CHAPTER 14: CHAPTER 14: IT WAS THE VAUGHN FAMILY WHO WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR HER

After lunch.

Everyone sat in the living room drinking tea and eating fruit, chatting in small groups.

Vivian Miller and Jenny Vaughn talked about entertainment gossip.

Catherine Ingram, Auntie, and Mrs. Miller discussed fashion, luxury goods, and travel.

Harold Vaughn, Uncle, and Mr. Miller talked about economics.

The elderly lady was patiently instructing Eugene Vaughn on the ways of a husband, reminiscing how his grandfather doted on her and made the family happy and harmonious.

Victoria Sinclair sat quietly eating an orange.

Suddenly, her phone in her pocket rang.

Victoria took out her phone to glance at the caller ID; the word "Mom" made her tense. She put down the orange with a somber expression, got up from the sofa, and walked to the balcony, taking the call outside.

Eugene caught a glimpse of her leaving the seat and turned his head to look over.

Grandmother saw he was distracted and followed his line of sight, smiling meaningfully, "Victoria is truly a well-behaved and introverted child, but she is strong and resilient inside. She started a company on her own, has her own patented medicine, and is somewhat renowned as a pharmaceutical researcher in the industry. She is really outstanding. Our Vaughn family is lucky to have married her, so don’t break her heart, or there will be no room for reconciliation."

Eugene retracted his gaze, saying nothing.

Shortly, Victoria ended the call and walked in, her expression tense, bidding farewell to Grandmother, "Grandma, I have an urgent family matter and need to go back. I’ll come to see you next time."

Grandmother waved her hand quickly, "Family matters are important, go ahead, go ahead, let me know if you need help from Grandma."

"Thank you, Grandma." After thanking her, Victoria politely nodded to the elders, "Mom, Dad, I’m leaving first."

She hurriedly rushed out.

Everyone watched her leave.

Eugene paused for a few seconds, "Grandma, I’ll head back too."

He spoke little, but Grandma understood, patting his arm lightly with a smile, "Go ahead, drive safely."

Eugene held the phone, following Victoria out.

Mrs. Miller subtly signaled Vivian Miller with her eyes, and Vivian stood up as well, saying goodbye to all the elders.

Grandmother was displeased, "Vivian, where are you going again?"

Vivian pretended to be in a hurry, "I have to go back to work."

Grandmother was puzzled, "You have work?"

Mrs. Miller smiled with pride, "My daughter is a beauty influencer with over a hundred thousand followers, teaching others about makeup and beauty."

Grandmother responded perfunctorily, "Oh, so she’s kind of a teacher, is she in civil service?"

The room fell silent.

——

Vivian had already caught up with Eugene’s pace.

"Eugene, give me a ride on the way."

Eugene walked to the car, took out the keys, and unlocked it, "Take a taxi."

"It’s hard to get a taxi at this time. If you’re busy, just drop me at the subway station." Vivian walked directly to the passenger seat, opened the door, and sat inside.

Eugene sat in the driver’s seat, buckling the seatbelt and turning his head to look at her, "Are you too clingy with me?"

Vivian grinned proudly, showing her teeth, "We’re like siblings, don’t be so stingy."

"Why don’t I see Charlie and Miles clinging to me?"

Vivian said proudly, "They are friends you met in college, but I’ve been playing with you since childhood. Isn’t that different?"

A lot of twisted reasoning.

Eugene was too lazy to argue with her and started the car to leave the villa.

Victoria jogged out of Splendor Estate, standing by the main road waiting for a car.

At that moment, a familiar luxury car stopped in front of Victoria.

She was slightly taken aback.

The car window rolled down, revealing Vivian’s seemingly cheerful and harmless smile as she waved, "Sister-in-law."

From the driver’s seat, Eugene turned slightly, looking at Victoria by the window, "Get in, I’ll take you."

Victoria tightly gripped the backpack strap, feeling suffocated.

They were really inseparable!

Going on trips together, even to work, she brought Vivian along.

Eugene’s passenger seat had become Vivian’s exclusive spot. Meanwhile, as the legitimate wife, she felt like a seat-crasher.

She also wanted to be magnanimous, to have an open mind, to remain composed.

But unless she didn’t love Eugene, she couldn’t help but mind, she couldn’t help the pain.

"No need, thank you." Victoria took a few steps to the side, arriving at the back of the car to continue waiting for a taxi, then took out her phone to check for nearby ride-sharing options.

The estimated fare of 85 yuan made her heart sink halfway.

At that moment, a cool motorcycle sped over, stopping in front of Victoria.

The man took off his helmet, revealing a handsome and roguishly charming face, his eyes intense yet surprised, "Sister-in-law, why are you here?"

Victoria’s heart skipped a beat; it was Eugene’s younger brother, Ethan Vaughn.

"Grandma came from the countryside, I came to see her."

"Where to? I’ll give you a ride." Ethan picked up another helmet and handed it to Victoria.

Victoria hesitated.

Her brother-in-law’s affection for her was really contrary to ethics and morality, she should keep her distance.

But thinking of the woman in Eugene’s car, it made her uncomfortable.

Eugene had constant rumors outside, always with Vivian, why should she wrong herself to abide by fidelity?

Victoria accepted Ethan’s helmet, "Can you take me to the subway station?"

Ethan’s eyebrows curved into a smile, "Of course."

Victoria put on the helmet and sat on Ethan’s motorcycle.

The dashing motorcycle sped past Eugene’s car.

Inside the car, Eugene’s face darkened, his gaze fixed on the fading silhouette of the motorcycle, a subtle flash of anger in his eyes, as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white.

Vivian murmured, "Can’t sister-in-law see Ethan likes her? She’d rather ride Ethan’s motorcycle than let you take her, without concern, what on earth is she thinking?"

Eugene started the car, stepped on the gas, and sped after the motorcycle, driving away fast like the wind.

——

Evergreen Gardens.

Building A, Unit 3, Victoria ran to the fourth floor.

Through the door, she could already hear her sister-in-law Molly’s sharp and harsh scolding.

"You’re just a failure, a useless failure. I’ve been following you through hardships all these years, while my girlfriend’s husband now drives a luxury car worth millions. This broken domestic electric car has been running for seven or eight years, and you don’t have the money to change it. Also, this lousy community doesn’t even have an elevator. I climb to the fourth floor with our son every day, while my girlfriend’s husband has bought a villa in the city center. What about you? You just guard that rotten fruit shop, having no ambition, lying down becoming a failure."

"My girlfriend wears and uses the latest Chanel models, take a look at me instead, not even a decent piece of clothing, the bag I’m using is an obsolete version from a few years ago."

"I’ve had enough of these hard days. You still dare to hide private money to buy gifts for your sister. If you love your sister so much, go live with her! I’m done serving you!"

Victoria took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

Soon after, the door opened.

Before her was the honest face of her brother, Timothy Sinclair, looking rather weary and seeing Victoria, he seemed a bit flustered, "Sister, why did you come?"

The word "sister" was barely out when the sound of a door slamming violently came from inside the house.

"Bang!" The door slammed shut and the whole house seemed to shake.

Timothy trembled, quickly left the house, and took Victoria’s hand, "Sister, please go home for now. I will visit you when I have time."

Her brother had always been honest and sincere. Seeing his haggard and exhausted demeanor, Victoria’s heart ached so much it almost drove her crazy. Her eyes couldn’t help but moisten, "Brother, Mom asked me to come. She said Sister-in-law went mad again, arguing with you every day, and today she even talked about divorce?"