Free Web NovelChapter 28: Chapter 28: Making Vivian Linton Shoot Herself in the Foot
They wanted her to help Vervain Studio restore that antique qipao!
After reading the agreement, a cold smirk touched Holly Sinclair’s lips.
’So, Vivian Linton schemed to snatch this massive opportunity from me, and now she can’t even handle it?’
"Vivian Linton, I told you before: if you don’t have the skills, don’t take the job," Holly Sinclair said mockingly, her smooth fingertips flicking at the agreement.
Vivian Linton’s expression froze.
Humiliation and anger flared within her, as if she’d been slapped hard across the face.
’What did she mean by that?’
’Did she know all along that I couldn’t handle that stupid qipao?!’
When Holly had said that to her the other day, she had dismissed it.
She thought her own talent was more than enough to handle it with ease.
Who knew that after she’d proposed several restoration plans, Mrs. Quincy would be dissatisfied with all of them.
’That old hag!’
She’d been running herself ragged these past few days because of it.
Though she would never admit it, deep down, Vivian Linton knew that Holly’s skills were leagues ahead of her own.
Therefore, only Holly could solve this major problem.
"Cut the crap!"
Vivian Linton, flying into a rage from the humiliation, spat through clenched teeth, "Let me make this clear, Holly Sinclair. Wendy Wyatt’s fate is in my hands. You have no choice!"
Holly Sinclair indeed had no choice.
She had to save Wendy.
"Besides, this is what Tristan wants too," Vivian Linton added, a triumphant smile on her face.
Holly’s pupils contracted.
A sharp pain pierced her heart.
’Tristan’s idea?’ fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
’So, Tristan Sterling knew Vivian didn’t have the skills, but he still went against his conscience to help her snatch the restoration contract. And now he’s using Wendy to threaten me, forcing me to do all the work so Vivian can reap the rewards?’
"Vivian Linton, are you sure you want me to sign this?" freewebnoveℓ.com
The light in Holly’s eyes was bone-chillingly cold, and her lips curved into an unreadable smile.
"Of course!"
Vivian Linton said without a moment’s hesitation.
’The agreement stipulated that once the antique qipao was restored to Mrs. Quincy’s satisfaction, the payment would belong to Vervain Studio. If she wasn’t satisfied, the responsibility would fall on Holly.’
’In other words, the fame and fortune would ultimately be hers—Vivian Linton’s.’
’And Holly? She was just a workhorse to be exploited.’
"Fine, I’ll sign. Just don’t regret it."
Holly scoffed, her words laced with a hidden meaning.
She picked up a pen and signed her name.
As she finished the last stroke, a triumphant, sinister smirk spread across Vivian Linton’s face.
She immediately snatched the agreement away.
’Regret?’
’How could she possibly regret such a windfall dropping into her lap?’
Holly watched Vivian’s smug, treacherous expression.
In one swift motion, she lifted her cup.
A cup of still-steaming coffee was thrown viciously in Vivian Linton’s face.
"AHH!"
Caught completely off guard, Vivian Linton shot to her feet from the scalding liquid, screaming, "Holly Sinclair, are you insane!"
She scrambled to wipe the coffee from her face, a pathetic and comical sight.
Her expensive white suit was stained and ruined, all its previous glamour gone in an instant.
"I did it on purpose, Vivian Linton. If you’ve got the guts, go get your precious Tristan to throw me in jail too," Holly sneered, coolly enjoying Vivian’s meltdown.
’Let’s see who’ll be left to restore her antique qipao then!’
"You!"
Vivian Linton ground her teeth, her face contorted with rage.
But there was absolutely nothing she could do about Holly.
Satisfied, Holly turned and walked away.
Vivian Linton clenched her fists, her venomous eyes glinting with a cold, viper-like light as she stared at Holly’s departing back.
’Bitch!’
’Let’s see how long you can stay smug!’
’Once you finish restoring that qipao, I have plenty of ways to deal with you!’
...
Holly Sinclair hurried to the police station to pick up Wendy Wyatt.
But just as she arrived, she saw her best friend getting into a black luxury car.
The license plate was an incredibly ostentatious string of eights: 88888...
Holly knew who owned that car.
It was Tristan Sterling’s good friend—
Nathan Fletcher.
’Why would Wendy get into Nathan Fletcher’s car?’
’Do they know each other?’
Holly’s mind flashed back to the moment when Tristan Sterling had threatened to call the police on Wendy. Wendy had glanced at Nathan Fletcher.
The look that passed between them then...
It was very unusual.
Holly quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Wendy’s number.
...
Wendy Wyatt and Nathan Fletcher were locked in a passionate kiss inside the moving car.
When she heard her phone ring, she fumbled for her bag, intending to answer.
But the moment she pulled it out, the man snatched it from her hand.
He pressed the button to lower the window and tossed the phone out.
Then he closed the window again.
Wendy heard the sound of her phone being smashed to smithereens and cursed, "Nathan Fletcher, are you insane—AH!"
Before she could finish, the man gave her a vicious pinch.
Her face went from pale to red with pain.
The man spun her around and forced her to her knees, pressing her against the car door.
RIIIP!
He tore her qipao.
Wendy’s alluring face was pressed against the cold window glass, her body bent into a humiliating position.
"Are you on something?"
Nathan Fletcher pressed against her, his thin lips close to the back of her ear. His voice, husky and magnetic, was exceptionally seductive.
Wendy shuddered.
’A chill spread through her heart.’
But her face was lit with a bewitching smile.
"I am your medicine, Mr. Fletcher~"
She purred, turning her head to look at him with sultry eyes. Leaning close to his lips, she exhaled a fragrant breath. "So why don’t you hurry up... and take me..."
...
「Julian’s Studio」
Holly Sinclair was packing her things.
"Are you really going to Vivian Linton’s studio tomorrow?"
Justin Schofield hovered by her side, chattering nonstop, his eyes filled with worry. "Don’t go! You can tell just by looking at her that she’s bad news. Isn’t going to her studio like a lamb walking into a tiger’s den? What if she uses this chance to bully you?"
"I already signed the contract."
"But those are clearly exploitative terms..."
"I have no choice." Holly gave a bitter smile.
Justin was left speechless.
After a long moment, he cursed indignantly, "She’s just a dog hiding behind its master’s power! This is going too far!"
’It’s true.’
’With Tristan Sterling backing her, isn’t Vivian Linton just a dog relying on its master’s power?’
But Holly just smiled.
She clapped Justin on the shoulder and said meaningfully, "Don’t worry, Justin. Even if Vivian Linton has schemed this all out, she won’t be getting away with a single thing."
"What do you mean?" Hearing the hidden meaning in her words, Justin Schofield immediately perked up.
"I’m going to make her..."
The smile on Holly’s lips turned icy, a brilliant light flashing in her eyes as she enunciated every word, "Overplay... her hand... and lose... it... all!"
...
After leaving Justin’s studio, Holly headed to the hospital to see her brother.
When she reached the hospital room, a doctor was examining him.
The doctor was handsome, with a cold, ascetic face.
He was young, probably around thirty.
Holly looked at the unfamiliar doctor, her brow furrowed in suspicion.
’This wasn’t her brother’s previous attending physician.’
’Did they change doctors?’
"Auntie."
Holly walked over to Isabella Sinclair, who was sitting on the sofa.
"You’re here."
Isabella Sinclair gave her niece a lukewarm glance.
"Who is this doctor?" Holly asked in a low voice, placing a bouquet of flowers and a fruit basket on the coffee table.
’He looks so young, could his medical skills be up to par...?’
A flicker of worry went through Holly’s mind.
"Didn’t you find him?"
Isabella Sinclair, however, frowned and asked her back.
"Me?" Holly was completely baffled and shook her head. "No."
"No?" Isabella was confused too. She leaned close to her niece’s ear and whispered, "I heard from the nurses that he’s a leading authority in neurology, a real top-tier expert. If you didn’t spend a fortune to hire him, why would he be here treating your brother?"
’A leading authority in neurology...’
