Chapter 22: Seeking Your Own Demise

"I got a response from Regal Investments, and it's not good news," Nathaniel said.

"Oh? What?"

"They said the Swain family is a must-get for them and told us not to waste our efforts."

"What? A waste of effort?" Vivian laughed. "He's way too confident! Does he have a grudge against the Swain family too? Did Howard break his leg or something?"

"I'm not too sure about that, I don't know much about his personal affairs."

"So he isn't working for Ethan, is he?"

"I don't think that's likely. The Benton family could easily keep Howard down with a flick of wrist. There's no need to bring Regal Investments into the mix. So, do you want to keep pursuing this case?"

"Absolutely!" This only stoked Vivian's fighting spirit. "You're not getting cold feet, are you?"

"NO! I'll stand firmly by your side, my dear Crocodile."

"Good to know you see sense."

Just as she finished speaking with Nathaniel, Vivian received a call from her grandma who lived in the countryside.

"Vivian, do you know Ethan has an uncle?"

"Granny, are you talking about Clive Benton?"

"I... I'm not sure.”

"Granny, calm down, did you get some new information about cousin?"

"Yes, it seems the boy was taken away by someone called Mr. Benton years ago. "

"Clive Benton does have a son, about my age. I'll find an opportunity to check if he has any birthmarks," she planned.

" Good girl."

The previous encounter with Tyler was so revolting that Vivian had completely forgotten to check for a birthmark on his chest. Getting to the hospital to check on him now was going to be a bit of a rigmarole.

Ever since she had taken Yolanda to the Benton Group and the drugging incident occurred, Ethan had her under a tighter watch.

Even a simple stroll in the garden had her shadowed by servants. It seemed she would have to make a swift exit after Kaysen's birthday.

When the time came, she would fling the divorce papers in Ethan's face and contemptuously tell him, "Well, you just got dumped!"

After making the necessary preparations, Vivian used a toothache as an excuse to visit the hospital where Tyler was staying. After all, Tyler had been laid up there since Ethan broke his bones.

Accompanied by Jean to the hospital, Vivian had to create a ruse to avoid arousing suspicion. Once at the hospital, she feigned a stomach ache and excused herself to the restroom.

Inside the restroom, a person she had arranged to meet was waiting for her. With everyone wearing masks, no one could recognize anyone.

After accepting a backpack from the contact, Vivian emerged as a professional-looking nurse. Even when she brushed past Jean, she was not recognized.

After successfully eluding Jean's line of sight disguised as a nurse, Vivian headed straight to Tyler's hospital room. To her surprise, she found Yolanda in Tyler's room, and they seemed quite close. When did these two hook up? Vivian wondered.

But she didn't have the time or the inclination to delve into their affairs. She pushed her cart straight into the room, slightly altering her voice, "Hello, it's time for your body clean."

Hearing someone speak, Tyler immediately looked up, "Hiss~ Fresh meat, huh? I've never seen a nurse with such a good figure."

Biting back the urge to give him another fracture, Vivian replied, "Your girlfriend is the one with the real figure."

Quickly, Yolanda fed Tyler a grape, cooing, "Tyler, where are your eyes wandering? Am I not enough? Keep this up and I might get upset."

"Really?" Tyler seized the chance to get a little handsy with Yolanda, "Wait till I'm back on my feet. I'll spoil you rotten. Look, your makeup's running. Go fix it."

"What? My makeup's running? I better get on it!" Yolanda was immediately all aflutter. Ever since the video scandal, she'd been overly conscious of her looks.

Even though she had strongly denied that she was the woman in the scandalous video, she was still hypersensitive to people's gaze.

Once Yolanda was out of the room, Tyler let his sleazy side out in full force.

"Nurse, when you give me a scrub, be gentle and thorough, especially in certain areas. They haven't been active in a while. They're practically gathering dust.""Sure thing!" A wicked smile played on Vivian's lips, hidden by her mask, "I'll take good care of them."

With that said, she climbed onto the bed, her voice sultry, "Tyler, scoot over a bit, I don't have room to stretch my legs."

Tyler was an easy mark for such allure, and Vivian's move had him melting, "Alright, alright, just get on with it."

"Okay." With a 'rip' sound, Vivian yanked open his hospital gown.

"Quite the wildcat, I like it."

"Heh, as long as you're happy." When she saw he had no birthmark on his chest, Vivian breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, this sleaze wasn't her cousin, or she might have had to cripple him herself.

Then, she lifted her knee, pretending to crawl, but in reality, she dropped it heavily onto his crotch "Ah!" A pig-slaughter-like scream filled the room instantly.

Vivian, enjoying Tyler's agony, nonchalantly picked up a disinfectant spray and started sanitizing herself. She'd wanted to do this to this sleazebag since the night he sneaked into her room.

After quickly leaving the room, Vivian rushed back to the restroom from before. But to her surprise, she found Yolanda there again. And this time, Yolanda was chatting with Jean.

Because they were somewhat far away, Vivian couldn't hear the content of their conversation.

After changing back into her regular clothes, Vivian managed to weasel out some information from Jean. It seemed like Yolanda was snooping around for her whereabouts, but that was about it.

However, on the drive back to the mansion from the hospital, Vivian sensed something was off. The driver took a detour, heading to a deserted construction site. To her shock, the driver knocked Jean out cold.

Only then did Vivian realize that the driver had been switched out - replaced by a menacing brute with a scarred face.

After dealing with Jean, the Scarface turned his attention to Vivian.

The space in the car was too tight to maneuver, so Vivian quickly unbuckled and hopped out of the vehicle.

But what she hadn't anticipated was the gang of beefy men waiting for her outside the car.

The one at the forefront leered at her, "Look what we have here. We've been waiting for you, doll. We're about to bust from anticipation. How are you planning to make it up to us?"

Vivian flexed her wrists, " Looks like you guys are seeking your own demise!"