Chapter 781


    Asher quirked an eyebrow. His voice always softened when he spoke to beautiful women.


    "Madeline, you sure have a way with words that Gavincks. But my mind''s made up. Tell Gavin to


    get his act together. Don''t worry about me. I''m not after any secret recipe. Truth be told, I''ve got a


    bone to pick with Vivienne. This time, I''m going after her!"


    Sophie sashayed into the room. "Dad, just say yes. Mr. Grimshaw wants to lend a hand. With the


    Ellingtons backing Vivienne, it wouldn''t hurt to have more muscle on our side, right?"


    She ced a te of pastries in front of Asher, her eyes shy and flirty. "Mr. Grimshaw, I made these


    treats myself. They''re best enjoyed with a cup of coffee. Please, have a taste."


    Asher''s gaze lingered briefly on Sophie''s face, clearly seeing through her maniptions and


    seduction.


    His lips curved into a subtle smirk, casting a meaningful nce at the frowning Gavin as he picked


    a pastry. "Not bad at all. Gavin, your wife is thoughtful, and your daughter has skills. You''re one


    lucky guy."


    Gavin managed a forced smile. "You''re ttering me. Please, eat as much as you''d like."


    His eyes darkened as they swept over Sophie and Madeline. "Since you''re so set on going, I''ll


    round up some extra men. Once we''ve got Vivienne, you can do as you please with her."


    ...


    In the quiet suburb of Rivenwood, Vivienne had notified Gavin of the new meeting time, considering


    they still had a court session to attend.


    In a secluded forest stood a dpidated factory, where Vivienne, d in ck leather, her hair pulled


    into a high ponytail, stood guard beside Kaitlyn like the most devoted bodyguard, nked by ten


    young men in ck hoodies, each exuding a chilling aura that made Asher and his crew hesitate for


    a moment upon entering.


    Asher''s pride was wounded, and his face darkened as he locked his venomous gaze on Vivienne,


    never wavering.


    Vivienne, oblivious to the tension, looked past Asher to Gavin, her voice icy, "Gavin, did you bring


    it?"


    Gavin''s face was stone cold. "I should be asking you that, Ms. Hawthorn. Where''s the secret


    recipe?"


    Vivienne lightly shook the wooden box in Kaitlyn''s hands, drawing everyone''s attention.


    Her lips curled into a taunting smile. "Where''s my item?"


    Asher, annoyed by Vivienne''s youthful yet unppable demeanor, scoffed and gestured. Then a


    man approached carrying two urns.


    "Ms. Hawthorn, sometimes I really admire your confidence. But tell me, what makes you think you


    can negotiate with us now?"


    With that, Asher''s demeanor shifted suddenly, "Hand it over now, or don''t me us for getting


    rough!"


    Vivienne scoffed, opened the box, and took out an aged piece of paper.


    Gavin tensed, about to lunge forward, when a bright red glow and the dance of mes caught


    everyone''s eyes.


    The warm orange hue hovered beneath the paper as Vivienne held it there, causing Gavin and


    Asher''s hearts to leap into their throats. "Vivienne, what are you doing?"


    "You''re mad!"


    Her smile wicked and fearless, Vivienne taunted, "Wouldn''t it be fun to turn this recipe to ash?"


    The mes inched closer to the paper.


    Gavin shot Asher a reproachful nce, cursing inwardly, "You useless trash! Why did you have to


    provoke her? Haven''t been put in your ce by her yet, have you?"


    "Who do you think you are?"


    Just as Gavin was about to cave, Asher snatched the urns and held them aloft. "Trying to threaten


    me? You''re still wet behind the ears. Hand over the goods, or I swear, I''ll scatter these ashes to the


    wind!"


    "No!" Kaitlyn screamed out, clinging to Vivienne''s arm. "Just give them what they want, Vivienne. I


    don''t need it anymore; I just want my parents back!"


    Tears streamed down her face.


    Vivienne''s brows twitched, seemingly reluctant.


    Yet she had no choice but to lower her hand, licking her back teeth in frustration as she handed


    over the secret recipe to Asher''s smug grin. "Here, take it, and give us Kaitlyn''s parents'' ashes."


    "Give you?" Asher''s eyes gleamed with malice, then suddenly feigned outrage as if he were a


    master of disguise. "You cunning Vivienne, giving us a fake recipe and expecting the ashes in


    return? Dream on!"


    "Men!" At Asher''smand, the ck-d guards stepped forward.


    "Take her! I want her interrogated at the Grimshaw estate!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    Vivienne''s clear eyes turned to ice, a mockingugh escaping her. "You think you can capture me?


    Let''s see if you''re up to the task!"


    Asher said, "Today, you won''t escape. The Grimshaw dungeons are ready for you."


    "Really?" Vivienne dodged the guards'' attacks.


    Whoosh!


    Dozens of silver needles flew!


    Gavin''s pupils dted as he swiftly dodged to the side, rolling to a corner of the factory, his men


    scattering in all directions.


    The factory door, once tightly sealed, was now wide open to Vivienne and her allies.


    Asher, dodging needles, roared in rage, "Idiots! Who told you to move?"


    Gavin, scolded yet again, didn''t dare to speak. Silently, he tucked away the barely perceptible chill


    in his eyes, huddled in a corner, watching the tussle between Vivienne and Asher.


    It all happened so fast.


    Vivienne''s sudden shift in position gave them no time to strategize.


    The people we brought stood no chance against Vivienne''s group, and even Asher was slowly


    losing ground in his fight with Vivienne.


    Useless!


    Gavin''s frosty eyes flickered with scorn.


    Pretending to be the big shot in front of him? He couldn''t even beat Vivienne, a mere kid. If he could


    just oust Oliver Grimshaw, when Asher takes over as the patriarch of the Grimshaw family, who


    ends up on top was anybody''s guess!


    "Gavin, what are you spacing out for?"


    Watching himself getting outmatched by Vivienne, Asher''s eyes bore no shame. Instead, they shot


    an using re at Gavin. "I didn''t ask you toe to watch the show. Help me out, for God''s


    sake!"


    Vivienne''s smile hadn''t faded for a second.


    Gavin spoke up, "Vivienne, stop! Have you forgotten what we have?"


    The familiar voice echoed, and Asher''s tense expression slowly rxed. Arrogance and triumph


    gathered in his eyes again. Even pushed to the limit by Vivienne, his excitement made him tremble.


    "Hold it right there, Ms. Hawthorn. If you keep this up, that urn is going to be indistinguishable from


    the dirt!"


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    "It doesn''t matter anymore."


    "What did you say?"


    Her lighthearted tone, as if drifting from nothingness, made Asher''s expression falter.


    He was silent for a moment, then let out augh, turning to Kaitlyn, who was shielded by the others.


    "Mrs. Littleton, Ms. Hawthorn says she doesn''t mind scattering your parents'' ashes to the wind!


    What do you think about that?"