CHAPTER 13: CHAPTER 13: GRANDMA SECRETLY SCOLDS VIVIAN MILLER

Even though the old Mrs. Vaughn was kind and amiable, her status within the family was the highest.

Even when Mr. Vaughn was alive, he pampered her like the Empress Dowager, obeying her every word.

When the old Mrs. Vaughn was angry, no one dared to challenge her authority.

Jenny Vaughn was the kind of naive college student who wasn’t afraid of anything, helping Harold Vaughn speak, "Grandma, what Uncle said isn’t wrong, besides, Big Sis hasn’t gotten pregnant yet, maybe it’s because she’s always dealing with those chemicals and viruses."

The old Mrs. Vaughn’s gaze darkened, and she angrily asked, "I’ve dealt with chemistry my whole life, are your uncle and your dad trash that I picked up from the bin?"

Jenny was immediately at a loss for words, timidly closing her mouth, not daring to speak again.

Victoria Sinclair didn’t expect Grandma to be so firm; it really surprised her.

Vivian Miller pretended to be gently caring and spoke, "Grandma, Uncle didn’t mean any harm, don’t be angry, health is most important."

The old Mrs. Vaughn shot a cold glance at Vivian, ignoring her, and sternly lectured, "All of you are highly educated intellectuals, why is your understanding so low? Luxury goods are all ordinary items; the prices are just brand markups, does paying a hefty ’intelligence tax’ make you superior to others?"

Catherine Ingram and the second aunt’s faces instantly fell, becoming very unpleasant, yet they didn’t dare to retort.

The old Mrs. Vaughn looked at her two sons again, "And you two, earning so much money, does drinking those limited edition wines make you immortal or prolong your life? With so much idle money, why not invest in your daughter-in-law’s pharmaceutical research? At least if anyone gets some rare disease, this medicine can save a life."

The room fell silent, the atmosphere was exceedingly tense.

Eugene Vaughn, however, leaned back leisurely, a slight satisfied smile appearing at the corners of his mouth, seemingly feeling that Grandma’s scolding was quite cathartic.

Every word from the old lady didn’t mention Vivian, yet every word indirectly scolded her for being shallow.

Vivian was very embarrassed and awkward; she had originally planned to use her capabilities to outshine Victoria, but unexpectedly got her uncle and aunt scolded by Grandma.

She was very embarrassed.

Just as the atmosphere was awkward, Auntie Rose came over, "Old Mrs. Vaughn, the meal is ready, we can start dining."

"Mm." The old lady nodded, holding Victoria’s hand as she stood, "Victoria, come have lunch with Grandma."

Victoria helped her towards the dining room.

After taking their seats, the others got up listlessly, moving towards the dining table to sit down.

The dining atmosphere seemed quite cold.

No one had the desire to converse anymore, especially Mr. and Mrs. Miller, who kept their faces stern throughout.

At the table, the old Mrs. Vaughn kept asking Victoria about the direction and progress of new drug research, and what difficulties she encountered, and so on.

Victoria patiently answered her questions, and the professional terms, the pharmaceutical research process, and the complex problems she talked about were profound and difficult to understand, with probably only the old lady being able to understand.

Vivian, no matter what she thought of to showcase her excellence, couldn’t get a word in.

When they discussed the clinical testing phase of the new drug, which required hiring people to test the drug, Victoria appeared somewhat troubled.

The old Mrs. Vaughn noticed her difficulty, her gaze shifted to Eugene, "Eugene, I remember your company deals in medical equipment, have you not considered investing in your wife’s new drug research?"

Victoria was stunned.

Eugene’s eating paused, his gaze darkened slightly, he hesitated for a few seconds, put down his bowl and chopsticks, calmly picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth, and turned to Victoria, "Do you want me to invest?"

This question thrown at Victoria left her momentarily at a loss for what to do.

She inexplicably felt nervous, her heart trembled.

Her relationship with Eugene was already awkward enough; adding the layer of investor partner would make it even more uncomfortable.

But her career was stalling due to lack of funds, progressing with difficulty at every step.

She urgently needed to secure investment.

Victoria contemplated for a moment, thinking emotions and career should not be mixed.

After all, the investment from Eugene was about profit; if the drugs successfully went to market, there would be profits to return to him; she didn’t owe him anything.

An investment delivered to her door, if she refused, would seem overly sensitive.

"Yes." Victoria softly replied with one word.

Eugene said, "Give me a detailed plan later, including your company’s qualifications and financial status."

The old lady frowned, "You are husband and wife, why are there things like a business plan and company qualifications needed?"

Eugene looked at Grandma, explaining with calm composure, "Grandma, in business, things are handled as business, my using the company’s money for investment means being responsible for the interests of all major shareholders, procedures that need to be done still need to be done."

"Let’s eat first." The old lady waved her hand, "These matters, you two discuss behind closed doors at home."

Victoria nodded, lowered her gaze, and continued to eat quietly, perhaps because there was hope to secure investment, she felt a bit delighted inside.

She couldn’t help but slightly smile, gratefully looking at Grandma.

Unconsciously exhaling a light sigh of relief.

Suddenly, Vivian across the table picked up a piece of fish and placed it into Eugene’s bowl, crossing in front of Victoria’s view, "Eugene, your favorite fish belly, Auntie Rose’s cooking is good, give it a try."

The smile on Victoria’s face gradually froze, her heart sank, and she involuntarily looked at the beaming Vivian, then again at Eugene, whose expression remained unchanged.

Vivian spoke with a familiar tone, "This dish is far from you, if you want to eat, just tell me, I picked out the bones before giving it to you."

Eugene didn’t move his chopsticks or respond.

Victoria lowered her head, picked up rice and put it in her mouth, having lost her appetite, the food tasteless.

Even eating couldn’t give her peace, Vivian really knew how to disgust her.

The old Mrs. Vaughn ate gracefully, noticing subtle details that others found too ordinary to remark upon.

Her wise gaze swept over Vivian, then Eugene, finally landing on Victoria.

Very helpless.

The old Mrs. Vaughn pointed to some lamb that was far from Victoria, "Eugene, serve your wife some meat, she’s just eating rice."

The old Mrs. Vaughn’s words startled Victoria, who hastily picked up a slice of cucumber and placed it in her bowl, "No need, Grandma, I can serve myself."

Eugene said nothing, picked up chopsticks, gently wiped the area he ate with a clean napkin, stretched his arm, and placed a piece of chicken leg into Victoria’s bowl.

Victoria inexplicably felt nervous, politely and distantly murmuring, "Thank you."

The old Mrs. Vaughn continued pointing at the stewed lamb, "Get some of this stewed lamb for her, it’s well-marinated; I see she hasn’t had any."

Victoria just wanted to explain.

Eugene spoke first, "Grandma, she doesn’t like the gamey taste of lamb."

"Oh, I see!" The old Mrs. Vaughn smiled knowingly. "Grandma will remember too."

Vivian’s face became more sullen, quietly glaring at Victoria, discontent in her eyes.

Victoria lowered her head and silently ate the chicken Eugene placed in her bowl.

It was just a move to satisfy the elder’s wish, not really showing care for her. Remembering her dietary preferences was just his good memory, not showing he cared about her.

Knowing well it was hypocrisy, she still couldn’t restrain a sliver of hope.

By the end of this meal, Eugene hadn’t touched the fish belly and rice in his bowl again.