Free Web NovelChapter 131: Chapter 131: Make Her Apologize to Holly Sinclair
Vivian Linton had just started to speak when Tristan Sterling’s ice-cold voice filled her ears.
Alarm bells rang in her mind as a wave of unease instantly washed over her.
’He’s acting so strangely today!’
Vivian Linton never dreamed that the man who loved her to the bone would one day turn on her.
He had actually found that waiter to expose her, all to help Holly Sinclair clear her name.
’She knew he was a man of strong principles who couldn’t stand such dirty tricks.’
’But she was the woman he loved! Couldn’t he be biased in her favor, just this once?’
Vivian Linton was filled with resentment, but she didn’t dare voice any of it.
"Tristan~"
Seeing his cold expression, she gently tugged on his sleeve and called his name tentatively.
She deliberately drew out the last syllable, her voice laced with a coquettish plea. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to..."
"Didn’t mean to?" Tristan Sterling glanced at her, his tone frigid and carrying an invisible weight.
"I..." Vivian Linton faltered.
His gaze was so sharp it made her feel incredibly guilty.
Things had come to this; there was no room for excuses.
Vivian Linton decided to take the offensive. Tears streamed down her face as she cried out indignantly, "Tristan, I didn’t want this to happen! It was Holly Sinclair! She forced my hand!"
"How did she force you?"
"Miss Morgan was originally interested in my design! It was Holly Sinclair who interfered and maliciously snatched away the collaboration that should have gone to Vervain!"
"Did you sign a contract?" Tristan Sterling asked frostily.
"Well, no..."
Vivian Linton’s indignation immediately deflated.
"Since there was no contract, Evelyn Morgan had every right to choose what she wanted. That’s normal business competition. I don’t see a problem with it," the man said flatly.
The color drained from Vivian Linton’s face, a mixture of lividity and pallor. She was absolutely furious.
’How could he say that?’
’Wasn’t he supposed to be like he was before, always taking her side unconditionally, no matter what happened?’
But Vivian Linton didn’t dare to ask him that.
"Tristan, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just... I don’t know what came over me..."
When she saw that even her tears couldn’t move him, she knew she had to change tactics and feign retreat.
"I’m not the one you should be apologizing to."
Tristan Sterling’s gaze lowered as his slender fingers flicked at a nonexistent speck of dust on his knee.
"Tristan, you..."
Vivian Linton’s eyes flew wide in shock.
’What does he mean by that?’
’Is he telling me to apologize to that bitch, Holly Sinclair?!’
’No!’
’Absolutely not!’
"Tristan, you said you won’t divorce Holly Sinclair, which means I’ve already lost you. If she takes my career away from me now too, what will I do with the rest of my life?" Vivian Linton cried, tears streaming down her face, her voice a picture of despair and injustice.
Tristan Sterling’s cold expression softened slightly.
Though he had never promised to marry her, she had saved his life.
He bore some responsibility for her actions today.
"Vivian, that’s no excuse for you to frame someone!" Tristan Sterling said gravely.
Just as he finished speaking, the car came to a stop.
Vivian Linton turned to look and saw they had arrived at her apartment complex.
Greg opened the car door for her.
The message was clear: it was time for her to get out.
Feeling even more wronged, Vivian Linton panicked and grabbed Tristan’s hand. "Tristan, you promised you’d take care of me forever..."
She was terrified he would despise her after what happened tonight.
"I always keep my word, but that doesn’t mean you can cross my lines. I don’t want something like this to ever happen again!"
His tone was soft, yet utterly oppressive.
Hearing this, Vivian Linton finally felt a weight lift from her heart.
She quickly shook her head, promising, "It won’t. It will never happen again!"
"Okay. Go on home."
Tristan Sterling gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Hearing the man’s indifferent tone, Vivian Linton didn’t dare say another word. freёwebnoѵel.com
She could only obey and get out of the car.
Her secretly clenched fists betrayed her inner resentment and indignation.
’That bitch, Holly Sinclair!’
’One day, I’ll grind her into the dirt!’
...
「One week later.」
Holly Sinclair was leaving the hospital after visiting her brother.
As she was about to cross the street, she was suddenly overcome by a wave of dizziness.
Just as she was about to fall, a pair of large hands caught her.
"Careful!"
A familiar voice, full of concern, sounded in her ear.
She looked up into a pair of gentle, smiling dark eyes.
"Brandon?" Holly Sinclair exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, it’s me." Brandon Sterling’s smile was as warm as a gentle breeze.
"You..." freewebnovёl.ƈom
"Don’t talk. Let me help you sit down over there for a minute."
Brandon Sterling carefully helped Holly Sinclair to a nearby bench.
Holly Sinclair didn’t refuse; she truly felt awful.
’If Brandon hadn’t shown up just in time, I’d probably be lying in the middle of the street right now.’
After Holly Sinclair was seated, Brandon Sterling turned and went into a shop.
He returned a moment later with a bottle of warm milk.
"Drink some milk."
He thoughtfully twisted open the cap and handed it to her.
"Thank you."
Holly Sinclair took it and drank a few sips.
Her churning stomach settled a little.
"Still being so formal with me?" Brandon Sterling smiled helplessly, his tone fond.
"Brandon, when did you get back?" Holly Sinclair asked.
They hadn’t seen each other in over a month, not since that time at the restaurant.
They had spoken on the phone two or three times in the interim.
’From Brandon’s veiled comments, she knew it was that psycho, Tristan Sterling, again. He’d deliberately targeted his own brother, sending him on a business trip to some remote, difficult region.’
’It made her furious, but there was nothing she could do to help him.’
’They say blood is thicker than water, so she couldn’t understand why Tristan Sterling was so intolerant of his own older brother.’
"I got back last night." As if guessing her thoughts, he added with a smile, "I learned a lot on this trip. It was exhausting, but it was worth it!"
His casual tone suggested he was long accustomed to such unfair treatment.
"What are you doing here?"
Holly Sinclair felt a pang of sadness for him and quickly changed the subject.
"I was just visiting a sick friend at the hospital and saw you on my way out." Brandon Sterling looked at her pale face with concern. "You don’t look well. Are you feeling sick?"
"I might have eaten something bad. I feel a little nauseous." Holly Sinclair pressed a hand to her stomach, her brow furrowed.
’It’s a horrible feeling, like I need to throw up but can’t.’
"You should get that checked out at the hospital," Brandon Sterling said, reaching out to help her up.
Holly Sinclair shook her head repeatedly. "No, it’s okay. I’ll be fine after a little rest."
She had to get back to her studio.
A pile of work was waiting for her.
Holly Sinclair didn’t think it was anything serious.
She had a strong constitution and rarely got sick.
She had eaten an apple in her brother’s hospital room just moments before.
"No, you have to get it checked," Brandon Sterling insisted.
Holly Sinclair didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "I’m really fine—"
"Are you going to walk, or am I going to carry you?" Brandon Sterling’s expression turned serious, and he looked fully prepared to carry her into the hospital.
"Fine, fine. I’ll walk."
Holly Sinclair sighed and gave in.
...
「Half an hour later.」
「The doctor’s office.」
"Miss Sinclair, congratulations. You’re pregnant."
