Chapter 8
Vivian’s POV
“Who are you calling shameless? You wanna die?”
Jason’s hand left my shoulder. The moment he took a step toward Dylan, I felt the muscles in his arm tense sharply, full of dangerous force. “Say that again, Hudson. Say it again to my face, and let’s see if you can still walk out of this lab today.”
“Jason!” I immediately grabbed his arm. “Don’t.”
I stopped him not because I still cared about Dylan. I stopped him because Dylan wasn’t worth dirtying Jason’s hands.
Dylan didn’t move, but I caught a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. He was used to being the most powerful man in the room, but standing in front of him now was a man with such commanding presence that Dylan suddenly looked... small.
I didn’t give them time to react. I stepped in front of Jason, unable to hide the disgust in my eyes. “This is my brother—Jason Wilson.”
I saw Dylan’s expression change instantly.
Five years ago, I insisted on marrying him and completely fell out with the Wilson family. On our wedding day, not a single member of the Wilson family showed up. He probably thought I would never have anything to do with my family again for the rest of my life.
Hazel froze too, her mouth slightly open, unable to say a word.
I couldn’t be bothered wasting any more time on them. I turned to Jason. “Let’s go. The air here makes me sick.”
Jason shot Dylan and Hazel a cold glance, but when he spoke to me, his tone was gentle. “Alright, your call. But before we leave, I have a few words to say.”
He stepped forward and looked Dylan in the eye. “Mr. Hudson, my sister’s lab doesn’t need your concern. Instead of bringing your assistant here to make a scene, you should hurry up and sign the divorce papers—unless you want people saying Hudson Group repays kindness with ingratitude.”
Then he gave Hazel a meaningful glance.
The meaning couldn’t have been clearer.
“You—”
“Hazel.” Dylan cut her off in a low voice.
Seeing the warning in his eyes, Hazel wisely shut her mouth.
Jason glanced at her, then walked out of the reception room beside me without looking back.
Dylan’s POV
I stood there, staring at the reception room door as it slowly closed.
Jason Wilson.
I didn’t expect her to actually reach out to her brother. Even less did I expect that after five years, when I thought she had completely cut ties with the Wilson family, it turned out that when she decided to leave, the first person she thought of was Jason.
“Mr. Hudson, about this matter…”
Hazel spoke, her voice a little anxious.
“Who told you to come here on your own?” I turned to her, my voice low. “I already said to hold off on the withdrawal for now. Who gave you the authority to send a withdrawal notice on behalf of Hudson Group?”
She was startled by my tone, and her eyes reddened immediately. “I just wanted to help you…”
“Help me?” I stared at her. “You call making a mess of things helping me?”
She bit her lip, and tears started falling.
I watched her cry, but the irritation in me didn’t ease. It only got worse. I couldn’t explain why—maybe Allen’s face was still lingering in my mind, or maybe I still hadn’t processed Vivian’s words: “You’re all the same.”
After a few seconds of silence, I finally spoke, my tone still hard. “Enough. Stop crying. And remember this—without my instructions, don’t make your own decisions and go looking for Vivian again.”
“…Okay.” She answered softly and raised a hand to wipe the corner of her eyes.
I only caught that look in her eyes for a second before I looked away. There were some things I didn’t want to think about right now.
I didn’t look at her again. I picked up the untouched withdrawal notice from the table and walked straight out of the reception room.
Vivian’s POV
Once I got into Jason’s car, I leaned back in the seat and closed my eyes.
The nerves I had kept taut finally loosened a little, and exhaustion came over me like a wave.
“You okay?” Jason started the car and looked at me through the rearview mirror.
“I’m fine. It was expected.”
He gave his blunt assessment. “Dylan really has terrible judgment. Keeping an assistant like that around for five years and letting her bully you? There’s something wrong with his head.”
I didn’t respond. Yeah, and I endured it for five years too.
“But maybe this is for the best. Clean and simple. No room for confusion later.” He paused. “Don’t worry about the lab. I’ve got your back. Whatever you want to do, just do it.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re thanking me?” He shot me a look through the rearview mirror. “Mom and Dad are waiting at home. When they heard you were getting divorced, they were so happy they stayed up all night.”
The moment he mentioned Mom and Dad, an indescribable ache rose in my chest. We had been almost completely out of contact for five years. The last phone call had ended badly too.
The car drove into a quiet upscale residential neighborhood and stopped in front of a detached villa. I followed Jason into the yard. Before we even reached the door, it opened from the inside.
Mom, Sandra, stood there in an apron, looking me up and down before huffing. “So you still remember how to come back? I thought you forgot where the door was.”
Dad, Christopher, stood behind her and gave a light cough. “That’s enough. Vivian’s home, and that’s what matters.”
“Was I wrong?” Mom’s voice sharpened. “You threw your own parents aside for a man and didn’t even bother calling. If your brother hadn’t told me, I still wouldn’t know how much my daughter has suffered out there!”
By the end, her eyes were slightly red. Probably afraid I would notice, she turned and walked inside, her voice a little choked. “Alright, come in. Why are you still standing at the door?”
I stood there, my nose stinging.
“Come in.” Dad waved at me, his voice much gentler than Mom’s. “You’re home now. That’s enough.”
The dining table was covered with all my favorite dishes from before. Mom kept putting food into my bowl and never stopped talking. “Eat more. Look how skinny you are. I told you long ago that man was no good, but you wouldn’t listen…”
“Mom,” Jason cut in, “let’s not bring up the past. Vivian knows that now.”
“She knows?” Mom looked at me, her eyes full of heartbreak. “If she knew, would she have let herself be mistreated for five years? Divorce him as soon as possible. My daughter is wonderful. Why would she be afraid of not finding someone who truly treats her well?”
Dad nodded too. “Divorce is the right choice. Once you’re out of that relationship, this home will always be your way back.”
I lowered my head and pushed at the rice in my bowl. I couldn’t hold back my tears, and drop by drop, they fell into the bowl.
“What are you crying for?” Mom stuffed a tissue into my hand, then raised her own hand to wipe the corner of her eyes. “He’s not worth it.”
“Mhm.” I nodded through my tears.
The atmosphere gradually softened. Mom looked at me, then at Jason beside me, and suddenly changed the subject. “And you—you call yourself her brother, but you don’t put any heart into this. Didn’t you say last time that you’d keep an eye out for a few suitable men for your sister? How long has it been? There’s been no progress at all.”
Jason nearly choked on his soup. He put down his spoon helplessly. “Mom, Vivian’s divorce isn’t even finalized yet. Is this really the right time to start arranging blind dates?”
“If we wait for you, your sister’s hair will be white by then!” Mom said dismissively. “With all your business partners, can’t you find a few young, handsome ones? The moment the paperwork is done, set it up. My daughter is outstanding. She can’t just be left hanging like this!”
I felt a little embarrassed. “Mom, I’m not in a hurry…”
“You may not be, but I am.” Mom shot me a look. “This time, we’re finding someone who knows how to cherish you and respect you. Family background doesn’t matter. Character matters most.”
Jason raised both hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll keep an eye out, alright?”
“That’s more like it.” Mom nodded in satisfaction and put another piece of steak onto my plate. “Eat more and take care of your health. From now on, stay at home. Stay as long as you want.”
Jason fell silent.
I looked at his resigned expression, then at the concern in my parents’ eyes that they couldn’t hide no matter how hard they tried. The cold heaviness that had been pressing on my heart for so long slowly, quietly melted away in this warmth.
“Okay,” I answered obediently, and a long-lost, genuine smile spread across my face.
