Chapter 613

Julian Klein had come to the hospital.

It was just a few days ago.

He sat by the hospital bed, his voice very low.

"Vivian, what happened to your parents... it's connected to the Sullivan family."

Vivian Bennett froze.

She shook her head, refusing to believe it.

But Julian produced a stack of yellowed documents and pushed them toward her.

"Patriarch Sullivan set a trap back then to swallow up the White family's business. Your father went bankrupt and jumped to his death. Your mother... was driven to her death."

Vivian's fingers trembled.

She grabbed the papers, flipping through them one by one.

With each page, her heart sank deeper.

"Why are you only telling me this now?"

Julian looked at her, his expression complicated.

"Because Liam Sullivan is about to become engaged to you. Patriarch Sullivan would never allow the daughter of his enemy to enter the Sullivan family. So... he made his move."

Vivian's head snapped up.

"Made his move?"

"Yes." Julian's voice dropped even lower. "The incident at the engagement party wasn't an accident. It was arranged by the Patriarch. He wants you dead, or... to make you leave Liam Sullivan forever."

A chill ran through Vivian's entire body.

She remembered the chaos that day, the woman who suddenly rushed out, the sharp pain in her abdomen.

And... the warm liquid that had gushed from between her legs.

She pressed a hand to her lower abdomen. Tears fell without warning.

"The baby..."

Julian was silent for a moment.

"Vivian, what the Sullivan family owes you... it's more than just this."

He left.

He left behind those documents, and a bloody truth.

Vivian lay in the hospital bed for an entire day.

She stared at the ceiling, her mind a complete blank.

Until Liam Sullivan pushed the door open and walked in.

He looked tired, but there was a light in his eyes.

"Vivian, I've figured it out. What happened that day was deliberately orchestrated. Don't worry, I'll handle it."

Vivian turned her head to look at him.

"Handle it? How?"

Liam sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand.

"I'll find the mastermind behind it and make them pay."

Vivian pulled her hand back.

"What if the mastermind is your grandfather?"

Liam froze.

"What are you talking about?"

Vivian sat up, pulled the documents from under her pillow, and threw them in front of him.

"See for yourself."

Liam picked up the documents and began flipping through them.

His face grew paler with each page.

By the end, his fingers were trembling.

"This can't be..."

"Can't be?" Vivian laughed, but tears streamed down her face. "Liam Sullivan, your grandfather knows exactly how my parents died. To swallow up the White family's business, he drove my father to his death and drove my mother insane. And now, he's coming after me."

Liam's head jerked up.

"Vivian, I never knew about any of this..."

"You didn't know?" Vivian cut him off. "Then did you know... that I was pregnant?"

Liam went completely rigid.

"What?"

"I was pregnant." Vivian said each word clearly. "On the day of our engagement. Our child... is gone."

Liam's pupils contracted sharply.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Vivian looked at him, her eyes empty.

"That woman was sent by your grandfather. He wanted me dead, or... to make me leave you forever. The baby... was the price."

Liam stood up, staggering back a step.

"No... that's impossible..."

"Impossible?" Vivian threw back the covers, revealing her pale wrist. "Liam Sullivan, I almost died. If they hadn't gotten to me in time, I'd be a corpse right now."

Liam rushed forward and grabbed her shoulders.

"Vivian, listen to me. I will get to the bottom of this. If Grandfather really did this, I..."

"You'll what?" Vivian stared at him. "Kill him? Or send me away?"

Liam couldn't speak.

Vivian laughed, a bitter, desolate sound.

"You see? You can't do it. Liam Sullivan, there's an ocean of blood and hatred between us. Your grandfather killed my parents, and now he's killed my child. How can I possibly be with you?"

Liam's hands were shaking.

"Vivian, give me time..."

"Time?" Vivian pushed him away. "Liam Sullivan, we don't have time. From the moment I learned the truth, we were finished."

She lay back down on the bed, turning her back to him.

"Go. I don't want to see you anymore."

Liam stood by the bed, motionless.

A long time passed before he spoke.

"Vivian, I'm not leaving. I will give you an answer for this."

Vivian didn't respond.

Liam turned and walked out of the room.

The moment the door closed, Vivian's tears finally broke through the dam.

She curled into a ball, hugging herself.

A dull ache still throbbed in her lower abdomen.

A life had once been there.

Now, there was nothing.

She didn't know how much time had passed when the hospital room door opened again.

A doctor walked in, holding a syringe.

"Miss Bennett, Mr. Sullivan has instructed us to administer a sedative. You need to rest."

Vivian sat up abruptly.

"I don't need it."

The doctor looked at her uncomfortably.

"It's Mr. Sullivan's order..."

"I said I don't need it!" Vivian screamed. "Get out! All of you, get out!"

The doctor stood his ground, not moving.

Vivian grabbed a pillow and threw it.

"Get out!"

The pillow hit the doctor and fell to the floor.

The doctor sighed and turned to leave.

Vivian collapsed back onto the bed, breathing heavily.

She couldn't sleep.

Every time she closed her eyes, she would dream of that child.

Of blood, of crying, of her own hand reaching out but grasping nothing.

She buried her head in her hands, her whole body shaking.

She didn't know how long it was before the door opened once more.

Liam Sullivan walked in, followed by the doctor.

Vivian looked up at him.

"What are you going to do?"

Liam walked to the bedside, his voice low.

"Vivian, you need to rest."

"I don't need to!" Vivian shrank back. "Liam Sullivan, don't come any closer!"

Liam reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"Be good."

Vivian struggled desperately.

"Let me go! I won't take the shot! I'll have nightmares... I'll dream of the baby... dream of the baby dying..."

Liam's hand stiffened for a second.

But he didn't let go.

"Doctor."

The doctor stepped forward, preparing the syringe.

Tears welled up in Vivian's eyes.

"Liam, please... don't do this... please..."

The needle pierced her skin.

The cool liquid entered her vein.

Vivian's struggles gradually weakened.

Her vision began to blur.

The last thing she saw was Liam's face.

And the bottomless pain in his eyes.

She closed her eyes.

A tear slid from the corner of her eye, disappearing into her hair.

Liam stood by the bed, looking at her sleeping profile.

His fingers gently brushed the corner of her eye, wiping away the tear track.

"Vivian..."

His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

"I'm sorry."

He leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead.

Then he turned and walked out of the room.

The door closed.

The hallway was empty.

Liam leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to sit on the floor.

He buried his head in his hands, his shoulders trembling slightly.

A long time later, he stood up and took out his phone.

He dialed a number.

"Find out everything. Everyone involved on the day of the engagement party. Leave no one out."

He hung up and looked out the window.

The sky was growing dark.

A storm was coming.