Chapter 538

Vivian Bennett clapped her hands twice.

The sound was crisp, yet carried a bone-chilling coldness.

"How laughable," she said, her lips curving into a faint, icy smile.

"You abandoned your wife and child, yet have the audacity to accuse others of being underhanded? Jason Harper, even shamelessness should have its limits."

Her gaze slid sideways towards him, brimming with undisguised contempt.

"Even if I did all those things, so what? Should one extend gentlemanly courtesy when dealing with scoundrels? I've never claimed to be some noble, upright person. And I certainly can't be bothered to play fair with the likes of you."

Jason's face flushed, then paled.

Guilt gnawed at him, but he stiffened his spine defiantly.

"Grace, you heard her, right? She admitted it herself! She's the one who's been scheming behind our backs, turning our family business upside down. So what if my mother said some harsh things before? Was it necessary for her to be this ruthless? To drive our family to utter ruin?"

"Vivian..." Grace Harper stared at her cousin, her eyes wide with shock and inner turmoil.

"The Harper family's troubles... was it really you?"

Her heart had long grown cold towards the Harpers.

She wanted no further entanglement.

Yet, seeing the man she once loved reduced to such a state stirred uncomfortable feelings within her.

Moreover, Jason was still legally her husband—even if soon to be her ex-husband.

She couldn't find it in herself to be completely heartless.

Seeing her cousin's pity for the man who had betrayed her, a surge of anger flared in Vivian's chest.

"Grace, don't be fooled by his pitiful act. They brought this upon themselves."

"Even if we were wrong, our crimes don't warrant a death sentence, do they?" Jason cut in, his voice rising with agitation.

"It was just a few harsh words! And both my mother and I are willing to change! We want to take Grace back, treat her well, cherish her like a goddess. Why must you keep pushing, driving us to the brink?"

Vivian let out a cold laugh.

"Do something wrong, say 'sorry,' and expect it all to be wiped clean? Jason Harper, the world doesn't work that way. The fact that I haven't sued you for defamation is already for Grace's sake. This is my final warning—stop harassing us. Otherwise, I'll make things even more humiliating for you."

She was utterly sick of this ex-brother-in-law who clung like stubborn glue.

Jason exploded.

"Grace, do you see her attitude? She simply dislikes me and is deliberately seeking revenge! Think about it carefully. Ever since she moved into our home, has our life known a single day of peace? If not for her, would we have argued so fiercely? From the very beginning, she's been whispering in your ear, saying I'm no good, that my parents are harsh, making you doubt marrying me—"

He grew more agitated as he spoke, as if he were the one who had suffered a grave injustice.

"If she truly cared for you, why would she encourage you to get a divorce? Who persuades their own cousin to divorce? She's been intent on destroying us from the start! Look at her now—she won't even let you speak, every word pushing you to be cruel to us!"

Vivian was momentarily speechless.

Once this man shed all pretense, his skill at twisting the truth and shifting blame was truly masterful.

She turned to Grace, her voice lowering.

"Grace, listen to him yourself. Does this man have an ounce of accountability? His so-called apology—a few sentences and his true colors show."

Jason snorted, his eyes mocking.

"Grace, you see? She's always targeting me. Think again. Is our situation today entirely my fault? If she hadn't moved in with us back then, if she hadn't deliberately hidden her relationship with Liam Sullivan, none of this would have happened!"

He took a step forward, his tone growing more impassioned.

"She clearly had ties to Liam Sullivan, yet she pretended to be destitute and came to us for shelter, deliberately testing us! Human nature is inherently fragile under such tests! Yes, my mother spoke harshly. Yes, my attitude towards her wasn't great before. But if she were truly penniless, what's wrong with us looking down on her? She used that very fact to provoke my mother in front of you, to show you our 'ugly' sides!"

He paused for breath, a flash of malice in his eyes.

"And what about her true face? She kept even you in the dark! She never told you the real nature of her relationship with Liam Sullivan, yet used it to test everyone around you—would someone who genuinely wishes for your happiness sabotage your marriage after you're wed, turn you into an abandoned wife? Grace, think carefully about what I'm saying!"

Grace's face turned deathly pale.

She stood frozen, her eyes vacant.

Vivian trembled with rage.

Jason's mouth, his ability to distort black and white, was truly unparalleled.

She was done wasting words.

"Since you feel so wronged, we'll settle this in court. Some people never learn until they see the coffin. I initially didn't want to escalate things for Grace's sake, but since you refuse to accept the olive branch, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

She swiftly grabbed her phone, her fingers swiping across the screen to contact her lawyer.

"Vivian, don't—" Grace suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand.