Half-Hearted: Mr. Sinclair, Stop the Act!-Chapter 92: Drawing the Fire from Beneath the Cauldron
Caleb Sinclair sat uneasily on the sofa for over half an hour, his eyes clouded with gloom fixed on the thermal container on the table.
That thread of panic, magnified by time, seemed as if it was about to fill every corner of his being.
How did Mom find out?
Was it because of Sienna?
No.
Sienna couldn’t possibly know!
Could it be that Sienna voiced her previous suspicions about him and Vivian to Mom, and then Mom investigated?
At this thought, his heart clenched tightly, and he stopped pondering further, got up, grabbed his coat and car keys, and left the office.
The rain that had started last night only stopped this morning; the sky was still gray and gloomy, not clearing up.
He didn’t return to the estate, instead heading straight for Radiance Beauty Spa.
When he arrived, June Ewing had just finished her meal and was on the phone arranging for an afternoon card game.
After the spa was twice investigated before reopening, she would come here every day, not only to invite the ladies for beauty treatments but also specially renovating four entertainment rooms on the sixth floor.
She could invite the ladies anytime for some mahjong, tea, and bonding.
It also allowed them to learn more about the spa services.
A win-win situation.
The entertainment rooms were just renovated two days ago and today they had their trial opening.
If the response was good, she could alter the strategy, replacing the hosts with male models.
Caleb Sinclair rarely visited Radiance Beauty Spa, but June Ewing was unsurprised to see him, almost as if she had anticipated his visit.
She sat on the sofa, legs crossed, her gaze and tone soft and gentle, "You’re here, have you eaten? What did Mrs. Lewis cook for you? How was it?"
Caleb met her eyes and sensed an inexplicable pressure from the overwhelming aura.
It had always been like this since childhood; his mother’s anger never manifested outwardly, always gentle and soft-spoken.
But she had her ways of teaching him a lesson, letting him suffer before comforting him softly, talking sense into him, guiding him on what he should do.
Before returning to The Sterling Family, he had seen many parents discipline their children harshly, and he felt proud of his mother’s gentle approach.
But now, he knew, in the depths of her eyes looking at him, a storm was brewing.
Once the surface layer of gentleness was peeled away, one would see it.
"Mom."
His expression turned grave, not responding, but solemnly calling out.
June Ewing’s face remained unchanged, speaking to Clara Shaw beside her, "When Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Warren arrive, arrange them at one table, make sure not to put Mrs. Simpson in the same room with them, Mrs. Simpson and Mrs. Miller have a grievance."
Clara knew they were about to discuss business and didn’t linger, responding "Okay" and leaving the office.
As the office door closed, June Ewing’s gaze returned to him, smiling slightly, "Sit down. Sienna said you went on a business trip yesterday, when did you come back?"
Caleb’s throat constricted; he knew she was deliberately provoking him.
He opened his mouth, unable to say anything, raising his hand to press against his brow.
Sure enough, Mom knew everything.
Seeing his silence, June Ewing’s smile faded a bit, "Seems like you understand what that meal meant. So let’s cut the crap, tell me, how long have you been with that little slut? How did it start?"
Caleb furrowed his brow, his heart sinking abruptly, he whispered, "Mom, don’t call her names."
"What? Trying to defend her here?"
June Ewing’s gentle gaze vanished completely, replaced by anger and disappointment, "You’re foolish, Caleb Sinclair, what has Sienna done to wrong you,
for you to treat her like this? To choose to be with her best friend, when she’s carrying your child right now..."
"Mom, does Sienna know?"
Caleb’s expression became tense, looking at her in surprise and apprehension.
His heart seemed gripped by something fierce, a fine pain spreading.
"Oh, you’re worried about that? Do you think I’d let her know? If she knew, would you still be peacefully with Vivian, that slut?"
Caleb paused, slowly exhaling a breath.
But his brow remained furrowed, seemingly displeased with her labeling Vivian a "slut," yet forcibly suppressing it, without showing.
Seeing this, June Ewing suddenly felt the urge to slap him awake!
A few days ago, after seeing photos of Vivian Nash from her university days, she realized why Caleb had fallen for Vivian’s charms.
Vivian’s looks were of the pure and harmless kind, especially those innocent yet slightly alluring phoenix eyes.
Easily evoking pity and soft-heartedness from others.
Such looks were exactly what most men liked.
June was aware of Caleb’s feelings for Monroe, but Vivian could seduce Caleb into infidelity, proving her tactics were not ordinary.
She suppressed the impulse in her heart, took out a stack of photos from the drawer, throwing them onto the table, "Take a good look! That treasure you hold dear to your heart was once such a shameless filthy whore!"
Each photo depicted Vivian’s unedited promiscuous appearances.
Every inch of her skin, Caleb knew well.
Those alluring eyes looked at the camera, seemingly beckoning those beyond the lens to indulge.
Caleb’s complexion sank, hesitated for two seconds, picked up the photos to view them, the latter seven or eight pictures showing Vivian in intimate interactions with an unrecognizable man.
Judging by her expression, it was intense and undeniably pleasurable.
Yesterday, Vivian Nash told him someone had synthesized some intimate photos and sent them to the art gallery, causing her to be suspended with pay.
But he hadn’t seen the photos; Vivian Nash said those photos had been taken away by Director Dawson at the art gallery.
But seeing them now, the visual impact hitting him almost pierced through his heart.
It felt like a flame was scorching all the blood and cells in his body.
Torment, deep sorrow...
June Ewing picked up the tea from the table and sipped it indifferently, taking in his ever-changing expressions.
She knew men too well.
Even if those were Vivian Nash’s past, as long as they truly existed, no man would be indifferent or unconcerned.
These photos were enough to ignite a man’s pride and possessiveness.
After a long pause, Caleb Sinclair slowly loosened his grip on the photos, hiding the darkness in his eyes, and placed the photos back on the table.
His deep, hoarse voice remained calm, "Mom, were the photos sent to the art gallery also from you?"
June Ewing paused, met his inscrutable gaze, and calmly admitted.
"It seems that little bitch told you about this." She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Or did she also tell you those photos are fake, or all synthesized?"
Caleb Sinclair’s hand froze mid-air.
His face showed a touch of awkward embarrassment.
June Ewing sneered coldly, and her words were just as blunt, "Those who know she’s your lover might not know, truly thinking you’re a dog she trained– obeying her at every command, believing whatever she says."
His expression changed, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.
It was as if he returned to his childhood, where no matter what he did, she could see through him.
But it was precisely this feeling that made him somewhat reject it inside, yet he couldn’t show it openly, "Mom..."
"Give me a clear answer, are you done with Sienna Monroe? Do you not have feelings for her?"
June Ewing didn’t want to waste time; besides, there was no need to explain the authenticity of those photos.
She knew Caleb had real feelings for Sienna over the past six years, so his feelings for Vivian Nash probably weren’t love; perhaps it was a physical nostalgia.
Therefore, she could only force him to make a choice now.
"You and Sienna have been together for six years at least, and she’s now carrying the Sterling Family’s child. If you don’t want it anymore, just part ways amicably. There’s no need to make it ugly, it would only discredit your father.
But if you want to divorce Sienna and marry that little bitch Vivian Nash instead, I’ll have your father break your legs first!"
Parting amicably?
Caleb Sinclair’s mind conjured up Sienna Monroe’s bright and gentle face.
His breath caught, and emotions stirred him to stand up, "Mom, I can’t be without Sienna; she can’t know about this matter!"
"People can’t have everything their way."
Caleb Sinclair lowered his eyelids and had no choice but to say, "I will break it off with her completely."
June Ewing nodded in satisfaction, "Sienna has been quite emotional these days; take some time to go out with her, let her relax."
*
Sienna Monroe received a text from that series of numbers just after finishing the lunch Auntie Miller brought her.
[June Ewing had someone deliver meals to Caleb Sinclair, and Caleb voluntarily went to the Radiance Beauty Spa promising to break up with Vivian Nash, tonight he’ll pretend to be back from a business trip to pick you up at The Sterling Estate.
Tomorrow afternoon, June Ewing will have someone disguise as the original spouse who mailed photos to Vivian Nash, go to Rippling Crest Estates, and make a fuss about her being a mistress.]
She was taken aback.
Delivering meals to Caleb Sinclair’s company?
It’s meant to break his business trip lie?
Now requiring Caleb Sinclair to completely cut ties with Vivian Nash, she intends to snatch away Vivian Nash’s only lifeline in Imperial City.
Also, hiring someone to create chaos at Rippling Crest Estates over Vivian Nash being a mistress.
Clearly, the intent is to "nip" Vivian Nash directly.
Once again, Sienna Monroe felt a chill run down her spine at June Ewing’s meticulously planned tactics.
Soft yet strong, leaving no room for maneuver.
Her decisiveness and ruthlessness shone through.
She could already imagine what a lively spectacle Rippling Crest Estates would be tomorrow afternoon.
Beep!
Suddenly, a message flashed at the top of her phone screen, from Madam Rhonda Garrison.
Only two words—OK.
Sienna Monroe shivered, her thoughts interrupted. She steadied herself and entered the chat, pursed her lips.
Last night she talked about this with Madam Rhonda Garrison on WeChat, deciding that the outcome was to hire a hacker to invade the surveillance system’s firewall at The Sterling Family’s estate.
Only this way could she enter June Ewing’s study.
Rhonda didn’t ask her to act herself; it was the hacker she contacted.
These two words "OK" meant that the estate’s security system had been breached. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
She replied "good," turned off the phone screen, and around three in the afternoon, she returned to the estate and saw two or three technicians at the main building.
From afar, she exchanged a nod with Rhonda Garrison, didn’t go up to them, and turned to the side building.
