Half-Hearted: Mr. Sinclair, Stop the Act!-Chapter 78: Killing with a Borrowed Knife—A Lesson Learned from Vivian Nash
Sienna Monroe watched him with a calm demeanor, unfazed by changes, feeling as if a heavy stone pressed against her heart; no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t move it.
Suffocated and pained.
She lowered her eyelids, took a gentle breath, and spoke with a feigned indifferent tone, "Hmm, maybe. Anyway, dreams are the opposite, so there’s no need to care."
Caleb Sinclair glanced at her usual expression, and chuckled softly, "You know, you should think more about how to eat more. Mom said you lost weight yesterday."
"What? Are you blaming me for getting you scolded?" She glanced sideways at him.
"I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. Getting scolded is my due," Caleb quickly pleaded for mercy, "This eight-treasure porridge, I made it fresh this morning. What do you think?"
"Hmm, not bad," Sienna hummed as she ate, then asked, "But why aren’t you at the office by now?"
"Last night’s issues were mostly sorted, going in late this morning isn’t a problem."
Mostly sorted?
Sienna couldn’t help but recall the seemingly passionate and turbulent moments for those few seconds.
She caught her breath.
The corners of her lips twitched, trying to suppress the bitterness in her throat with the sweet porridge.
Caleb added another shrimp dumpling to her plate, "Eat slowly, no rush. I’ll take you to the art gallery later."
She paused, furrowing her brows slightly.
Originally, she planned to visit Aethel Law Firm in the morning to inquire about the fake accounts snapped yesterday.
But it’s almost half-past ten now; time seems a bit tight.
After some consideration, she nodded in agreement, "Hmm, okay."
After quietly finishing breakfast, Sienna went upstairs to change clothes, didn’t put on makeup, grabbed her bag, and went out. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
Upon arriving at the gallery, she took the elevator straight to the third floor, and as she walked past the curation team’s office area, she saw quite a few people gathered near Curation Team A, seemingly discussing some beverage.
Vivian Nash was the first to notice her and waved, "Sienna, you’re here."
Compared to the previous days, Vivian looked vibrant and radiant today, with her gentle, pure eyes shining brightly.
When she smiled, charming dimples appeared on her cheeks.
It seemed she was well-nourished by Caleb Sinclair last night.
Sienna’s heart sank slightly, but her expression remained neutral. She nodded briefly, withdrew her gaze, and walked straight to the office.
Four or five folders were already piled on the desk, with notes for signatures or stamps, all marked with sticky notes by Nora Joyce.
She had only processed two before the office door was knocked on.
"Come in."
As soon as she spoke, Cecilia York’s head peeked in, softly asking, "Sister-in-law, are you busy?"
Sienna looked up at her, a bit surprised, "What’s up? Is there a problem?"
Cecilia smiled, stepped in, and placed a phone in front of her, "This is Vivian’s phone. She said her boyfriend is treating us to bubble tea. We’ve already ordered, sister-in-law, take a look and see what you’d like to drink."
Sienna pursed her lips, glancing at the ordering page on the phone’s app.
The average drink price from this store was thirty-one per cup, with 27 added to the cart already.
Nearly thirty cups, totaling about nine hundred.
She tugged at the corners of her lips, sneering, "Her boyfriend sure is generous."
Cecilia nodded, not catching the deeper meaning in her words, "Yes, I’ve heard others say, Vivian’s boyfriend often treats them to bubble tea and afternoon snacks."
"Sister-in-law, have you met her boyfriend?"
Sienna paused for a moment.
Indeed.
How many times has Vivian been treating the gallery staff to afternoon tea and snacks, in her boyfriend’s name, over the past month? She couldn’t remember.
She looked up at Cecilia, who was filled with excitement and joy, suppressing the unease in her chest and deliberately hesitating as she spoke.
"Hmm... to be precise, I haven’t seen him, but in a certain sense, I’ve certainly met him."
Cecilia was puzzled, "Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that?"
Sienna smiled, didn’t explain, just advised, "You shouldn’t get too close to her. It’s okay to interact at the gallery, but don’t hang out too much privately. Your aunt surely doesn’t want you picking up bad habits."
With that, she casually selected a fruit tea on the phone.
Cecilia was left standing there, dazed.
She remembered Sienna subtly advising her once before to keep a distance from Vivian.
But she hadn’t understood the underlying meaning then.
This time, however, it was much more apparent.
Picking up bad habits?
Her eyes flickered, as she hugged Sienna’s arm, furrowing her small face, "Sister-in-law, I’m not sure I understand. Isn’t Vivian your best friend? How come..."
"She was, but now, I feel I don’t quite know her anymore..." Sienna’s voice lost much of its laughter, replaced with a hint of desolation, "Just remember what I said."
Cecilia’s mind was a little shaken.
She’d heard of past incidents where Vivian and Sienna had some unpleasant encounters.
But since she started at the gallery, she felt their interactions were generally peaceful, though there were signs of Sienna keeping a distance from Vivian in some details.
Was there some hidden truth in Sienna advising her to stay away from Vivian?
A seed of doubt was quietly sprouting.
Between Sienna and Vivian, she naturally trusted Sienna more.
She smiled, "I remember everything you said, sister-in-law, don’t worry. I’ll be heading out now; remember to eat."
"Hmm."
Sienna replied, watching Cecilia’s back as she left, eyes deepening.
Cecilia wasn’t stupid; she’d certainly draw connections from what she said. Once she investigated, Sienna wouldn’t mind leaking some information about Vivian being the third party in her and Caleb’s marriage.
Such a significant matter, Cecilia would undoubtedly report it to June Ewing.
And when the time came, all Sienna needed to do was feign ignorance.
Using others to achieve one’s aim was what she’d learned from Vivian.
When the office door was gently shut, only after a long while did she retract her gaze, her eyes hadn’t settled back on the files in front of her before the phone on the desk suddenly chimed.
[After last night’s event, Caleb transferred fifty-two thousand to Vivian. Vivian will put a special radioactive drug in your fruit tea, which is in white powder form, tasteless, and long-term, small doses will cause birth defects in the fetus, and also damage your bodily organs.]
Sienna’s spine stiffened, as if she had been plunged into icy, bone-chilling water in an instant.
It made her shiver with dread.
Caleb transferring money to Vivian was a minor thing.
Her eyes fixated on the words "radioactive drug," unblinking.
Radioactive drugs are typically used for medical relief of diseases and recovery from physical abnormalities—in simple terms, cancer medication.
Vivian wasn’t simply trying to cause a miscarriage anymore; she wanted Sienna’s life directly?
Did she hate her that much?
Did she so desperately wish for her death and that of the child in her belly?
Sienna gripped her pen with increasing force, the inner sorrow and rage transforming into an invisible string, tightening around her throat, making her breathing gradually suffocate.
Even her internal organs seemed to suffer a strong assault.
Intense pain spread through her limbs and bones, infusing her blood and bones, leaving her trembling and, ultimately, numb.
She sat there for a long time, empty-eyed and listless, until Nora Joyce knocked and entered, asking what she wanted for lunch, which barely brought her back to awareness.
But whether it was due to the late breakfast or Vivian’s viciousness refreshing her perspective, she had no appetite.
She gently shook her head, "No, I’m fine."
Nora noticed something was off with her, "Director, are you okay? You look so pale, do you need..."
"No need." Sienna Monroe interrupted her, "Order a beef ramen for me."
Nora gazed at her face, as pale as a sheet, still uneasy but said no more, nodding, "Okay. If you need anything... just call me anytime."
"Mm."
Before the takeout arrived, the milk tea Vivian Nash ordered came first.
Her cup was still brought in by Cecilia York.
It was black tea as the base, colored dark brown, with plenty of fruits inside: watermelon, grapefruit, lemon, grapes...
The cup didn’t have a sealed film, only a green lid, easy to open and close.
She suddenly asked, "Besides you, did anyone else touch my cup?"
Cecilia looked slightly puzzled, "When the milk tea arrived, a lot of us went over to get ours, but Vivian was the one who asked me to bring yours."
"Sister-in-law, is there something wrong with it?"
With so many people around, how did Vivian manage to drug it?
Sienna pressed her lips, shook her head, "It’s nothing, just asking casually. Have you had lunch yet?"
"Not yet, I am just about to order takeout. Do you want anything, sister-in-law? I can order for you too."
"No need, Nora’s already ordered for me, go ahead."
"Alright."
Once Cecilia left, Sienna opened the lid of the fruit tea, gently sniffed it, but detected no strange odor, rather a rich fruity fragrance.
She stirred it with a straw, still found nothing unusual.
Pressing her lips together, her expression indifferent, after a moment of deep thought, she closed the fruit tea, putting it back into the bag.
Around two in the afternoon, she grabbed her bag and the fruit tea, walked out of the office, and lightly tapped Nora’s desk, "Lend me your car keys."
Nora was momentarily stunned, didn’t ask where she was going, and handed over the keys from her bag, "Director, drive safely."
Sienna smiled and nodded, "Mm. I’ll try to return it before you get off work."
"It’s alright, I’m working overtime tonight, there’s no rush."
Recently, the art gallery has been busy because of the joint exhibition, basically working two to three extra hours daily.
The reason she had some free time was thanks to Director Dawson and Nora for sharing her workload.
She thanked them for their hard work, then walked toward the exhibition team’s office area.
Vivian Nash heard someone calling "Director" and instinctively looked up from her workstation, saw the fruit tea Sienna was carrying.
Her gaze suddenly froze.
The bag and the fruit tea container were transparent.
Clearly, the fruit tea was still full.
Sienna hadn’t touched it?
Her heart went "thump," inexplicably panicked, licked her lips, quickly got up and walked a few steps, "Sienna."
Sienna turned back at her call, looking at her indifferently, "Anything?"
"I was just about to visit your office, had an idea regarding the ’Paling Remembrance’ theme to discuss with you," Vivian smiled and asked, "Are you heading out?"
"Paling Remembrance" is the theme name for the joint exhibition by Audrey and Faye Irving.
Sienna said, "Yes, let’s talk when I get back."
"Oh, okay... when are you coming back then?"
"Not sure. Probably before you all get off work."
"Alright, I’ll wait for you..."
She dragged the last word, seemingly casually glanced over at the fruit tea, "Why haven’t you had the fruit tea? Is it not tasty? Or are you pregnant and can’t drink fruit tea? How about I order you a new one?"
"No need. You can get on with your work."
Sienna raised the fruit tea, not offering any explanation, nor wishing to argue further.
With that, she went directly to the elevator.
Vivian’s earlier unease inexplicably intensified.
Something felt not quite right.
Where was Sienna taking that fruit tea?
Why hadn’t she taken a sip?
She carefully recalled the whole process of secretly putting powder into the fruit tea, it was behind the camera, was such a small, quick action that no one could have noticed it.
Besides, she didn’t use much, only a fingernail-sized amount, fearing if too much went in, it wouldn’t dissolve and would float on the surface, making it noticeable.
So, how could she possibly have discovered it?
Right, Sienna definitely couldn’t have found out.
Even if it gets exposed later, it wouldn’t be pinned on her, after all, Cecilia brought it in.
Thinking this, her initial irritation was washed away.
Her face returned to its open and amiable look, calmly sitting back at her workstation.
*
Sienna drove Nora’s red Volvo S60 to Aethel Law Firm.
When she arrived, the receptionist was just recommending a lawyer to a client, and upon seeing her, immediately recognized her, greeting with a smile, "Miss Monroe, you’re here."
Sienna nodded, "Is Lawyer Prescott upstairs?"
"Director Prescott is in the office, you can head right up."
Sienna thanked her, taking the elevator to the fifth floor.
Just as she reached Sebastian Prescott’s office door, she saw Assistant Nash coming out, who was also momentarily surprised, "Miss Monroe."
Sienna lifted a smile, "Assistant Nash. Is Lawyer Prescott available now?"
Assistant Nash looked at her apologetically, speaking softly, "I’m really sorry, the Director is currently discussing a case with a client inside."
She nodded, not in a hurry, "It’s okay, I can wait."
"The lady just arrived not long ago, Miss Monroe might need to wait a bit longer," said Lawyer Nash, "You can sit here, I’ll get you some tea."
Sienna took a seat on the sofa in the open lounge area, "No trouble."
Though she said that, Assistant Nash courteously brewed a cup of Dragon Well tea and brought over a small plate of cookies.
She didn’t waste it, savoring the tea.
The tea was clear, fragrant, soothingly smooth with a sweet aftertaste.
It was indeed a good tea.
After waiting for about half an hour, the office door suddenly opened, and a middle-aged woman’s voice could be heard, "With your words, I’m more reassured. Sorry to bother you, Lawyer Prescott, there’s no need to see me out."
Followed by a deep, cool voice, "Take care."
Upon hearing that, Sienna looked up, seeing the back of a lavishly dressed lady in a fur coat, her long gaze focusing instead on the tall figure opposite the lady, donned in a suit.
Coincidentally, those eyes looked directly back at her.
Their gazes met and merged in the air.
She paused, letting a gentle smile surface on her lips, picking up the bag beside her, just about to stand up.
Then she saw the lady turn around, with a familiar yet unexpectedly familiar face.
The lady seemed to recognize her as well, "Hmm? June’s daughter-in-law? Sienna?"
Sienna’s smile stiffened, her heart suddenly sinking.
It was Mrs. Sloane.
