Vivian Quinn panicked. She hurried over for a closer look. Sure enough, they were the two sticks she had thrown in the trash can earlier that day!
"Vivian," Jett Sterling said, looking at her, "don’t you have sothing you want to tell ?"
Vivian Quinn felt a pang of guilt, but on second thought, ’What do I have to feel guilty about!’
"Where did these co from?" Vivian Quinn asked.
"The maid found them while cleaning your room. Why didn’t you tell you were pregnant right away?"
"It was an accident." Vivian Quinn pressed her lips together. "This baby... it shouldn’t have happened."
"What do you an by that?" Jett Sterling frowned. "Are you going to kill our child?"
"Don’t use a word like ’kill.’ It’s just an embryo right now, not yet a life. It’s not a big deal to get rid of it."
"Vivian Quinn!" Jett Sterling roared. He was like a beast jolted from its slumber, his terrifying aura radiating with enough force to sunder the heavens. "He *is* a life. Don’t you even think about harming him!"
"And why not?" Vivian Quinn was already upset, and his ferocity made all her suppressed grievances surge to the surface. Tears stread down her face like pearls from a broken string. "If you were going to do it, why didn’t you wear a condom? Fine, you didn’t wear one, but why didn’t you at least get a morning-after pill?"
"Do you think I *want* to be pregnant? Do you think I *want* to get rid of him? Don’t you know how damaging an abortion is to a woman’s body? You’re the one who got to enjoy yourself, but I’m the one left to suffer. What right do you have to yell at ?!"
Jett Sterling closed his eyes, forcing down the anger simring within them. He wheeled himself in front of her and gently took her hand. "I’m sorry. I apologize, Vivian. Please, don’t be rash. The fact that you’re pregnant is proof that even fate wants us to be together. Let’s get married. Okay?"
"No!" Vivian Quinn shoved his hand away and angrily wiped the tears from her face. "I’m not marrying you!"
"But the baby is innocent," Jett Sterling said, his voice softening into a low, pleading tone. "Vivian, I know you don’t have the heart to get rid of him. Let’s get married so he can be born safe and sound. Please?"
Vivian Quinn’s mind was a complete ss, a tangled knot of thoughts she couldn’t begin to unravel.
Jett Sterling’s hands tightened on the armrests of his wheelchair. He asked in a heavy voice, "Vivian, is it because you look down on for being a cripple in a wheelchair?"
"No. You don’t look down on for being la and ugly." Vivian Quinn struggled to stay calm and rational. "We’re not compatible. We can’t get married, especially not for a baby. A marriage like that will never be happy or last."
"I apologize for what happened the other day, Vivian. People always have a settling-in period when they’re together. I’ve reflected on my actions, and I promise I’ll change. It won’t happen again." Jett Sterling pledged with great sincerity. "I will change. Please, believe . Okay?"
For so reason, a sharp pain suddenly pierced Vivian Quinn’s heart.
It felt as if countless needles were piercing her heart, the pain so sharp it took her breath away.
Vivian Quinn couldn’t think at all. Right now, she just wanted to escape. "I think you need to calm down."
"I am perfectly calm." Jett Sterling took her hands again. "Vivian, for the baby’s sake, just give one chance."
Vivian Quinn’s eyes began to sting, and an overwhelming urge to cry washed over her, though she had no idea why.
"I’m a little tired."
"Then get so rest. We’ll talk tomorrow." He released her hand. "Good night."
"Mm."
Jett Sterling wheeled himself away, but Vivian Quinn’s heart was in turmoil.
Her mind had never been in such chaos in her entire life.
...
「The next day.」
Vivian Quinn slept until noon. When she got up and went downstairs, Jett Sterling was already gone.
She went to the dining room to eat sothing. Just as she put down her bowl, her phone rang.
It was a call from Rachel Quinn.
Vivian Quinn swiped to answer and said coldly, "What is it?"
"Vivian, you’ve been gone for half a month already. Aren’t you planning on coming back?"
"None of your damn business."
"Of course it’s my business. Word has already spread that you’re shacking up with so cripple and betrayed Austin. Mom and Dad are still abroad, but they’re furious. They’ve ordered soone to throw out all of your things."
Vivian Quinn’s brow tightened. "Rachel Quinn, I’m on my way back to pack my things. If you or anyone else dares to touch my stuff before I get there, I swear you’ll regret it."
When Vivian Quinn arrived at the Quinn family villa by taxi, Rachel Quinn was sitting in the living room, leisurely sipping tea.
"Vivian, you’re back?" In front of the maid, Rachel Quinn put on her usual sweet smile, a look so perfect one might think all the world’s loveliest words were coined just for her. "See how good I am to you? My engagent party with Austin is tomorrow, but instead of getting ready, I waited here at ho just for you."
Vivian Quinn ignored her and walked straight upstairs.
Rachel Quinn’s voice followed her. "Vivian, why bother packing all that junk? I’ve already prepared your household register for you. Soon, once you’re officially married, you’ll have anything you could ever want. Even I’ll be jealous of you, a proper tycoon’s wife."
Vivian Quinn’s steps faltered. She turned her head to look at her. "What did you say?"
’Could it be? Does Rachel know I’m pregnant?’
’And that Jett wants to marry ?’
Rachel Quinn sighed, her tone full of mock pity. "Vivian, you’ve really made Mom and Dad furious this ti. They said they’ve given up on raising you, but you’re still a daughter of the Quinn Family, so they had to find a good match for you. There’s a certain CEO who admires you greatly. He said that if the Quinn Family agrees to marry you to him, he’s willing to offer a bride price of five hundred million. I’m shocked, Vivian. To think you’re still worth so much, even in your current state. The bride price the Grant Family is giving for might not even be that high."
Vivian Quinn’s eyes narrowed. "It’s never that simple."
"You’re so smart, Vivian," Rachel Quinn chuckled. "This CEO... he’s even older than Dad. But don’t you worry. Older n know how to spoil their wives. You’ll be very happy once you’re married to him."
Vivian Quinn’s expression turned icy. "Rachel Quinn, this was your idea, wasn’t it!"
Rachel Quinn imdiately denied it. "Vivian, you’ve got it all wrong. I could never find a CEO willing to pay five hundred million for you. After all, you’re a la, ugly, shaless girl who’s been fooling around with so guy in a wheelchair. The fact that Mom and Dad found a rich man to marry you off to just shows how much they care. You shouldn’t be so picky."
"His people will be here to pick you up soon. Once you’re his bride, you can’t be so willful anymore. You have to learn how to be a good wife."
Vivian Quinn clenched her fists. "Rachel Quinn, marry off to an old man? Dream on!"
"Vivian, why don’t you believe ? This was Mom and Dad’s decision. I don’t have the authority to decide." Rachel Quinn took out her phone. "If you don’t believe , I’ll call Dad for you."
The video call connected, and Silas Quinn’s dark face appeared on the screen. He imdiately started yelling, "Vivian Quinn, why did you block my number?!"
"You only call to yell at . Why can’t I block you?"
"You dare talk back to ?" Silas Quinn clutched his chest. "You ungrateful daughter! Were you sent by the heavens just to tornt ?"
Vivian Quinn asked, "Whose idea was it to marry off to an old man?"
"It was my idea. Don’t make things difficult for Rachel," Silas Quinn said with a cold face. "The Quinn Group is facing a financial crisis and urgently needs this money."
Vivian Quinn gave a bitter laugh. "So for this five hundred million, you’d go so far as to marry off to a man older than you?"
"Vivian Quinn, the Quinn Family raised you for five years. Is there a problem with you doing sothing in return for the family now?"
"You gave birth to and then lost for sixteen years. I never said a word about it. After I returned, you kept Rachel Quinn in this house just to tornt , and I put up with it."
"But now, for money, you’re actually selling to an old man. Are you trying to force to sever all ties with you?!"
"Who are you trying to scare? Do you think I’m afraid of severing ties with you?" Silas Quinn said resolutely. "Vivian Quinn, look at yourself now. You don’t look like my daughter at all. You only bring sha to the Quinn family."
"The Quinn Group needs the money, yes. But if it were Rachel, I would never let her marry him. You’re different. Getting five hundred million in exchange for you is the most value you’ll ever provide."
Vivian Quinn’s fingertips trembled. She never imagined such words could co from her own father’s mouth.
She thought that no matter what, they were still father and daughter, that he couldn’t be so heartless.
But she was wrong.
Completely and utterly wrong.
Vivian Quinn closed her eyes, hiding the pain in them. After a long while, she opened them to look at Silas Quinn on the video and said, word by word, "From this day on, I am no longer your daughter, and you are no longer my father. I am cutting all ties with this family."
"Vivian Quinn, you can cut ties if you want, but you must get married today!"
As soon as his voice faded, there was a sudden movent from behind. Two bodyguards grabbed Vivian Quinn’s shoulders and tied her hands.
"What are you doing?!"
Rachel Quinn explained with feigned kindness, "His people said that as soon as you get in the car, the five hundred million will be transferred to the Quinn Group’s account. Vivian, Mom and Dad gave you life, you have to repay them. Just be a good girl and get married."
...
Vivian Quinn’s hands and feet were bound, and her mouth was taped shut. She was put into a black sedan.
The driver who ca for her took the household register and drove away from the Quinn Family’s ho.
Halfway through the drive, Vivian Quinn suddenly made muffled, struggling sounds.
"What is it?" the driver asked. "You want to talk?"
Vivian Quinn nodded vigorously.
The driver pulled over and tore the tape from her mouth.
Vivian Quinn said anxiously, "I need to use the restroom."
"Little girl, you’re trying to escape, aren’t you? I’d advise you to give up that idea."
"I really have to go. You don’t want to take care of it in the car, do you?"
The driver thought for a mont and said, "Fine. But don’t even think about running."
"I have a limp. I can’t even walk fast. How could I escape?"
Only then did the driver relax and untie the ropes on her hands.
"There’s a public restroom over there, but I have to co with—"
The driver hadn’t finished his sentence when his vision suddenly went black, and he passed out.
Vivian Quinn pulled the silver needle from his neck and called a rideshare to leave.
Vivian Quinn sat in the back seat, leafing through the household register.
’I need to get my household registration transferred as soon as possible,’ she thought, ’so the Quinn Family can’t use it against again!’
The driver in the front seat suddenly spoke, "Miss, buckle up. I’m gonna step on it."
"What’s wrong?"
"There’s a car behind us, been tailing us for a bit. Looks like they’re after you. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you," the driver said, stepping on the gas.
Vivian Quinn quickly turned around and took a closer look. It was a black Bentley. She recognized the license plate—it was Jett Sterling’s car!
’What’s he doing here?’
The driver drove like a maniac, swerving wildly and nearly rattling Vivian Quinn’s bones loose.
The Bentley behind them pursued relentlessly, trying to overtake them!
"Driver, slow down!" Vivian Quinn gripped the handle tightly. "The people behind us aren’t bad guys."
"Chasing us this openly and they’re *not* bad guys? Miss, don’t you worry. I used to be a race car driver. I’ll lose them for sure!"
Vivian Quinn was speechless. "Just stop the car! This is too dangerous!"
She was pregnant now. This was no ti for gas.
"Don’t be scared, watch this!"
The two cars vied for position on the wide road, one in hot pursuit of the other.
The driver really had so skills. He actually managed to shake the Bentley and finally slowed down.
"How about that? Told you I was good," the driver said smugly.
Vivian Quinn fought back the urge to vomit, feeling too sick to speak.
The next second, the driver saw sothing in the rearview mirror, his eyes widening. "Holy..."
Vivian Quinn turned her head and saw the black Bentley once again closing in at an astonishing speed. It quickly overtook the rideshare, cut in front, and forced it to a stop.
Easton Rivers got out of the driver’s seat, radiating anger, and dragged the rideshare driver out of his seat.
A bodyguard ca over and opened the rear door. "Miss Quinn, are you all right?"
"I’m fine." Vivian Quinn looked ahead. The rear door of the black Bentley was open, and Jett Sterling was sitting inside. His gaze was fixed on the driver, his handso face filled with a frosty chill.
The bodyguard’s voice reached her ear, "Miss Quinn, Master Sterling thought you’d been kidnapped. He was terrified."
Vivian Quinn froze.
Jett Sterling quickly got into his wheelchair and ca to Vivian Quinn’s side. He held out his hand to her. "Vivian, co out."
Vivian Quinn’s eyes suddenly stung, and the words tumbled out before she could stop them, "Jett Sterling, let’s get married!"
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