CHAPTER 15: CHAPTER 15: GRANDMA’S HEIRLOOM

Caden Hawthorne opened the box to reveal a priceless jade bracelet, its color pure and translucent, instantly recognizable as being crafted from the finest jade.

"This is your grandmother’s heirloom. Originally, it was a pair. One is with your mother, and this one is prepared by your grandmother for the granddaughter-in-law."

Old Master Hawthorne looked kind, with a smile on his face: "I’ve brought you the jade bracelet; hurry and give it to Vivian."

As he spoke, Old Master Hawthorne urged Caden Hawthorne eagerly.

"Grandpa..." Caden Hawthorne slightly frowned, "This jade bracelet is too precious; you should keep it as a keepsake instead!"

Upon hearing this, Old Master Hawthorne pursed his lips, hinting with a slight reproach, "What do I need a bracelet for, an old man like me? This is for young girls to wear. You, rascal, made my granddaughter-in-law cry; hurry and give her this bracelet to cheer her up."

Caden Hawthorne knew that this jade bracelet was of great significance; giving it to Vivian Lynch meant that the Hawthorne Family officially recognized her as the young lady of the house.

Seeing Caden silent, staring at the bracelet in his hand, as if lost in thought.

Old Master Hawthorne extended his hand, patting his shoulder, and couldn’t help but say, "Caden, Vivian has had a troubled life, but I can tell she’s a kind-hearted girl."

Upon hearing this, Caden Hawthorne lifted his head, curling his lips into a cold smile, "Grandpa, I’m afraid you’re mistaken about her. Vivian Lynch is a woman who will do anything for profit, cunningly getting pregnant with my child, claiming she doesn’t want me to be responsible but secretly seeking us out, playing hard to get."

Caden Hawthorne wasn’t an irresponsible man, but he disliked being manipulated.

Initially, he had a liking for Vivian Lynch that night. Upon learning she approached him and sought out grandpa for his money, the little goodwill he had for her vanished completely.

"Caden, do you have some misunderstanding about Vivian?" Hearing Caden’s words, Old Master Hawthorne slightly frowned, obviously not believing Vivian Lynch to be that kind of person.

"Misunderstanding?" Caden Hawthorne sneered, "The facts are right before us. She did whatever it took to marry me, and now she even dares to covet the Hawthorne family’s inheritance..."

Thinking about what Vivian had just said in the car, Caden Hawthorne’s anger flared up again. This woman would stop at nothing for money.

Acting pitiful before him, making him lose his bearings when she cries. Indeed, her tactics are quite clever.

Old Master Hawthorne immediately said, "Caden, although I haven’t spent much time with Vivian, I can tell she’s fragile, not likely to be the kind of woman who goes to any lengths."

"Grandpa, don’t be fooled by her innocent appearance. She knew my identity long ago; otherwise, she wouldn’t use the child to threaten you, and you wouldn’t ask me to bring her back to the Hawthorne house."

Upon hearing this, Old Master Hawthorne hurriedly waved his hand, anxious: "No, it’s not like that. Vivian didn’t seek me out proactively; I found her location. When I went to the hospital to find her, she didn’t know me and didn’t tell me she was pregnant. From beginning to end, she never intended for the Hawthorne family to be responsible."

Caden Hawthorne seemed unconvinced by Old Master Hawthorne’s words and ridiculed: "Who knows if she’s pretending? Why did she call you that day at the Lynch Family?"

Referring to this, Old Master Hawthorne couldn’t help but recall the words Vivian said on the phone that day.

"Master Hawthorne, can you do me a favor? I’m at the Lynch Family now. If my foster parents find out I’m pregnant, they’ll definitely make me abort the child. Could you arrange for two bodyguards to come? Rest assured, once I’m safely away from the Lynch Family, I’ll avoid the Hawthorne Family and certainly won’t cause any trouble."

Old Master Hawthorne relayed Vivian’s plea on the phone to Caden Hawthorne word by word.

Listening to grandpa’s words, Caden Hawthorne’s expression remained cold, but he felt a slight wavering in his heart.

"Grandpa, even if she truly said that, who can guarantee this wasn’t a well-planned hardship act?" Caden Hawthorne’s voice was low and filled with doubt.

Old Master Hawthorne sighed, speaking earnestly: "Caden, sometimes don’t let preconceived notions blind you. Why not spend more time with Vivian and sincerely feel what kind of person she is?"

Sincerely feel what kind of person she is?

Caden Hawthorne remained silent, tightly gripping the jade bracelet in his hand, his thoughts tangled.

On the other side, Vivian Lynch stayed alone in the room.

Recalling Caden’s words in the car just now, Vivian felt full of grievance.

"Are everyone from wealthy families so unreasonable? How can they humiliate people so casually?"

Vivian Lynch felt aggrieved due to the Lynch Family selling her and because of her out-of-wedlock pregnancy, and now misunderstood by Caden Hawthorne, the feeling was extremely unpleasant.

At this moment, Vivian felt only full of grievances without a way to vent.

Tears, like broken strings of pearls, slowly slipped from her eyes.

She reached out, touching her flat belly. She had never thought of entering the Hawthorne Family nor imagined things would come to this.

Vivian Lynch now felt an unprecedented sense of confusion and helplessness.

"Baby, what should I do? Leave the Hawthorne house?"

If she left the Hawthorne house, without its protection, the child in her womb might not survive to be born safely.

Currently, she still didn’t have the ability to protect herself and the baby, so she could only stay at the Hawthorne house, even if she wasn’t favored by Caden Hawthorne, she had to stay.

Vivian wiped away her tears and decided to talk to Caden.

So, she stood up and prepared to find Caden.

Who knew that as soon as she opened the door, she saw Caden Hawthorne lingering at the entrance.

"Mr. Hawthorne, you..." Vivian Lynch lifted her gaze to look at him, her eyes still glistening with tears, her expression somewhat surprised.

Caden Hawthorne appeared hesitant, just about to explain that he hadn’t intentionally come to her room when he saw her red eyes, his intended words stuck in his throat.

"You..." Caden Hawthorne slightly frowned, had she just cried again?

Vivian Lynch realized and quickly turned away, as if afraid of being seen by him, hurriedly wiping the tears from her face.

After calming her emotions, Vivian turned back around, raising a stiff smile, saying: "Mr. Hawthorne, please come in!"

Caden Hawthorne nodded silently, following Vivian into the room.

Once seated, the atmosphere felt a bit awkward, neither spoke, and the room fell silent.

"I..." Suddenly, both of them spoke at once, breaking the silence.

"Mr. Hawthorne, why don’t you go first?" Seeing Caden seemed to want to say something, Vivian Lynch awkwardly smiled.

Caden Hawthorne slightly furrowed his brow, "You go first."

Upon hearing this, Vivian Lynch felt embarrassed. As they hesitated on how to start, they unexpectedly spoke in unison again: "I have something to say to you."