Chapter 564
Vivienne cradled her mug of steaming coffee, the vaporous tendrils partially veiling her eyes, adding a
touch of mystery to her gaze.
Diana''s message to Vivienne was crystal clear: "Remember your ce. You''re nothing more than an
adopted granddaughter, not even by blood. Don''t get toofortable thinking you''re one of us."
She was staking her im as the Perez family''s one and only darling daughter, warning Vivienne to
stay in herne.
How ironic. Who was really trying to prove they belong?
Vivienne chuckled. "I''ve never been one to hold back around Grandpa. You needn''t worry on my
behalf."
Diana let out a few forcedughs, sipping her coffee to mask her insecurity.
This Vivienne, she was certainly not one to mince words!
When Zelda and Percival arrived, the dinner table buzzed with their lively conversation. Diana, often
finding herself on the periphery, could only offer a strained smile.
The meal passed with her in rtive silence.
When it came time to settle the bill, Percival, the only gentleman present, had already discreetly taken
care of it. It would not do to have thedies pay.
Diana, pleased but pretending to chide, said, "I said this one was on me. Next time, you mustn''t sneak
ahead of me."
Zelda rolled her eyes in private disdain. She could not stand Diana''s pettiness.
A meal''s cost was hardly worth remembering, was it not?
With the evening advancing, Zelda and Diana bid farewell to Vivienne and Percival.
Owned by N?velDrama.Org.
On the drive back, Percival mentioned, "Leopold''s headed to Sea City to take over for Thomas. He''s
already on his way."
Vivienne acknowledged with a nonchnt, "Expected."
Percival, hands on the wheel, was still puzzling over Vance''s agenda. What was he really after?
It was a matter of the mission, and neither Leopold nor Percival would discuss it openly.
Vivienne shifted to a morefortable position, musing, "Vance sending Leopold to assist Griffin...
Could it be rted to the ancient warrior lineage?"
"Maybe?"
Vivienne peered out the window. The recent events wereplex, but undeniably, everything seemed
to revolve around this ancient warrior lineage. Just how deep did the waters of this enigmatic, vast
organization run?
As Percival pulled up to Vivienne''s ce, headlights shed from the opposite direction—a car she
recognized as Maddox''s.
Vivienne and Percival exchanged a surprised nce, neither expecting Maddox to show up there.
Vivienne approached the car, "Uncle, what brings you here?"
Maddox opened the door. "Get in. We need to talk."
Percival, sensing the seriousness, drove off after watching Vivienne join Maddox.
Maddox drove them to a posh, unfamiliar vi neighborhood, searching for a bit before finding the
ce.
"Uncle, where are we?" Vivienne inquired.
"Just an old property I bought. Got a bit lost finding it. Dad never wanted to live in such a ce, so we
let it go to waste. Ah, but I remember the house number and the code," Maddox said as he unlocked
the door. "Come on in."
The house clearly had been vacant for a while, with furniture covered in dust sheets.
"Make yourself at home. The ce gets cleaned asionally, but there''s nothing in the fridge. Maybe I
should''ve brought a case of Coke," Maddox sighed with disdain and regret.
Vivienne was not bothered. "What''s up, Uncle? What did you need to see me about?"
Maddox settled in before speaking, "Vivienne, you''re aware of the paternity test you took with Grandpa,
right?"
She paused, then said, "Yes, I know. There was no gic match."
Maddox rubbed his palms together. "There was a problem with that test. Someone tampered with it, but
I haven''t found evidence yet. So today, your Uncle Yuri took another sample for testing."
Vivienne''s eyes lifted. "And the results?"
"No match again. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here." Maddox''s brows were furrowed, clearly not
convinced by the oue.
Vivienne nodded, her expression unchanged.
Her genes had been altered long ago, and only one person could match her DNA—Scott Brooks.
Even if she were Jasper''s flesh and blood, they could not detect it.
"But Vivienne, I don''t ept this result. I''ve got people investigating the testing center and the doctor
involved. There''s something wrong here," Maddox stated.
Hearing his determination, Vivienne asked, "Why are you so convinced the test result is fake?"
Maddox looked at her with unwavering certainty. "I believe you are my real niece, my sister''s daughter."
Vivienne felt a rare surge of kinship, a steadfastness she seldom experienced. She was touched by
how firmly Maddox believed she was one of the Perezes.
"Thank you."
Vivienne smiled. "There''s no need, Uncle. The truth is already out."
Maddox was perplexed. How could it be out already?
Vivienne retrieved her phone, showing him the paternity results she had conducted herself. "You are
my uncle."
Maddox took the phone, scrutinizing the conclusive result.
He stared for a long while, so long that Vivienne''s phone screen dimmed several times over. Co?tent of
Dr?м??ovеls.cоm
Although Maddox had always believed deep down that Vivienne was his biological niece, the stark
reality before his eyes was still astounding.
"Uncle Maddox, your eyes aren''t deceiving you. This paternity test is real," Vivienne said, her voice
tinged with emotion.
But with Jasper''s illness yesterday and Maddox''s unwavering support today, she no longer wanted to
keep secrets.
She had simply wanted to find out who in the Perez family had tampered with the paternity test, and
things were bing clearer now.
Maddox clutched Vivienne''s cell phone in one hand while the other covered his eyes, a choked sob
escaping him.
Tears welled up in Vivienne''s eyes, too, spilling over and trailing down her cheeks.