Chapter 145

The sun cast long shadows across the polished mahogany table as Lillian de Arma set down her coffee cup with deliberate precision. Her sharp gaze never left Vivian Vanderbilt’s face.

"Viana Jewelry was the talk of the town not long ago," Lillian remarked, her tone deceptively light. "And you, young lady, were at the center of the scandal that framed Penelope Santiago."

Vivian’s fingers twitched imperceptibly. "That wasn’t my doing," she insisted, her voice laced with feigned distress. "I was framed. I don’t even know Ms. Santiago—why would I target her?"

Lillian’s lips curved slightly. "How curious. You and your mother, Miranda, are nothing alike."

The words struck Vivian like a physical blow. Her pulse spiked.

Is she onto me?

A thin sheen of sweat formed on her brow, though she kept her expression carefully composed. "My mother passed away when I was young. I was raised by a nanny."

"Really?" Lillian’s gaze was unrelenting.

She’s too cautious, too calculated. Miranda was bold, reckless. They couldn’t be more different.

Miranda vanished decades ago without a trace. If not for that bracelet… I wouldn’t have dared to assume…

"Since you’re Miranda’s daughter," Lillian finally said, her tone softening, "you may call me Aunt Lillian. Lucas is your cousin. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything."

Vivian dipped her head, masking the triumph in her eyes. "Understood, Aunt Lillian."

Before this meeting, her mother’s warning had echoed in her mind: Evelyn must never get her hands on Viana Jewelry.

But now, with Viana’s stock inexplicably surging by 60% overnight, the game had changed.

I don’t care about Viana. But if that bitch wants it, I’ll make sure she never gets it.

The next morning, Gregory Fannon sat across from Evelyn Vanderbilt in the conference room, his expression grim. The screen displayed Viana Jewelry’s financial rebound—an impossible recovery.

"Where did they get the capital to cover this?" Evelyn murmured, her fingers steepled under her chin.

Gregory shook his head. "No idea. This isn’t just covering losses—it’s a full revival. There’s no way Richard could’ve pulled this off."

Evelyn’s lips curled. "The Vanderbilts don’t have that kind of money. Not even close."

So who’s backing them? Vivian? Laura? Where would they get fifteen million?

Gregory’s eyes narrowed. "Someone’s pulling strings behind the scenes."

Evelyn exhaled slowly, a spark of amusement in her gaze. "Things just got interesting."

Gregory frowned. "Zoe—"

She cut him off with a smirk. "Time to call Frederick again."

Let’s see who’s hiding in the shadows.

Meanwhile, Madam Victoria Vanderbilt beamed at Vivian as if she were the family’s newfound savior.

"Vivian, darling! To think you had such influential connections! Fifteen million—was it Mr. Goldmann who helped you?"

Vivian smiled demurely, offering no clear answer.

I can’t tell her the money came from the Laurents. If she ever visits them, the truth will unravel.

Madam Victoria’s admiration was palpable. After all, Vivian had single-handedly salvaged Viana Jewelry.

And that was all that mattered.