Half-Hearted: Mr. Sinclair, Stop the Act!-Chapter 100: Taken Home to Be Married

Vivian Nash quickly went upstairs to change out of her spaghetti-strap nightgown. Just as she reached the stairway, the doorbell rang outside.

She hurried over, and when she looked at the person in the square feed on the wall, it felt as if icy seawater coursed through her veins, leaving her limbs rigid with cold.

Yet, the fire in her heart was scorching her insides.

Both burning and stinging.

The icy-hot extremes on her body made her tremble uncontrollably.

It really was her mom.

Did mom come here because she already knew?

She stood there, dazed for a long moment. As the bell outside became increasingly urgent, she forced herself to gather her thoughts, calm down, and clenched her fist to open the door.

Last year at New Year’s, because Caleb Sinclair took her out to play for a few days, she didn’t return to Serenvale. It’s been almost two years since she last saw her mother.

"Mom..."

As she opened the door, she forced a relaxed and natural smile, trying not to look too disheveled. Still, she couldn’t hide the injuries and paleness on her face.

Autumn Leigh stared at the scars on her face, her originally indifferent expression suddenly softening with a flinch.

She frowned slightly, a hint of concern in her voice, "What happened? How did your face end up like this?"

Having steeled herself for her mother’s interrogation, Vivian didn’t expect this look of concern and worry, making the bridge of her nose tingle. She blinked once, and tears rolled down uncontrollably.

It was as if in this desperate situation, she had grabbed a lifeline, found something to rely on.

"Mom, you’re here."

She sobbed, hugging Autumn Leigh with grievance.

Vivian cried for a long time.

It was as if she wanted to cry out all the rage and grievances suppressed in her heart, along with the fear and unease.

Autumn Leigh listened to her cries, feeling just as bad inside. After hesitating for a few seconds, she patted her back.

Finally crying to exhaustion, she sniffed and playfully whined, "Mom, I want to eat your noodles; I haven’t had them in so long."

Vivian skillfully sidestepped Autumn Leigh’s question.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Autumn Leigh’s eyes.

She naturally trusted her own daughter.

But upon seeing this upscale villa community, the last shred of trust was instantly shattered.

Who doesn’t know how high the house prices in Imperial City are, let alone such a luxurious villa?

But she still satisfied her request; it’s been two years since she last saw her. Making her daughter a bowl of noodles is only fitting, lest once everything is revealed, Vivian may never want to eat it again.

Bearing her thoughts, she asked, "Where’s the kitchen?"

"Mom, come with me."

Vivian held her hand, leading her to the kitchen, occasionally studying her expression silently.

The calmer her mother looked, the stronger Vivian’s foreboding became.

Her mom didn’t ask about the villa, nor anything else...

Autumn Leigh adeptly prepared a bowl of scallion oil noodles for Vivian, then she pulled out a chair and sat across from her.

After Vivian took a few bites, she finally spoke, "Once you’re done eating, pack up your things and come back to Serenvale with me. We’re leaving today."

Her tone didn’t change at all.

Vivian stiffened all over, her heartbeat erratic, the tips of her fingers holding the chopsticks turned slightly white.

Back to Serenvale?

Perhaps because she had always been under her mother’s authority since childhood, a surge of tension and panic suddenly rose in her chest.

She vaguely recalled her mother’s way of education in the past.

Her mother never yelled at her or hit her, but it was always mental pressure.

Compared to her father, she feared her mother more.

Now, this invisible pressure came rushing at her again.

She moved her lips, tentatively asking, "What are we going back for? Did something happen at home?"

"Your father had a heart attack yesterday and was admitted to the hospital..."

"What? Dad had a heart attack... Why didn’t you call me? I could’ve gone back! Why did you have to come find me? Is he seriously ill? What did the doctors say? Who’s taking care of him in the hospital now? Felix is in school..."

Vivian anxiously put down her chopsticks, interrupting her with a barrage of questions.

Autumn Leigh stared straight at her, feeling her concern wasn’t faked, "I hired a caregiver; he’s out of danger now. Do you know what caused his heart attack?"

Vivian’s breath stalled upon hearing that, staring blankly at Autumn Leigh. Her throat seemed to be blocked.

She couldn’t say anything.

But the answer was all too obvious.

Was it because of her?

Because she was a mistress?

But how did her parents know? How did they find out the address of Rippling Crest Estates?

"Mom..."

Autumn Leigh got up and walked to the living room, taking out a stack of photos and an envelope from her bag. Inside it were papers discussing a concubine and a marriage gift list.

The list included the villa, the BMW Vivian drove, and various pieces of expensive jewelry and bags.

The moment Vivian saw those photos, the blood drained from her face.

She looked up at Autumn Leigh in shock, "Mom, where did these pictures come from? Why would..."

"Tell me, Vivian, are these photos real? Are you... are you really... breaking up someone’s marriage as a third party?"

Autumn Leigh found it hard to say, clinging to one last sliver of hope as she questioned her.

This was the child she carried for nine months, her firstborn; she couldn’t believe her daughter would become so shameless.

Vivian stood up, feeling sad and heartbroken as she retorted, "I didn’t; those people with ulterior motives want to ruin me. I’m your own daughter, mom; how can you believe outsiders over me?"

"Then tell me, how did this villa come about?"

"My boyfriend gave it to me."

"Boyfriend?" Autumn Leigh’s expression turned serious, "Fine, what’s his name? What does he do? Where’s his home? Let me investigate thoroughly for you so you don’t get deceived."

The tears in Vivian’s eyes instantly froze, her throat choking once more.

Even her breathing became rapid.

Could she say it?

No, she couldn’t.

Autumn Leigh looked at her expression, and the last bit of hope turned to ashes. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

This was the child she educated for over ten, twenty years.

What a failure she was, even as a teacher!

She couldn’t even raise her own daughter right.

She didn’t want to say anything more, suppressing the tears in her eyes as she pulled her up the stairs, commanding, "Go pack your things right now. We’re going back to Serenvale!"

Vivian fought hard to break free, "Mom, I’m not going back, not going back! If I go back now, what will happen to the house, the car, and everything else? I’ve worked so many years in Imperial City,

all for establishing a life here! Why should I give up my years of effort just because you tell me to go back all of a sudden?"

"Because I’m your mom! Because I gave birth to and raised you all these years, not for you to become someone’s mistress!"

Autumn Leigh raised her voice, ruthlessly exposing her vanity, "What is your so-called effort? Teasing a man, or sleeping with him?

You’re not just disgracing yourself now, you’re disgracing the word ’effort’! Don’t you feel any guilt saying that?"

Vivian stared at her, tears streaming down, "Mom, I am your daughter, your biological daughter! Is this how you talk to me?!"

"If you weren’t my biological daughter, would I even care about you? Once this matter blows up, would you be proud of that? Today you’re going back whether you want to or not, and there’s no room for discussion!"

Autumn Leigh’s tone was firm and non-negotiable, "A decent teacher joined our school this year, 27 years old, looks decent, tall, I’ve looked into his character,

his family are all teachers. Go back and meet him, pick a date, and get married."