Remarriage Failed Again Today

’They didn’t start a fight?’

’Oh well. It makes no difference to her whether I stay or go.’ Vivian Yates dabbed the corners of her eyes and said gratefully, her eyes rimmed with red, "Thank you for letting me stay, Cousin. I promise I won’t be any trouble."

"It’s no—"

Just as Annabelle Linton was about to speak, Leona Grant beat her to it. "Good."

Vivian Yates was left speechless.

’How had she never realized this man could be so cruel?’

...

That afternoon, Leona Grant went to work, leaving Annabelle Linton and Vivian Yates at home alone.

Annabelle Linton had originally planned to either find a job or start learning martial arts after returning from Serenvale.

But a series of unforeseen events had delayed her plans, and she still hadn’t managed to do anything. With Vivian Yates here now, it was even more difficult for her to be out of the house.

"That’s right, bring it all inside."

"Careful with that box—my crystal ball is in there. It’s fragile."

"Okay, and this one... bring it in too..."

Annabelle Linton and Vivian Yates were watching TV, chatting idly, when they suddenly heard a commotion at the front door.

"What’s going on?"

"Young Madam, it seems the young miss has arrived," a nearby servant replied.

The "young miss" was, of course, Ashley Grant.

Annabelle Linton looked over to see Ashley Grant walking in with her hands in her pockets. She was wearing a light-colored top and shorts under a pink, waist-cinching trench coat.

She had a bag slung over one shoulder, her hair was tied up in a bun, and she was wearing sunglasses, giving her an air of indescribable energy and freshness.

Annabelle Linton watched the servants carry Ashley’s belongings upstairs, piece by piece, feeling utterly bewildered.

’What’s she doing?’

Before Annabelle Linton could speak, Ashley Grant had already walked over with a wide grin and plopped down on the sofa beside her. "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law! I’m moving in for a few days. You’ll welcome me, won’t you?"

’She’s already made a huge fuss moving all her things in, and she’s asking if I’ll welcome her...’

Annabelle Linton was exasperated. The two siblings were equally domineering and assertive.

She replied teasingly, "It doesn’t look like I have much of a choice."

Ashley Grant looked at her and frowned in mock disapproval. "You’re no fun. I’ve already dragged all my bags over here; couldn’t you at least pretend to think it over? Not that the outcome would change."

Her antics made Annabelle Linton laugh.

Ashley Grant’s gaze traveled past Annabelle Linton to land on Vivian Yates, and the corner of her mouth lifted into a scornful smirk. "Well now, what a coincidence. And what might *you* be doing here?"

Vivian Yates saw the undisguised contempt on Ashley Grant’s face. That, combined with the formal pronoun she used, made her words drip with sarcasm.

She gave a dry, awkward laugh. "I’m... staying with my cousin for a few days..."

"You two know each other?" Annabelle Linton asked, looking from one to the other in confusion. The moment she asked, however, it clicked.

’She probably met her back when Leona Grant was supposed to marry Annabelle Ainsworth.’

’...No wonder the girl suddenly decided to move in. She’s clearly not here on friendly terms. She wouldn’t... ’

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Ashley Grant let out a sudden, derisive laugh. "How could I not know her?" she said in a voice dripping with sarcasm. "She was almost my sister-in-law, wasn’t she? Isn’t that right, Miss Ainsworth?"

...Vivian Yates was suddenly at a loss for words.

Ashley Grant frowned, looking at Vivian’s meek and submissive act. The more she looked, the more she disliked what she saw.

’This woman’s whole act was just so infuriatingly fake. Always playing the victim, always wearing that "the whole world owes me an apology" expression. It was absolutely nauseating.’

Vivian Yates used to be just like this. ’Damn it,’ Ashley thought, ’I don’t know why, but I just can’t stand people like her.’