Chapter 2: I Agree to the Marriage
The Lowell villa.
Vivian Lowell had just pushed the door open to leave when she ran into an uninvited guest.
Mason Grant.
The Lowell family’s prospective son-in-law, Vivian’s ex-boyfriend, and Shelly Lowell’s future husband.
Seeing Mason’s sharply contoured and handsome face, Vivian frowned for a split second.
He had actually come after all.
She didn’t actually have deep feelings for Mason. It was merely an arranged marriage between their families. They had known each other since childhood, he was good-looking and capable, and the Grant family was wealthy. All things considered, she and Mason were a good match.
Oh, right—Mason had found out a few days ago that Vivian wasn’t the true daughter of the Lowell family.
Last night, intending to make a clean break with her, he had invited Vivian out for drinks. Throughout the evening, he had hesitated multiple times, unable to force the words out of his mouth.
When Vivian asked what was wrong, he claimed he had just missed her too much, and then gifted her a sapphire necklace.
Vivian was quite understanding. She comforted him and drank a few glasses with him before returning to the Lowell villa.
Who would have thought that Mason was simply preparing to betray her? He had only given her the necklace to ease his own guilty conscience.
"What a scumbag," she thought.
Vivian was thankful she had never really been deeply involved with Mason. Taking two steps back, she greeted him politely, "Mr. Grant, you’re here. I was just on my way out, so please excuse me."
With that, she sidestepped him and prepared to leave.
"Vivian!" Mason subconsciously grabbed her wrist, asking anxiously, "Where are you going? Why are you leaving the moment I arrive?"
HISS!
A slight pain flared up in her wrist.
Vivian twisted sideways and yanked her hand back. She used so much force that Mason stumbled forward.
He looked slightly dazed.
It was obvious that the sudden change of bride for their engagement ceremony a month away was leaving him feeling somewhat melancholy.
Melancholy?
Vivian believed she had treated Mason exceptionally well. As his prospective girlfriend, she had been meticulous. She carefully selected gifts for every holiday and picked him up whenever he worked late, always attentive and considerate.
And what about Mason?
The moment he heard Vivian wasn’t the true daughter, he turned right around and agreed to marry Shelly.
What right did he have to feel melancholy? Did he seriously think he could have his cake and eat it too?
"Mr. Grant, please conduct yourself with dignity," Vivian said bluntly, following up with a mocking rhetorical question. "Do you really not know why I’m leaving the Lowell family?"
Realization dawned on Mason, and the color drained from his face. "How could Miss. Lowell and Mr. Lowell be so heartless?" he murmured. "You..."
But Vivian had no time to listen to whatever he was muttering about.
After leaving the Lowell villa, she hailed a cab. As soon as she got in and gave the driver an address, she took out her phone and scrolled through her contacts.
Her gaze paused on a specific phone number.
Taking a deep breath, Vivian hesitated for a moment before clicking on the number and replying to a text message: "I am willing. When should your grandson and I go to the marriage registry?"
The moment the message was sent, before Vivian even had time to put her phone down, the other party replied instantly.
"Tomorrow morning at nine. See you at the marriage registry."
"The old lady is pretty quick on her phone," she thought.
Looking at the text, Vivian pursed her lips into a smile, silently praying that Grandma Faulkner’s grandson wouldn’t be a difficult person to get along with.
After all, she was marrying into the Faulkner family with an ulterior motive. Once her goals were achieved, she would naturally divorce Grandma Faulkner’s grandson. She would also do everything in her power to compensate and bring benefits to the Faulkner family.
Grandma Faulkner was an elderly woman Vivian had met in business class on an international flight during a trip three months ago.
The old lady was easygoing and had struck up a casual conversation with Vivian to pass the time. Out of nowhere, she suffered a sudden heart attack and didn’t have her emergency heart medication on her.
Fortunately, Vivian knew some basic first aid and managed to save Grandma Faulkner. Otherwise, since the plane couldn’t land immediately, the old lady’s life would have been in grave danger without timely treatment.
When Grandma Faulkner woke up and learned that Vivian was her savior, she became unstoppable. She persistently pestered Vivian, insisting on introducing her grandson to her.
"That brat of mine is twenty-seven and hasn’t even had a single girlfriend! I’m so worried he’s going to be a bachelor for the rest of his life. It stresses me to no end!
"Vivian, if you don’t mind, why not consider him? Even though he’s hopelessly single, he’s at least somewhat successful in his career.
"Ah, it’d be wonderful if you two could just go straight to the marriage registry. Having you as my granddaughter-in-law would make me so happy I wouldn’t even be able to sleep!"
Vivian had barely been able to fend her off.
Luckily, the plane landed just in time. Vivian explained that she was already engaged. Though the formal ceremony hadn’t happened yet, their families were old friends, and she wasn’t in a position to decide her own marriage.
Grandma Faulkner looked crestfallen. She gave an unhappy harrumph but didn’t push the matter further.
Vivian breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing the cute old lady who acted like a big kid, Vivian worried she might suffer another heart attack without her medication, so she personally went to a pharmacy to buy her some. In the process of the old lady insisting on paying her back for the medicine, the two exchanged contact information.
Over the recent period, the old lady had frequently dropped hints, asking Vivian to reconsider her grandson.
Vivian had been swamped with work lately and hadn’t replied much. Yet today, the very moment she replied, the old lady immediately set them up to go to the marriage registry tomorrow!
Before her reincarnation, the old lady had also reached out to her frequently. But two months later, the contact had abruptly stopped. Whenever Vivian tried calling, the line was always busy. It wasn’t until half a year later that she finally found out...
The old lady had fallen gravely ill and had been sent abroad for hospitalization and recovery.
By that time, Vivian was no longer the cherished daughter of the Lowell family. With the Lowells thwarting her at every turn, she couldn’t even go overseas to visit the old lady.
If possible, Vivian hoped she could protect the old lady in this life. At the very least, when the old lady’s illness flared up in two months, she wanted to be by her side. She was such a wonderful old lady; Vivian desperately didn’t want anything bad to happen to her!
A myriad of thoughts swirled through her mind. Not long after Vivian firmed up her resolve, the driver arrived at their destination.
Tanya’s Pet Hospital.
Looking at the familiar signboard, Vivian got out of the car and headed inside.
Her best friend, Eleanor Rhodes, had gotten wind of her visit and was already waiting at the door. Scalpel still in hand, she pounced the moment she saw Vivian.
"Vivian, you’re here! I’ve been waiting ages for you! Ah, don’t be in a rush, just give me a minute. I still have two pairs of balls to chop off! Once I’m done neutering them, I’ll come right out to chat with you!"
"...Dr. Rhodes, please, take your time."
Vivian took two steps back, offering an awkward yet polite smile.
Neutering. That was right, Vivian’s best friend was the director and chief veterinarian of this pet hospital. Her absolute specialty was neutering tomcats—ironically dubbing herself a "master of gynecology."
Three hours later.
Outside a hotpot restaurant next to Tanya’s Pet Hospital.
As Vivian supported a staggering Eleanor out of the restaurant, Eleanor was still cursing the Lowell family and Mason. Suddenly acting dramatic, she asked in alarm, "Are you really going to marry that what’s-his-name? This is too hasty! You guys have only met once, right?!"
"Mhm," Vivian nodded seriously. "The Faulkner family is also involved in the jewelry design industry. It’s perfect. If I want to take down the Lowell family, I can use some of their resources. In return, after the Lowell family collapses, I will find a way to hand all of their original market share over to the Faulkners."
"Whoa!" Eleanor’s eyes lit up as she heard this. Counting on her fingers, she asked, "The Lowell family’s market share—you’re really willing to part with it? They dominate half the market in Aethelburg, and even across the entire country!"
Vivian nodded.
She wasn’t reluctant to part with it at all.
She would only find peace once she had utterly destroyed the Lowell family.