Wedding Night: My Disabled Husband Made Me Cry-Chapter 32: Marriage Proposal

Rachel Quinn pressed her ear to the door and listened for a long time, but she couldn’t hear a thing.

About twenty minutes later, Vivian Quinn opened the door and came out.

"How did it go?" Silas Quinn asked, hurrying forward. "Did President Aldridge forgive you?"

"He did," Vivian Quinn said nonchalantly. "I was so sincere. Of course he’d forgive me."

"I don’t believe you. Stay right there. Don’t move."

Silas Quinn went into the room to inquire. Lying on the hospital bed, Gordon Aldridge spoke weakly, "There was a small misunderstanding between Miss Quinn and me, but it’s all cleared up now. Everything is fine... I’ll proceed with the capital injection for the Quinn Group as promised. As for that five hundred million, you can just pay me back slowly over time..."

Silas Quinn was stunned by this unexpected favor. "President Aldridge, thank you so much!"

"Don’t mention it. Even if we couldn’t become family, we can still be friends."

"Absolutely! From now on, we’re good friends!"

Vivian Quinn let out a cold laugh and quickly left.

Silas Quinn and Rachel Quinn left as well. Just as they were walking out of the hospital, Rachel suddenly said, "Dad, I forgot my purse. I need to go back and get it. You can head home first."

Silas Quinn yawned. "All right. I haven’t been sleeping well these past two days, worrying that President Aldridge would hold a grudge. I’ll head home and get some rest."

"Okay."

Rachel Quinn watched him leave, the smile completely vanishing from her face.

’Something about this feels strange.’

’Knowing Vivian’s personality, even though she wasn’t violated by Gordon Aldridge, she wouldn’t be so obedient as to come and apologize, would she?’

’And Gordon Aldridge... he clearly looked like he wanted to kill Vivian. How could he forgive her after just a few minutes?’

’And now he’s friends with the Quinn Family?’

’I have to go back and find out what’s really going on.’

Rachel Quinn returned to Gordon Aldridge’s hospital room. "President Aldridge," she asked, "why did you suddenly forgive Vivian Quinn?"

Gordon Aldridge glanced at her, something dark flickering in his murky eyes. "It’s called retreating to advance. Understand?"

A flicker of joy crossed Rachel Quinn’s face. "So, you’re saying you have no intention of letting her off the hook?"

"Of course!"

Rachel Quinn secretly breathed a sigh of relief. ’I knew it. This wouldn’t be over so easily!’

"President Aldridge, it’s a real shame you didn’t succeed this time."

Gordon Aldridge sized her up, his expression unreadable. "Yes. A pity I couldn’t live up to the kind arrangement you orchestrated for me, Miss Quinn."

"Since you haven’t given up on my sister, President Aldridge, I’m willing to create another opportunity for you."

’It’s such a shame I couldn’t use Gordon Aldridge to destroy Vivian this time.’

’I must find a way to completely ruin her!’

’That way, no matter who her sugar daddy is, he’ll cast Vivian aside like a worn-out shoe!’

’Only when Vivian is a pathetic stray, ground into the dust, can I marry Austin and inherit the Quinn Group with a clear conscience!’

"Oh?" Gordon Aldridge’s interest was piqued. "You have another idea?"

"Yes. This weekend is my sister’s and my birthday. We always throw a huge party. Now that you’re a friend of the Quinn Family, you can naturally attend. When the time comes, my sister is sure to have too much to drink, and I’ll send her to your room..."

A light flared in Gordon Aldridge’s eyes. "It’s a deal!"

Vivian Quinn soon received a call from Rachel Quinn. "Vivian, remember to send me the guest list for who you’re inviting to the birthday party this year."

Vivian Quinn refused. "But I don’t want to celebrate my birthday with you this year."

"How could you say that?" Rachel said, flustered. "We’re sisters! We celebrate our birthday together every year. Vivian, you have to come."

Vivian Quinn smiled faintly. She was just testing the waters. ’Of course I’m going to the party.’

’After all, I’ve prepared a very special gift for Rachel. I can’t wait to give her a little surprise.’

"Fine," Vivian Quinn said, feigning reluctance. "Since you’re so eager for me to be there, I suppose I can’t refuse."

"That’s more like it. I’m so excited for our birthday this year."

"I’m looking forward to it, too." ’I can’t wait to see you so devastated you won’t even be able to cry.’

...

Joy Chase’s birthday was just a week after Vivian’s. She found some time to go to the mall to buy Joy a gift.

The first floor was filled with luxury brands she couldn’t afford. Just as she was about to head to the second floor, a deep blue suit in a window display caught her eye.

’Even though Jett Sterling can’t stand, I can tell he has a great build. He would look amazing in that suit.’

Vivian Quinn entered the store, and a sales associate immediately approached her. But after one glance at her clothes, and noticing her limp, the associate’s expression turned to one of disgust. "What do you want to buy?"

"Hello, I was wondering how much the suit in the window display costs."

"Don’t bother asking. You can’t afford it."

Vivian Quinn frowned. "Whether I can afford it or not, as a customer, I have the right to know the price, don’t I?"

"Knowing will only make you feel worse about yourself." The associate sized her up. "This is a limited-edition suit. It just arrived this morning—we only have one—and it’s priced at 1.08 million."

Vivian Quinn was stunned. ’I really can’t afford it!’

’Housing in Aethelgard is expensive, but 1.08 million is enough for a down payment on a place in the suburbs. What kind of person can afford clothes this expensive?!’

Vivian Quinn was never one to pretend she could afford things she couldn’t, and she certainly didn’t have that kind of money on her. "You’re right, I can’t afford it. Thank you."

The associate rolled her eyes. "I told you you couldn’t afford it, but you just had to ask. Shoo, get out of here. Don’t get in the way of our business!"

’There was no point in arguing with someone like that.’ Just as she was about to leave, a familiar voice called out from behind her. "Vivian, you’re here shopping?"

Vivian Quinn turned to see Rachel Quinn and her best friend, Nina King, walking over arm in arm.

The sales associate recognized Rachel Quinn and rushed forward, bowing respectfully. "Welcome, Miss Quinn!"

Nina King scoffed. "See that, Vivian Quinn? That’s how a real customer gets treated."

"I was wondering why you had the nerve to shop here. I figured you must have hooked some rich guy. But you can’t even afford a million-dollar suit? That’s hilarious. Looks like that cripple in the wheelchair is just some poor bastard after all..."

Vivian Quinn tilted her head. "Were the two slaps I gave you not painful enough? Or was the liquor I forced down your throat not strong enough? Are you that eager to get yourself into trouble again?"

"Vivian Quinn, I’ll kill you!" Nina King, enraged by the humiliation, raised her hand to slap Vivian.

Just as Vivian was about to raise her own hand to block, a long, powerful hand shot out and grabbed Nina King’s wrist.

The next moment, Nina King was thrown heavily to the ground.

"Nina, are you okay?" Rachel Quinn rushed forward to help her up.

Vivian Quinn looked in shock at the heavily disguised man beside her. "Zachary Quinn? What are you doing here?"

"Just passing by."

Vivian Quinn was speechless. ’What a coincidence.’

"Here to buy something?" the man asked.

"Yes."

"For your husband?"

"Mhm."

Vivian wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt the man’s entire demeanor change the moment she answered.

’He seems... very happy!’

"Vivian Quinn, you bitch!" Nina King scrambled to her feet, screaming, "You’ve already moved on to another man? Dumping that cripple? You really are a slut!"

Vivian Quinn turned to face her. "Say that one more time."

"So what if I did!" Nina King shrieked, beside herself with rage. "Don’t you get cocky, Vivian Quinn! I had my dad investigate him. That cripple has no background whatsoever. He’s a nobody!"

Vivian Quinn tilted her head. "My man isn’t anyone special. It’s just a shame that such an ordinary, unremarkable man was the one who sent you scurrying from The Platinum Hall with your tails between your legs. How does it feel? That sense of defeat is pretty intoxicating, isn’t it?"

"What can you do besides run your mouth, Vivian Quinn!" Nina King glared at her. "You and that cripple have thoroughly offended the Grant Family. You’re dead!"

Vivian didn’t intend to get into a shouting match with them in front of Zachary Quinn. She was about to leave when Nina King grabbed her canvas tote bag.

"Let go," Vivian Quinn said in a cold voice.

"Poor thing can’t afford anything, so now you’re trying to run away? It’s hilarious you’d even dare to walk in here when you can’t buy a thing. I’m not letting you leave!"

"Nina, don’t be like that," Rachel Quinn chimed in at the perfect moment, her voice gentle. "Vivian has always been frugal. She wouldn’t buy clothes this expensive even if she had the money."

"Rachel, it’s called being frugal when you have money but choose not to buy. When you don’t have money, it’s called being pathetic. Just look at her cheap, market-stall clothes. I bet her entire outfit isn’t even worth two hundred. She is from the countryside, after all."

Rachel said earnestly, "Vivian looks down on money. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have rejected President Aldridge’s proposal."

Vivian ignored the drama queen and stared coldly at Nina King. "Let go."

What Nina King couldn’t stand the most was how Vivian could be so lowly, practically dirt, yet still act so arrogant.

A vicious glint flashed in her eyes. With a sharp tug, Nina King yanked the canvas tote from Vivian’s shoulder.

The tote bag didn’t have a zipper, and its contents spilled across the floor.

There wasn’t much inside: a cell phone, a small pack of tissues, and a bank card.

Vivian’s gaze turned frigid. "Pick them up."

Nina King casually tossed the tote bag onto the floor. "I won’t. What are you going to do about it?"

Rachel played the peacemaker. "Vivian, Nina is just sticking up for me. Why don’t you apologize to her so we can all just move on from this?"

Vivian smiled faintly. "You want me to apologize to your lapdog?"

"Vivian Quinn, how dare you insult me?"

Hatred flared in Nina King’s eyes as she swung her hand at Vivian’s face.

But Vivian was faster. She blocked the slap with her left hand and simultaneously raised her right.

SLAP!

The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the store.

Before Nina King could even react, she was sent stumbling to the ground.

"Vivian Quinn, you hit me?"

Vivian rubbed her wrist. "I regret it."

"It’s too late for regrets! Not unless you get on your knees right now and beg for my forgiveness!"

Vivian smiled. "Oh, I only regret that hitting you dirtied my hand."

"You..."

Vivian turned to Zachary Quinn. "Sorry you had to see that."

"It’s fine," the man’s voice was low and deep. "But I think in a situation like this, you should call your husband and let him handle it."

"There’s no need. I can handle a small thing like this myself."

The man looked like he was about to say more, but his phone suddenly rang.

He turned away to answer the call.

Vivian watched his back, her brow furrowing. ’That silhouette... it looks just like Jett Sterling’s...’

Vivian couldn’t resist following him. When he finished his call, she approached him. "Mr. Quinn, could you take off your mask and let me see your face?"

Even through his sunglasses, Vivian could feel the man studying her. "Why?"

"You saved me. I just want to know what you look like, so I don’t pass you on the street one day without even recognizing my benefactor."

The man said nothing, simply raising a hand to take off his mask...