Chapter 99


    Coral and Gabriel''s apologies didn''t seem to move Vivienne at all. Her face remained expressionless.


    But when it came to Jan, she finally spoke up. "Regarding the incidentst time, you called me in for


    an investigation following all legal procedures, without any evidence or arrest warrant. That''s by the


    book, and you''re a straight shooter. Therefore, after your suspension, I didn''t do anything inappropriate


    to the Lockwood family.”


    Jan twitched his lips. She might not have done anything, but her fiancé sure did.


    The Lockwood family''s business had taken a major hitst time, but that was just a lesson from


    Percival. This time, Percival wasn''t leaving them any room for survival. He was clearly aiming for the


    Lockwoods to go bankrupt.


    But Jan didn''t voice out these thoughts. They were here to apologize, not to use them.


    Vivienne subtly raised her eyes as her delicate fingers tucked a stray hair behind her ear. Slowly, she


    asked, "Jan, do you remember how you got to where you are now?"


    Jan stiffened. He stared at Vivienne in shock, unable to find the words to respond.


    Of course, he remembered.


    The Lockwood family''s current status wasn''t entirely due to their parents'' efforts, and his own


    promotions weren''t entirely due to his own merit. The Lockwoods had been given a leg up.


    They didn''t know who their benefactor was. After helping the Lockwoods reach their current status, the


    benefactor only advised them not to misuse their power to oppress ordinary people. They were taught


    to do good deeds and to make good karma. If the Lockwoods did wrong, everything they now had


    would be taken back.


    Jan, Brandon, and Mrs. Lockwood were all shocked by Vivienne''s words.


    After a long silence, Brandon managed to find the strength to say a few words as his whole body


    shook. "Ms. Vivienne, are you…”


    Vivienne didn''t answer him, but instead pulled out a ring from her pocket and put it on.


    Upon seeing the ring, Brandon nearly copsed to his knees. Vivienne gave him a nce, and he


    managed to steady himself.


    "Nine... "


    He didn''t get to finish his sentence when he suddenly realized something and quickly closed his mouth.


    Vivienne cast him a cold look and said impassively, "I hope this is thest time."


    "Yes, yes, we understand. There won''t be a next time." Brandon’s throat was so dry that he didn’t know


    how he was still talking.


    "Take your daughter and leave." Vivienne said indifferently.


    Brandon didn''t dare linger and quickly left with Coral.


    After they left, Percival stared at Vivienne for a long time, and then his gaze fell on the hand from which


    she''d just removed the ring.


    He had seen that ring once before, but the one he''d seen was slightly different from the one on


    Vivienne''s hand. Without a closer look, the difference was not noticeable.


    He didn''t know why Vivienne had that ring, but he knew that it represented a kind of power, a power


    greater than the one he''d been nurturing covertly.


    Who exactly was Vivienne?


    Vivienne was oblivious to his thoughts. She nced at the students who were panicking because of the


    principal''s punishment, and her gaze eventuallynded on Arabe. Without saying a word, she turned


    and left.


    After Vivienne left, the students who wanted to defend Arabe looked at each other.


    The scene just now reminded them of their previous suspicions about Vivienne''s fake academic


    qualifications and how they were refuted.


    And the cause of all that was Arabe.


    For a moment, everyone started to doubt Arabe.


    After seeing their expressions, Arabe knew what was about to happen.


    Luckily, her phone rang at that moment. It was Beatrice.


    She quickly answered the call. "Grandma, I just saw the news. How are you? I''lle to see you right


    now."


    After hanging up and asking for leave from her teacher, she rushed to the hospital.


    At the hospital.


    Arabe hurried to Beatrice''s ward and was surprised to see her seldom-returning aunt, Iris, there.


    She paused for a moment and then smiled. "Aunt Iris, you''re back?"


    Iris gave her a nce and simply said, "Yes."


    Arabe was slightly taken aback. She was feeling annoyed. Iris was always cold to her. She treated


    her as if she owed her a lot of money.


    She decided to ignore Iris and turned to Beatrice, only to find that Beatrice and Michael were both


    looking at her.


    Beatrice looked kind, but there was a shadow in her eyes. She beckoned Arabe. "Arabe,e


    here. Grandma has something to tell you.


    I want you toe clean and tell the truth about the incident of Vivienne stealing your credit on


    Twitter."


    Arabe''s heart sank. "I understand, Grandma."


    Cloudcrest High School.


    Arabe''s apology and rification on Twitter had just been posted when Vivienne saw it.


    Arabe recorded a video admitting that it was Vivienne who cured Faye Churchill and that she didn''t


    steal her credit.


    She confessed that she ndered Vivienne out of jealousy and sincerely apologized to Vivienne,


    asking for her forgiveness.


    But theizens'' attitude didn''t change.


    Even though Arabe rified the situation, she was crying in the video, looking very pitiful as if she


    herself was the wronged one.


    Thements under the video all expressed disbelief. They thought Arabe must have been


    pressured to post such a video.


    For a while, the inte was going off on Vivienne.


    Vivienne gave a coldugh. Arabe''s reluctance to post that video had silently shifted public opinion


    against her.


    She was still ying mind games with her at this point?


    Interesting!


    At that moment, Vivienne''s phone rang. It was from an unknown number. She frowned slightly and


    picked it up.


    "Vivienne." A gentle voice came from the phone. "It''s Iris. Do you remember me?"


    "Iris." Vivienne paused and suddenly felt a softness in her heart. A gentle face appeared in her mind.


    How could Vivienne forget her? During her childhood in the Hawthorn family, apart from Dorian, only


    Aunt Iris was kind and gentle to her. She yed with her, bought her delicious food, and told her


    stories.


    In the Hawthorn Mansion, Iris upied half of Vivienne''s few happy memories.


    Vivienne had only heard that Iris had moved to Ozoria with her husband. She didn''t expect her toe


    back so suddenly.


    "It''s me. Do you remember me?" Iris''s voice became even softer. "I''ve been missing you all these


    years. I''m so d Dorian found you, Vivienne... Can I see you?"


    Vivienne was silent for a while. "Sure."


    Vivienne thought her heart had be as hard as iron over the past ten years, but she was still


    moved by people like Cordelia and Iris who truly cared for her.


    "I also want to see Thaddeus." Iris''s voice was full of anticipation. "Shall we take him to the amusement


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    park after school?"


    "Sure." Vivienne agreed.