of wealthy families.Now,the young ladies had become distinguished women of status and the young masters had grown into capable men,managing their family fortunes with ease.

My feed was flooded with photos and videos from an auction.

From The Prestige Auction House,to be specific.

There sat Victor,nearing fifty but still full of vitality,legs elegantly crossed,cradling the petite Vivian in his arms.

"Any stuff you like here?"His voice was soft,eyes brimming with tender affection.

Vivian gave a shy smile."Whatever you give me,I'll treasure it."

With a casual wave of his hand,Victor said,"Release the sky lanterns.Book the entire venue."

Amid the cheers and applause,Victor and Vivian embraced and kissed,surrounded by gasps of admiration and envy.

The scene sent a wave of fascination through Victor’s many admirers.Even my daughter-in-law could not resist whispering to my son at home.

"Wow,your dad is so charming.Vivian must really be his true love.I’m so jealous of her."

Vivian went wild on social media,posting ten affectionate photos of her and Victor on her Instagram.

Whether out of reluctance or his own desire,Victor followed up with a post of his own.

The picture showed two hands tightly intertwined and on Vivian’s finger gleamed the final piece of the auction,a dazzling diamond ring.

The caption written below was,[With her.]