Chapter 3
Out of nowhere, the most influential person in Ryan's circle called me up. He got straight to the point. "Do you really have to badmouth someone who's already passed away? Ryan has some feelings for her, but she's gone now. She's no threat to your place. Why can't you just let her go—"
I didn't even let him finish and just hung up.
But I didn't block him. Instead, I sent him an address along with a message: [Please, just lock Ryan and Sandra together and keep them from causing trouble for me.]
He had no idea what I meant and tried calling again, but this time I blocked him.
*****
By evening, a breaking story about an award-winning actor's messy divorce exploded across the news. In less than half an hour, it completely buried the news about Sandra. It was obvious someone was handling PR behind the scenes.
I'd already gotten what I wanted, so I didn't care how things played out after that.
My parents called, pretending to care, asking if Ryan and I had broken up.
When I confirmed it, their voices immediately turned giddy with excitement.
My mother said, "We always knew you didn't have what it takes to marry into a wealthy family. Good thing we still have Scarlett. She's been by Mr. Linwood's side in the hospital these days, and the two of them are getting along so well. It's just a pity about Mr. Linwood's leg. The doctors say he'll probably be paralyzed. But the Linwood family has more than enough money; they can just hire extra servants to look after him. Scarlett was born to be a rich man's wife. All she has to do is give the Linwood family an heir."
I just smiled and stayed quiet.
If they were so convinced Scarlett could marry Ryan, let them enjoy their little daydream.
When it came to people and things that had nothing to do with me, I wouldn't say a single extra word about them.
The only reason they called was to test if I was truly done with Ryan. Once they got the answer they wanted, they hung up right away.
Not once did they say a single word of comfort to me. My disappointment in them had built up over time. So I wasn't even sad.
*****
A few days later, Harper came over with two bodyguards.
She was determined to force me to the hospital to see Ryan.
The bodyguards were banging on my door while I was inside, calling 911.
But the cops were a step too late; they'd already dragged me off to the hospital.
In the VIP hospital suite, Ryan looked absolutely awful. His face was pale, and his eyes were completely dull and lifeless.
When he saw me walk in, he froze for a moment, then scrambled off the bed. Two nurses rushed to hold him back, and Scarlett hurried over to help him, but he shoved her aside without a second thought.
"Vivian, you finally came to see me," he said.
His eyes suddenly lit up, and he reached out to me, looking both pitiful and aggrieved.
To anyone watching, it looked like he was totally obsessed with me.
I just stood there, with nothing but cold indifference in my eyes.
Harper slapped my arm hard, gritting her teeth. "Ryan is calling you. Are you deaf?"
Harper never wanted me anywhere near Ryan, but he'd been making such a fuss and refusing treatment that Harper was forced to bring me here.
I swatted Harper's hand away and said coldly, "Are you out of your mind? Kidnapping me like this? When the cops get here, you can explain it to them."
Scarlett snapped at me, "Vivian, Ryan is so weak. Could you be a little nicer to Mrs. Linwood?"
I ignored her and turned to leave.
Just as the nurses were helping Ryan into his wheelchair, he saw me heading out and suddenly panicked. He threw himself toward me, only to crash to the floor with a loud thud; the sound alone made it clear just how hard he'd fallen.
I didn't even look back and kept walking, but the moment I stepped out, I walked straight into someone.
It was Henry Foster, the most influential guy in Ryan's circle.
And right behind him was someone else, Sandra Carrington.