Chapter 11
Chapter 11
D
Vivian bit her lip hard . It was always the same story . People believed being with Mason was a gift for her from the heavens , and she should be grateful . Her own pain was just her being “ difficult ” and “ immature . ” They never saw the wounds he inflicted .
But Sienna let out a cold laugh . “ Who says no one will marry my sister ? ” she said , her voice dripping with disdain . “ Vallaris is full of good men . Or did all of them die and leave Mason as the last man on Earth ? ”
Aiden was speechless , and Linda tried again , her voice dripping with false sincerity . “ Oh , Sienna , maybe that’s a bit too much . We’ve all seen how kind Mason’s been to Vivian . And you know how messy feelings get . We’re only saying this because we care about her . ”
“ Exactly , ” Aiden chimed in .
A smug smile touched Mason’s lips . He looked at Vivian , a silent challenge in his eyes . “ Vivian , ” he said slowly , “ let’s just forget this ever happened . If you learn to behave , I’m still willing to marry you .”
Vivian clung to Sienna’s arm , pressing close , and made a sound of disgust at Mason . Sienna just laughed , her scornful gaze sweeping over him .
“ Do you have any idea what you’re worth ? ” she sneered . “ And you have the audacity to stand here and talk about being willing to marry Vivian ? Look at yourself . You’re not worthy of her . ”
Being slapped down by Sienna was one thing , but this public humiliation pushed Mason over the edge . Furious , he shot back , “ So what if you’re her sister ? You don’t scare me ! ”
“ Guards , ” ignoring him , Sienna called out . “ Escort this garbage out .”
Two guards immediately entered and grabbed Mason , dragging him towards the door .
“ Let go of me ! ” Mason yelled . “ How dare you ! You bastards , let me go ! ”
His protests faded as he was unceremoniously hauled out of the house . With the noise gone , Aiden turned on Sienna .
“ Look at what you’ve done ! ” he snapped . “ You’re only happy tearing this family apart . The Harts and Quinns have an alliance , and you’ve ruined it . You come back just to wreck everything ! What’s your plan , Sienna ? ”
Emboldened by Linda’s presence , Aiden’s confidence surged . He was the head of this house , the heir to the Hart Corporation . To him , Sienna had just returned , and she couldn’t possibly defy him .
“ Ten years , and your voice has gotten louder , Father . A slight improvement ,” Sienna’s gaze flickered past Linda’s nervous face and landed on Aiden .
“ But I think you’ve forgotten something , ” she continued . “ You’ve forgotten who the rightful heir , or heiress to the Hart Corporation is . Or has playing pretend for a decade made you forget your own place ? ”
Aiden had no rebuttal . The heiress to the Hart Corporation was , indeed , Sienna . Even her sisters had no shares , and he only held one percent .
Linda clenched her fist . “ Sienna , you’re the heiress , but think of your father . You were gone ten years . He kept the company afloat . Are you really going to come back and try to take it from him ? Is that how a daughter acts ? ”
Sienna barely glanced at her . “ What’s your surname ? ” she asked .
Linda was taken aback , “ My surname is Lam- ”
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7:37 pm
Chapter 11
DD
“ Right , Lambert . But this is the Hart’s business , ” Sienna cut her off flatly .
It took Linda a moment to understand the insult . The quiet snickers from the remaining guests made her face burn with humiliation and anger . Aiden was about to defend her , but Sienna’s next words sent a chill down his spine .
“ I remember making a rule , ” she said , her voice dangerously quiet . “ That no one was to touch my mother’s things . ”
Linda flinched . After Selina had died , Sienna had decreed that her mother’s room , her clothes , her jewelry , were all to be left untouched . It was a rule no one had dared to break . Until now .
And here was Linda , wearing her mother’s necklace , her mother’s dress . Sienna had never felt such a white – hot rage . Memories of her mother , of their life together , flooded her mind , and her eyes turned red .
Aiden avoided her gaze as Linda , shaken by Sienna’s stare , tugged his sleeve . “ Darling , it’s not what you think ! I just want Vivian to accept me as her mother . They’ve resented me since I arrived , but you’re their father . I can’t let them be unfilial . ”
Her tearful performance moved Aiden deeply . He knew it . Linda was the only one who truly cared for him . “ Linda , I know your intentions are good , ” he comforted , then turning back to Sienna .
“ Sienna , Linda meant no harm , ” he said . “ Besides , your mother has been gone for many years . The clothes are just sitting there . If Linda likes them , let her wear them . We’re all family , aren’t we ? ”
“ We are not family ! ” Vivian exploded . “ That’s my mother’s dress ! This is my mother’s house ! Who is she to wear her clothes ? ”
Aiden glared at her . “ You brat , shut your mouth ! ”