Chapter 665

Grace Harper stood at the base of the apartment building.

She spotted Vivian Bennett in the distance and hurried forward to meet her.

Her face was etched with anxiety, her voice thick with worry.

"Vivian, why didn't you tell me you were being discharged? Hiding your injury from me is one thing, but not even letting me pick you up from the hospital? If it weren't for..."

She paused, her expression turning awkward.

"...if someone hadn't called to tell me, I'd still be completely in the dark."

Vivian knew instantly this was Oliver Winston's doing.

Seeing Grace, she felt a dull throb at her temples.

Compared to people like Oliver Winston, this cousin bound to her by blood was harder to push away.

It was more difficult, and it pained her more.

"Grace," Vivian said coldly, avoiding the hand Grace extended to support her. "Since things have come to this, I need to make myself clear."

"Let's talk inside. It's windy out here, and you're not fully recovered yet." Grace looked at her frail figure, her eyes filled with concern.

Vivian shook her head, her gaze deep and steady on Grace. "There's no need. I don't have much to say. Just listen carefully."

"Vivian..." Grace's heart tightened. Vivian's expression filled her with an inexplicable panic.

Vivian took a deep breath, her tone calm yet firm. "I am your cousin. But I am not obligated to take care of you for a lifetime. You are an adult. You need to learn to take responsibility for your own life. Not run to me every time something happens, treating me like your free safe harbor."

Grace's face instantly paled. Her voice trembled. "Vivian, are you angry with me? Are you upset I haven't been by your side lately? I promise I'll be there for you from now on. Please don't be like this..."

"It's no use, Grace." Vivian cut her off, her voice laced with weariness. "I'm tired of it. I've given enough, suffered enough for you and the Harper family mess. I've lived for you for so long. I'm truly exhausted now. I don't want to carry the weight of your life anymore. As your cousin, I've done more than my duty. From now on, live your own life well. Don't come looking for me again."

Every word felt like a knife cutting into her own heart.

The pain made her fingertips tremble.

She had no family growing up, so she had poured all her affection and concern into Grace, treating her as her closest kin.

Today, she had to sever it all with her own hands.

She was letting go of even this last bit of familial bond.

Grace's eyes widened. A sudden sting hit her nose, and tears rolled down her cheeks without warning.

She looked at Vivian, utterly lost, listening to those cold, harsh truths. Her tears flowed harder.

"So... you've always seen me as a burden. I know I've held you back a lot, owe you so much... Even you losing the baby was because of me..."

She grew more distraught as she spoke, reaching out to grasp Vivian's hand.

"I truly know I was wrong. I'm just a walking disaster. You're not wrong to think that... I've never brought you anything good, only trouble. But I promise I won't drag you down anymore. Please, don't shut me out..."

Vivian's eyes reddened too.

But she clenched her teeth, hardening her heart and turning her face away.

"No. Your dependence on me is too deep. It will only keep causing me trouble. I'm sick of cleaning up your messes. Please, let me go too."

She coldly withdrew her hand from Grace's grasp.

Grace stood frozen in place, sobbing uncontrollably.

Vivian continued in a冷酷 tone. "Look at you. All you do when faced with problems is cry. Can't you be stronger, just once, so I can respect you? If you can't even live independently, how can you claim you won't cause me more trouble?"

She turned her back, her voice growing colder. "Leave. Seeing you cry only irritates me more. If you have any backbone, prove it to me—show me you can live well without me."

"Vivian..."

Grace felt pierced by her words, her whole body aching.

She knew she was indeed useless.

But being told to "get lost" by her own cousin was still too much to bear.