CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: HOW ABOUT GOING PUBLIC?

"Vivian, you can’t say that. Even though you’re not my parents’ biological daughter, our Lynch Family has taken care of you for so many years. Now that you’ve become a wealthy lady, do you really not care whether we live or die?"

"Finn Lynch, don’t you understand? I don’t have money; earn it yourself. Don’t come asking me."

With that, Vivian Lynch looked impatient, ready to hang up the phone.

"Vivian, don’t hang up! You can’t be so heartless." Finn Lynch shouted, his voice tinged with urgency and pleading, "The Hawthorne Family is so wealthy. I checked online; they’re Aethelgard’s top aristocrats, worth over tens of billions. You’re carrying his child; there’s no way he won’t give you money."

At this point, Finn Lynch was getting anxious, "Vivian Lynch, are you deliberately withholding money from us? I’ll tell you, if you don’t give me money, I’ll spread your secrets."

Vivian Lynch laughed out of anger, "Finn Lynch, do you think you can threaten me? Go ahead and spill the beans, and see who ends up worse. The Hawthorne Family isn’t someone you can mess with; you’d better think carefully about the consequences."

"Vivian Lynch, are you really going to abandon us?" Finn Lynch’s voice turned sharp, "Fine! We’ll go down together if it comes to that. Starting tomorrow, I’ll stir things up at the Hawthorne Group, saying you’ve abandoned the parents who raised you for wealth and glory, refusing to acknowledge your brother. I’ll see how you can continue to stay with the Hawthorne Family then."

"Finn Lynch, you better not go overboard!" Vivian Lynch gritted her teeth and said, "I will absolutely not be your family’s money tree anymore."

After saying that, Vivian Lynch immediately hung up the phone. She took a deep breath and, trembling, blocked Finn Lynch’s number.

She tried hard to control her emotions, reminding herself not to be influenced by Finn Lynch’s words, especially for the sake of the child in her belly.

He certainly wouldn’t dare to go that far, after all, mutual destruction wouldn’t benefit them either.

At the same time, a faint worry crept in.

If Finn Lynch really went to stir trouble at the Hawthorne Group, wouldn’t Caden Hawthorne be affected?

Thinking of this, Vivian Lynch became tense and worried; she absolutely couldn’t let the Hawthorne Family be affected because of her own issues.

Therefore, Vivian called her best friend, Stella Fletcher.

The call was quickly answered, and Stella Fletcher’s cheerful voice came through, "Vivian, what made you think to call me? How’s your health?"

Vivian Lynch wasn’t in the mood for small talk, she hurriedly said, "Stella, I’m in trouble."

Then, Vivian Lynch recounted Finn Lynch threatening her on the phone to Stella Fletcher.

Stella Fletcher was furious after hearing it, "These Lynch Family members are really going too far! Vivian, don’t worry, they wouldn’t dare to actually stir things up at the Hawthorne Group. They’re just all talk, trying to scare you."

Vivian Lynch sighed, "I hope so too, but I’m still worried. What if they really go, what should I do then?"

Stella Fletcher thought for a moment and said, "Why don’t you talk to Caden Hawthorne? He’s bound to have a solution."

Vivian Lynch hesitated, "I don’t want to trouble him with my issues. Besides, I don’t want him to think I’m troublesome."

Stella Fletcher comforted her, "Vivian, don’t think like that. You’re husband and wife now; you should face problems together. Besides, Caden Hawthorne is so capable, he can definitely solve this with ease."

Vivian Lynch remained silent for a while, somewhat undecided.

At this time, Caden Hawthorne walked into the ward, there to personally discharge her today.

Seeing Caden Hawthorne arrive, Vivian Lynch quickly said, "He’s back, Stella, I need to hang up now."

Caden Hawthorne noticed her hanging up the phone sneakily, slightly furrowed his brows, and couldn’t help but ask, "Who were you just talking to?"

"Just a girlfriend of mine." Vivian Lynch replied.

Caden Hawthorne hadn’t met Stella Fletcher, so he didn’t know whether her friend was male or female.

"A guy friend?"

Upon hearing this, Vivian Lynch quickly waved her hand, "No, it’s not—she’s Stella Fletcher, a college classmate of mine."

Hearing this, Caden Hawthorne’s expression softened slightly.

"Then why are you so nervous? Or are you two talking behind my back?" Caden Hawthorne half-joked, half-seriously asked.

Vivian Lynch hurriedly explained, "No, I wasn’t."

Seeing the flustered Vivian Lynch, Caden Hawthorne curved his lips into a smile, walked over to her, and said faintly, "The discharge paperwork has been handled, let’s go home."

"Okay." Vivian Lynch nodded, his words "let’s go home" made her feel unusually secure, so she pushed aside those troubling thoughts.

Inside the luxury car, Caden Hawthorne occasionally glanced at Vivian Lynch sitting in the passenger seat; she hadn’t uttered a word the whole way.

Vivian Lynch was internally debating whether or not to tell Caden Hawthorne about Finn Lynch’s call.

Caden Hawthorne had already sensed something was off, suspecting she was hiding something. Since she didn’t want to share, he didn’t push further.

After returning to Hartswell Manor, Vivian Lynch was the first to get out of the car, with Caden Hawthorne following.

Since Vivian Lynch was preoccupied, she didn’t pay attention and suddenly slipped on the cobblestone-paved path, almost falling.

"Careful..."

Seeing this, Caden Hawthorne immediately reached out to hold her slender waist, performing a perfect spin, preventing her from making close contact with the ground.

Vivian Lynch was startled by the unexpected situation; by the time she reacted, she was already steady in Caden Hawthorne’s arms.

Her cheeks slightly reddened, she said bashfully, "Thank you."

Caden Hawthorne looked at her, his eyes full of concern, "Be careful while walking, you’re not alone now."

Vivian Lynch nodded gently, feeling a rush of warmth inside.

Strangely, when he used to say the same words, it seemed that Caden Hawthorne’s concern was more directed at the child in her belly.

But now, she felt he was genuinely caring for her.

Vivian Lynch patted her flushed cheeks, wondering if she was starting to like Caden Hawthorne.

No, no, they had a contract marriage—how can she start liking her contract partner? That would violate the agreement; she can’t break the rules.

"Vivian Lynch, wake up."

Caden Hawthorne watched her muttering to herself and patting her cheeks, showing some confusion, "What’s wrong with you? You seem distracted while walking—is something on your mind?"

Vivian Lynch quickly shook her head, "No, let’s hurry inside!"

Saying this, Vivian Lynch was the first to walk towards the villa, her expression a bit uncomfortable.

To celebrate Vivian Lynch’s discharge from the hospital, the Hawthorne Family specially prepared a table of delicacies for her.

After dinner, Mrs. Hawthorne pulled Caden aside and quietly asked, "Son, have the online rumors been dealt with?"

"The one spreading the rumors has been found, but to truly silence everyone, catching them to clarify won’t address the root of the problem."

Mrs. Hawthorne nodded slightly, then couldn’t help but ask, "True, so what about you and Vivian? You can’t let everyone continue misunderstanding, can you?"

Caden Hawthorne furrowed his brow, appearing deep in thought, before seriously replying, "Why not make it public then!"