Chapter 116
"Exactly." Charles nodded. "Elizabeth used to be completely devoted to Henry. If it weren't for us joining forces with the Aiden Family... Now, even though Henry has fallen from grace, he's still her true love. What if we could get Henry to persuade her to give up on Jacob, or even get her to elope with Henry before the engagement party? Wouldn't that be even better?"
The more he thought about it, the more brilliant this idea seemed.
If Elizabeth ran away from her wedding on her own and eloped with Henry, the Smith Family will lose all face and be extremely angry. At that time, let alone protecting Elizabeth, it would be good enough if they didn't take their anger out on the Windsor Family.
And they could push Vivian forward to save the day, preserving both families' reputations while letting Vivian take the top spot.
Killing multiple birds with one stone!
"Henry can barely take care of himself right now. Will he even listen to us?" Sophie was somewhat doubtful.
"He will." Charles said with certainty. "The Aiden Family has abandoned Henry now and is backing the second son instead. Henry must be unwilling to accept that. If he wants to make a comeback, he'll need outside help. We'll promise him that if he can convince Elizabeth to run away, or cooperate with us to control Elizabeth, once Vivian becomes Mrs. Smith, we'll naturally help him regain his position in the Aiden Family. He has no reason to refuse this deal."
Vivian listened with growing excitement. "Yes! Let Henry seduce Elizabeth! That bitch used to be madly in love with him, right? She'll definitely take the bait! And when she runs off with Henry, Jacob will be mine!"
Sophie also broke into a smile, thinking Charles's plan was perfect.
Charles watched his wife and daughter's excited expressions, but kept a thread of caution in his heart.
This plan seemed perfect, but the risks were extremely high. If any part went wrong, they could be completely ruined. Especially Jacob—he definitely wasn't someone easy to fool.
But fortune favored the bold.
For the huge benefits, to eliminate the threat of Elizabeth, and even more to latch onto the Smith Family's towering tree, this risk was worth taking!
"Vivian, behave yourself these next few days and prepare well." Charles ordered in a serious tone. "I'll contact Henry as soon as possible. Sophie, you handle preparing Vivian's wedding dress and everything else needed, and make sure it's done secretly. Remember, absolutely no one else can know about this!"
"Got it, Dad!" Vivian's tears turned to laughter, her eyes gleaming with determination.
Sophie nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, I'll handle it."
The car drove toward Windsor's Mansion as a vicious plan quietly took shape.
They seemed to already see the beautiful future of Elizabeth's downfall and disgrace, and Vivian's glorious marriage into the Smith Family. But they didn't know that their every move had already fallen under certain people's watchful eyes, and the target of their schemes was far from the weak and easily bullied person they imagined.
Self-proclaimed hunters often became someone else's prey.
Inside the Aiden Family villa, the lighting was dim.
Henry, the once high-spirited eldest son of the Aiden Family, now sat slumped in a corner sofa in the living room, clutching a bottle of whiskey that was more than half empty. His eyes were vacant, his beard unkempt, his entire being shrouded in an atmosphere of decadent gloom.
Though his two injured hands had been unbandaged and the wounds had healed, the two missing fingers had become a permanent shame and disability, constantly reminding him of that terrible ordeal and the indelible hatred Jacob had inflicted upon him.
The Aiden Family had clearly abandoned him internally, turning instead to support his brother David Aiden, whom he'd always looked down on as dull and mediocre.
He now held the title of eldest son in name only, but had actually been marginalized. Even the servants looked at him with pity or contempt.
The doorbell had been ringing for a long time before Henry impatiently got up, shuffling in his slippers to answer the door.
Outside stood Vivian, carefully dressed up.
"Henry!" As soon as Vivian saw him, she immediately put on a distressed expression, walked in and hugged Henry. "How did you end up like this? It breaks my heart to see you!"
Henry coldly pushed her away, his tone self-mocking and annoyed. "What brings Ms. Brown to visit this useless person? Here to laugh at me?"
Did she really think he didn't know?
Vivian used to love following him around with sweet words, trying every way to please him. The moment she found out he was completely useless, she immediately turned cold and heartless, not asking about him all this time. Now suddenly showing up at his door—she must need something from him!
"Henry! How can you say that!" Tears immediately welled up in Vivian's eyes, this time somewhat genuine, her tone urgent. "How could I laugh at you? I've always liked you, felt for you! It's all that bitch Elizabeth! And Jacob! They're the ones who made you like this!"
At the mention of those two names, Henry's eyes suddenly flashed with venomous light, his hand gripping the bottle showing bulging veins.
Seeing this, Vivian was secretly delighted and quickly struck while the iron was hot, "Henry, do you know? That bitch Elizabeth is going to have her official engagement banquet with Jacob in three days! Jacob even personally took her to pick out jewelry and dresses today, publicly defended her, and they are enjoying their happiness while trampling you under their feet!"
"Engagement party?!" Henry suddenly looked up, his bloodshot eyes staring at Vivian, his voice hoarse. "They're really going to..."
How was that possible?
Did Jacob really care for Elizabeth?
"It's absolutely true!" Vivian embellished the story. "I saw it with my own eyes! Elizabeth was wearing such a huge diamond necklace, looking so smug! Jacob even had his arm around her. Henry, can you really accept this? Accept watching that woman who used to be devoted to you, who made you like this, climb over you to marry into wealth and glory? Accept watching Jacob, your enemy who broke your fingers, marry your former woman and act so arrogant?"
Every word stabbed at Henry's most painful spots.
He couldn't accept it! He hated them! Hated Elizabeth's betrayal and social climbing, and even more hated Jacob's cruelty and dominance!
It was Jacob who destroyed everything he had—his future, his dignity, even his body!
"I can't accept it! I hate them!" Henry suddenly smashed the bottle on the ground, glass shards and liquor splashing everywhere. He roared like a trapped beast. "I want them to pay!"
Vivian was overjoyed inside, but her face showed worry and shared enmity. "Henry, I hate them too! Elizabeth stole everything that should have been mine! Jacob is too much of a bully! We can't let them be so smug!"
She moved closer to Henry, lowering her voice with a tempting tone. "I have a plan that can not only get revenge on them, but also let you win Elizabeth back, and maybe even have a chance to bring down Jacob!"
Henry whipped his head around to look at her. "What plan?"