CHAPTER 23: CHAPTER 23: REFUSING TO COLLABORATE WITH EUGENE VAUGHN

Harold Vaughn still wanted to scold her a few more times.

But Victoria Sinclair, with her delicate and gentle appearance, seemed easy to bully, yet she was incredibly strong inside and well-educated. If he wanted to take the opportunity to mock her, he might not necessarily have the upper hand in the conversation.

Harold Vaughn left with a cold expression.

Victoria Sinclair let out a gentle sigh of relief.

Grandma Vaughn came over, holding Victoria Sinclair’s hand, "What did your dad say to you?"

Victoria Sinclair shook her head with a faint smile, "Nothing much, just saying hello."

Grandma Vaughn smiled knowingly, "Grandma wants to introduce you to all the relatives tonight."

"Okay." Victoria Sinclair showed a smile as clear and serene as a spring, heartwarming.

Grandma was getting old, and after making the rounds, her legs were too tired to stand steadily, so she sat in the lounge area to chat with some older guests about everyday life.

Victoria Sinclair sat next to her, staying there quietly.

Grandma, worried that Victoria Sinclair might get bored, patted her hand and said, "Victoria, go find Eugene, let him take you to meet his friends."

Victoria Sinclair thought Grandma wanted to have some private conversation with the guests and didn’t want her to hear, so she sensibly said goodbye and left.

She didn’t want to find Eugene Vaughn, nor did she enjoy the hustle and bustle of the party. She walked to the balcony to watch the moonlight.

"Sister-in-law, so you’re here too?"

A familiar woman’s voice came from behind.

Victoria Sinclair turned around.

She saw Vivian Miller approaching, accompanied by a glamorous woman.

The woman was quite attractive and was currently a popular actress—Renee.

Angela Austin had previously shown her videos of the rumors between Renee and Eugene Vaughn, as well as clips from Renee’s movies.

Angela Austin also mentioned that she looked quite similar to Renee, which left a deep impression on her.

Vivian Miller noticed Victoria Sinclair’s gaze fixed on Renee and quickly introduced, "Sister-in-law, she’s Renee, a popular actress promoted by Eugene’s entertainment company."

"Sister Renee, she is..." Vivian Miller was about to introduce Victoria Sinclair when Renee interrupted her.

"I know, Victoria Sinclair." Renee’s expression was indifferent, her tone slightly contemptuous as she looked Victoria Sinclair up and down, her eyes full of arrogance.

This arrogance was not like looking at a boss’s wife but more like looking at a junior.

Victoria Sinclair felt very uncomfortable being looked at in this way.

Vivian Miller was surprised, "You two know each other?"

Renee laughed coldly, "I know her, but she probably doesn’t know me. After all, I was sent away when she was only four, so she wouldn’t have any memories of me."

In that instant, goosebumps rose all over Victoria Sinclair, her heart pounding.

So it’s her sister.

Although she had no impression and no feelings, the bond of blood was indeed strange; even just learning about this relationship brought a subtle excitement in her heart.

But Renee seemed not to have such emotions.

Renee, with a teasing smile, said, "Fate is predestined, no matter how poor one’s birth or how humble one’s parents are, as long as they choose the right husband, they can cross social classes and live a privileged life, coming out of the backwaters to live in a mansion."

Victoria Sinclair sensed the sarcasm from Renee, her fists slightly clenched.

Renee looked at Victoria Sinclair with a smile, "I really should thank your parents for abandoning me, otherwise I wouldn’t have been as fortunate as you to marry into wealth and cross classes."

Victoria Sinclair originally thought that since she was her sister, she should treat her politely.

Now it seemed, there really was no such necessity.

Maintaining her composure, she spoke calmly yet confidently, "Sister Renee, I, Victoria Sinclair, was accepted into Sterling University through my own efforts, and I now have my own pharmaceutical company, all my achievements. I don’t rely on my parents or my husband. I do not comprehend the so-called class distinctions or views of social status you mention. If I have the ability to start a company, I have the ability to buy houses and cars. I don’t need to depend on anyone, nor do I need to find a good boss or adoptive parents as a stepping stone. I don’t understand where your sense of superiority comes from, and you will never reach my level."

Renee’s face suddenly turned grim.

Vivian Miller felt somewhat suffocated by her sharp words, realizing that Victoria Sinclair had been too courteous to her before.

No one expected Victoria Sinclair, who seemed so gentle and weak, to possess such a strong presence.

After speaking, Victoria Sinclair walked past Renee.

As she left the balcony and entered the banquet hall, she saw Eugene Vaughn standing right in front of her.

The man’s deep black eyes gazed at her, their intent unclear.

At this distance, he should have heard everything clearly, right?

Victoria Sinclair had a good memory and remembered reading an article once where it was mentioned that Eugene Vaughn had promoted Renee for three years, and during that time, there were constant rumors.

She and Eugene Vaughn had only known each other for two years, and being sisters, they looked so similar.

She dared not delve into the details, nor did she have the courage to understand the reasons behind it.

These matters, she had avoided for two years, seemed unavoidable now.

Victoria Sinclair felt a heaviness in her chest, her fingertips slightly tingling.

Keeping her composure, she silently walked past Eugene Vaughn.

Just as they brushed past each other, Eugene Vaughn quickly grabbed her wrist.

His large hand exerted a strong force, sending tingling pain up her wrist, accompanied by dull heartache. She didn’t want to talk to him, feeling exhausted.

They stood side by side in opposite directions, not speaking for a long time.

The lively atmosphere of the banquet seemed out of sync with the oppressive aura between them.

After a while, Victoria Sinclair was the first to break the deadlock, speaking calmly, "Say what you need to, if not, please let go."

Eugene Vaughn’s voice was deep, "Have a drink with me."

Victoria Sinclair felt momentarily bewildered, thinking his request odd, and directly refused, "I do not drink."

His tone was light, with a hint of sarcasm, "Is it that you don’t drink, or you don’t want to drink with me?"

Victoria Sinclair tried to pull her hand away, but his grip tightened even more; she gave up struggling because this was not the place for a dispute.

She turned and looked at his profile.

Eugene Vaughn didn’t look at her, his gaze fixed ahead, his expression somber.

A waiter walked past them with a tray.

Victoria Sinclair called out, "Excuse me, please bring me a drink."

Eugene Vaughn turned his head towards her, and when the waiter brought the strong spirits, Eugene quickly snatched it away, "Give her a cocktail."

The waiter politely replied, "Yes, sir."

Then handed Victoria Sinclair a low-alcohol cocktail.

Victoria Sinclair took the glass and drank it in one go.

The sweet cocktail with a hint of alcohol’s potency surged up her throat; she pursed her lips, and her already aggrieved heart was suddenly washed over with alcohol, causing an unexpected wateriness to swell in her eyes.

Her clear and vivid eyes, in their cool detachment, contained a touch of misty ambiguity, a beauty that was intoxicating.

Seeing her drink up, Eugene Vaughn’s Adam’s apple moved, and he tilted his head back to drain his glass of spirits.

"Can you let go now?" Victoria Sinclair asked impatiently.

Perhaps it was the burning sensation of the spirits, Eugene Vaughn exhaled lightly, "You’ve been sleeping earlier and getting up earlier recently. I’ve had no chance to talk to you."

Victoria Sinclair gave a bitter smile, "That’s your lifestyle issue, why is it my problem? If you need to speak to me, you can knock on my door, call me, or come home earlier. I don’t think that’s too difficult."

Eugene Vaughn remained silent, his profound black eyes gazing at her.

Victoria Sinclair felt a bit uneasy being looked at and softly asked, "Why did you want to talk to me?"

"Kyanite Inc. is 100% owned by me. We can start discussing investments now."

Victoria Sinclair was slightly taken aback and looked at him.

What does that mean?

Create a new company specifically for her investment?

He’s indeed a man with a business mind, accurately sniffing out business opportunities. Two weeks ago, this would have made her very happy.

But now, it was best to let it go.

Victoria Sinclair decisively and firmly refused, "There’s no need for that, thank you."

Eugene Vaughn’s eyes darkened slightly; he said nothing, and after standing frozen for a few seconds, he slowly released her wrist.