Chapter 380


    Everyone looked up as Vivienne walked in, her pace slow and measured. d in a in tee and jeans,


    the simplicity of her attire was offset by the icy expression that seemed permanently etched onto her


    delicate features.


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


    K watched her, emotions churning within her.


    After a moment, she spoke up, "No need. I''ll handle it myself."


    She was at a loss for how to treat Vivienne now.


    After all, it was not Vivienne who had affected her work, but there was an undeniable difort


    whenever she saw Vivienne.


    Did she me Vivienne?


    No.


    After all, her grandmother had genuinelymitted murder, and not just once, but tenfold.


    For twenty years, the families of the victims had been deprived of the truth.


    Her grandmother''s fate was deserved.


    She just could not face Vivienne.


    It seemed ever since Vivienne’s return, everyone she was close to had changed.


    Vivienne approached her, her face serious. "Judith''s death was a consequence of her actions. If she


    hadn''t resisted arrest, she wouldn''t have been shot in front of you. And the media exposure you faced


    wasn''t my doing. I covered your penalty fees as a gesture of goodwill. You were the only one who


    treated me with genuine kindness after I joined the Brooks family."


    When the Brooks first took her in, everyone had been considerate, but there was always an ulterior


    motive.


    Only K had been genuinely kind to her.


    That was just how Vivienne was unable to ignore those who were sincerely kind to her.


    Even though this incident was somewhat rted to her, she was not responsible for the oue.


    She could assist K, but she would never me herself for what had happened!


    K stared at Vivienne, unsure of what to say.


    Ever since Vivienne hade back, she had been a woman of few words, never using two where one


    would suffice. But today, she had spoken at length.


    Without another word, Vivienne walked over to Baron and stated tly, "Baron, I''m here to pack up. I


    won''t be staying at the Brooks household any longer."


    Baron scoffed, "What, you think you can just bail when the going gets tough? I''m not dead yet. Even in


    hard times, I wouldn''t let my granddaughter fend for herself."


    He sighed, his tone softening, "This isn''t on you. Even if it weren''t you and Percival, I wouldn''t have


    spared her. This case... Richard and I have been investigating it in the shadows for years. If we had


    discovered the truth sooner, perhaps the Brooks family wouldn''t have ended up like this."


    Vivienne raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.


    "Stay put, and don''t worry about anything else," Baron said with finality. "We''re discussing the future of


    the Brooks family. You should listen in. You''re nearly twenty. It''s time you learned about thepany."


    Vivienne smirked, "I don''t mind where I stay as long as you all are willing to have me."


    Baron red at her. "Do you think I raised fools?"


    With that, he nced over at Timothy and the others.


    Timothy and his peers wore embarrassed expressions. It was not that they med Vivienne; it was just


    hard to ept what had happened right before their eyes.


    But now, Timothy wasing to terms with it.


    After all, the olddy had ten lives on her conscience, and she could not escape death in the end.


    What Vivienne and Percival had done merely brought everything to light.


    Baron''s gaze then fell on Scott, who remained silent with a stern face.


    Vivienne did not say more and took the seat next to K.


    Baron continued, "K, now that Vivienne has paid the penalty fee, it''s up to you whether you want to


    stay in show business."


    They did not question how Vivienne hade into so much money. After all, Karen''s daughter could


    not be doing too badly, especially with that ck card filled with funds, and with the backing of the


    Ellington family, a penalty fee was nothing to them.


    K nodded. "Alright."


    Then, Baron went on to delegate tasks and finally got to the crux of the matter. "Since Judith was one


    of our own and made a mistake, we can''t shirk responsibility. I''ll issue an apology and provide


    venturing into robotics, and Griffin will join our team. Everyone needs to y their part so the Brooks


    family can recover our losses as swiftly as possible."


    Vivienne was intrigued. She had assumed Scott would be the one to turn things around, not Baron.


    Baron, who often seemed under the thumb of Richard and was frequently in the sanatorium, had


    appeared less capable to her.


    But now, Baron was orchestrating aeback with new projects and had even managed to recruit


    Griffin, which was quite unexpected.


    Griffin, from the ancient warrior lineage? Were the Rivenwood families not reluctant to deal with those


    from such backgrounds?


    "That''s all. I''m tired and need to rest," Baron said, heading upstairs.


    Timothy and the others busied themselves with Baron''s orders.


    K was whisked away by her agent''s call.


    Soon, the grand hall was left with just Scott and Vivienne.


    Scott lifted his gaze to Vivienne and said in a deep voice, "Come upstairs with me. We need to talk."


    Vivienne shed a mischievous smile. "Perfect! I''ve been wanting to have a chat with you as well."


    After a brief nce at her, Scott turned and ascended the staircase.


    In the room, Vivienne sauntered over to a chair and slumped down with a roguish air. "So, what''s on


    your mind?"


    Scott just looked at her, staying silent for a moment.


    After a heavy pause, he finally spoke, his voice slow and deliberate, "Have your foster parents been by


    the Brooks Mansiontely?"


    "Missing them, are you?" Vivienne chuckled.


    "They are guests, after all. It''s been a while, so I thought I''d ask," Scott tried to soften his tone.


    Vivienne''s hand rested on the armrest, tapping rhythmically as her smile widened, "Now, are you


    referring to Rowan and Ismene, who''ve been masquerading as my foster parents, or my actual foster


    parents?"


    "What?" Scott was taken aback, a sharp glint in his eyes.


    "Mr. Brooks, are you still in the dark? The two at the Brooks Mansion, they''re fakes," Vivienne


    continued to smile, a chilling sort of grin.


    Before Scott could respond, Vivienne slowly added, "No, that''s not right! I shouldn''t call you Mr. Brooks.


    ''Mr. B'' is more fitting, isn''t it? Your people have been staying at the Brooks Mansion for days. Don''t you


    know where they''ve gone?"


    At her words, Scott was shocked. "You!"


    How had she found out?


    He had always been so careful in his disguise!


    Vivienne shook her head, pondering for a moment before continuing, "Actually, ''Mr. B'' isn''t quite right


    either. Maybe ''Mr. B''s double'' would be more urate, wouldn''t it?"