"Chase, I’m in this state, and you’re still going to see your old flame, is that it?" Fat tears rolled down Vivian Lynch’s cheeks.

"Vivian, it’s not what you think. Grandma’s back, and she’s planning a family dinner. She wants Mia Kane to come too."

"A family dinner? With an outsider?"

"Vivian, Mia and I were together for three years. When Grandma’s health was poor, Mia was the one who took care of her, who kept her company and cheered her up."

"I could have done that! Was it because I didn’t want to? Why is my life so miserable? My family fell from grace, and my parents left me in your family’s care. Your parents weren’t happy about my family’s decline, so they married me off to someone abroad—and they picked that drunk, abusive husband for me!"

"My life after marriage was a living hell, worse than death! The Lockwood family owes me. Doesn’t that count for more than the three years Mia put in? I’m your wife now, so why is your grandmother still thinking about someone else?"

"She knows Mia is single again, doesn’t she? Is she trying to get you two back together? Is divorcing me your next step? Is it?"

Chase Lockwood felt his irritation mount at her words.

’How did it come to this? Isn’t she just looking for trouble?’

"You’re being completely unreasonable."

Chase Lockwood found it impossible to communicate with her and didn’t want to argue.

Vivian Lynch hadn’t always been like this. She used to be very understanding; she’d even been willing to share him with Mia Kane.

Maybe it was the hormonal changes after her pregnancy, making her easily agitated. He really did want to be good to her, to help her recover. And while he was disgusted by the idea of eating the placenta, he hadn’t strictly forbidden it, as long as it made Vivian happy.

Chase Lockwood turned and left. Vivian Lynch tried to run after him, but he quickly got into his car and vanished without a trace.

Vivian Lynch was furious and anxious, but she quickly calmed down, realizing she had gone too far. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

’During this critical period, I can’t let Mia Kane damage our relationship.’

’The most important thing for me right now is to recover and get pregnant again soon. Even a girl would solidify my position. I can take my time having a son.’

’And for this family dinner, I need to keep the old lady happy so Chase isn’t caught in the middle, torn between us.’

’Maybe if the old lady gives me a hard time, Chase will feel even more sorry for me.’

She couldn’t resist asking the maternity nurse again when they could resume having sex.

The maternity nurse was tired of being asked, but she didn’t let it show on her face as she answered once more.

"You have to wait for the lochia to stop and for your first period to come normally. You also have to consider your own recovery. In your case, you must not have intercourse for at least three months, especially since you had surgery."

Vivian Lynch grew anxious at these words.

She had an ugly scar on her stomach. Even with expensive scar cream, which had some effect, a mark still remained.

She also wanted to get genetic testing done to find out why she had miscarried a perfectly healthy baby.

She had also found an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor and gotten a secret prescription for bearing sons, guaranteed to produce a boy on the first try.

Now, everything was ready. She just had to wait for the first three months to pass.

...

Mia Kane called Chase’s grandmother, who already knew about her divorce.

"SIGH. Child, you tell Grandma, did that boy bully you?"

"No, we just weren’t compatible. It was an amicable divorce."

"He really didn’t cheat on you during the marriage? I heard all about his engagement to that Charlotte girl."

"No, they started dating normally after we broke up..."

Mia Kane quickly clarified, still defending Adrian Preston in her heart.

Only after her repeated assurances did Grandma give up on the idea of going after Adrian Preston to settle the score.

"You absolutely have to come to the family dinner!"

Mia had wanted to go. She really missed Grandma. They often video-chatted, but it was far from enough.

Her own family wasn’t in Argent, and they favored sons over daughters.

Her parents had never shown much concern for her, leaving her with a deep-seated need for love.

So, after she got together with Chase Lockwood, she had treated his family as her own.

Grandma was very good to her, too, and had taught her that with family, love given would be returned.

She didn’t blame her own parents. Not all parents are capable of loving their children wholeheartedly.

They loved her, they just loved boys a little bit more.

"Grandma, I don’t think I should go. It’s your family’s dinner, after all. How about I take you out to eat separately after it’s over?"

"You’re part of my family too!"

"Grandma, I know you’re just worried about me, but Chase Lockwood is married now. If I go, how will Vivian Lynch feel? I don’t want to cause any trouble."

It wasn’t that Mia was afraid of her; she just didn’t want to see her again.

’Vivian Lynch has lost her child. She’s already been utterly defeated.’

’Vivian’s real goal isn’t a life-or-death battle with me, but to keep a tight grip on Chase Lockwood’s heart.’

’But she can’t bear children, and the massive Lockwood family fortune requires an heir.’

’Vivian is destined to be the one who gets abandoned, no matter how much Chase loves her.’

Thinking of this, she almost felt sorry for Vivian Lynch. The woman had truly shot herself in the foot.

"But I’ve invited several promising young men. I wanted to set you up!"

AHEM, AHEM...

’So this dinner wasn’t just a dinner. She had this waiting for me.’

"I thought you’d be trying to set me up with Chase, urging him to get a divorce."

"I would never do something so vicious! Besides, Chase isn’t good enough for you. I know your personality. You’re completely over him. There’s no future for you two in this lifetime."

Mia’s nose tingled. Grandma really did know her best.

"Then it’s settled. After the family dinner, I’ll give you a proper welcome-back celebration."

"As for the matchmaking... let’s just forget it. I don’t want to get involved with any men for a while."

She didn’t know if Grandma had really listened to her.

She also didn’t know that Adrian Preston had already heard the news about Chase Lockwood inviting her to the family dinner.

"Old Mrs. Ziegler is back, and she’s invited Mia to the family dinner. President Lockwood even notified her personally." Theo Thorne was frantic. "The old lady has always been fond of Mia, and she’s always wanted to set her up with President Lockwood. Adrian, you and Mia are divorced now. Do you think the old lady will play matchmaker, get President Lockwood to divorce, and then have him marry Mia?"

"Mia’s not stupid. She won’t go back to an ex."

Adrian Preston didn’t even look up as he continued to handle his work.

"Really?"

"Chase Lockwood doesn’t stand a chance in this lifetime."

"But isn’t it possible, Adrian, that you’re also an ex she could go back to?"

Adrian Preston: "..."

’I almost forgot about myself.’

His current situation was surprisingly similar to Chase Lockwood’s. The only difference was that his relationship with Charlotte was purely for mutual business benefit; the engagement was just a way to maximize profits.

"Hasn’t my old man been causing trouble for a while?"

Adrian Preston suddenly looked up and said.

"I’m going to the sanatorium. It’s about time I checked in on my father."

Adrian Preston headed to the sanatorium without giving any prior notice. In the courtyard, Donovan Preston was practicing Tai Chi, his physique so robust he looked like he could plow a field.

His movements were as smooth as flowing water, carrying the air of a true master.

"How was that? Not bad, right? Don’t I have the air of an immortal sage?"

He asked the family doctor standing behind him, his voice full of pride.

"Sir, President Preston is here."

Donovan Preston’s smile immediately vanished. He clutched his lower back and turned around.

"OUCH... I’m old... useless now... Just one set of forms, and now this hurts, that hurts..."

Adrian Preston poured himself a cup of tea, watching him with a raised eyebrow and a smirk, not saying a word.

Donovan Preston, however, felt as if he were being watched by a hawk.

"I’ve just been building my strength up recently. Before, my health was just terrible."

"Stop pretending. I know everything."

"Huh? You know?"

"Yes. From the very beginning," Adrian Preston said nonchalantly.

Donovan Preston was stunned. "What did you say? From the beginning? Then when I faked being sick to force you two to marry..."

"Yes, I already knew you were faking it back then. I have all your medical reports. I know whether you’re sick better than you do."

"Then why did you still agree to marry Mia? No... wait... let me get this straight. With your personality, no one can force you to marry someone you don’t want to. Since you knew I was faking, but you still married her... that means you wanted to marry Mia all along! Right?"