Chapter 2

"What does Vivian plan to do?"

Grace gripped my hand, righteous indignation in her voice. "We absolutely can't let those cheating dogs get away with this."

I naturally wouldn't let them off easy, but this matter couldn't be rushed.

"Grace, don't go back to the factory yet. I need you to spread word about Harrison building a villa in this town to keep his mistress. The more widely it spreads the better---ideally it should reach Edith's ears today."

Since I was an outsider in Harrison's mouth, I had no need to preserve the dignity of the old Harrison family.

Fight with me? They weren't qualified.

Did Harrison think he could live carefree in that villa with his childhood sweetheart, raising their child?

Then I'd reclaim the villa right now, leaving them without even a place to stay.

As soon as I returned to the factory, Harrison's mother, Edith, came looking for me.

I secretly took a breath, suppressed my surging anger, and squeezed out a grieved expression to greet her.

She grabbed my hand, her voice urgent yet soft:

"Vivian, you can't listen to outsiders' gossip. Harrison was honest and straightforward---how could he mess around outside?"

"He can't even rest in peace after death."

I lowered my eyes, my nose tingling:

"Mrs. Harrison, I naturally trust Harrison's character... but did our family really buy a villa in the neighboring town?"

Edith's hand suddenly stiffened.

She froze there, her eyes darting around rapidly before shaking her head like a rattle drum:

"No, no. How could there be? Don't talk nonsense."

Seeing her reaction, I understood completely.

Earlier I'd heard Harrison smugly say that once I finished paying the debts, his mother would call him to "come home and enjoy the good life."

I'd thought perhaps the old lady just felt sorry for her son and knew nothing about his dirty deeds.

But now... she clearly knew everything.

Perfect.

Since you mother and son colluded to treat me as an outsider and play me for a fool, don't blame this outsider for showing no mercy.

I helped Edith sit in a chair and had just poured half a glass of water when the debt collectors arrived exactly as I'd anticipated.

The moment Edith saw them coming, she immediately tried to abandon me and flee.

But the lead creditor grabbed her by the back of her collar at the door, yanking her stumbling back into the chair.

She deliberately fell sideways, drawing out a wail of my name:

"Vivian, they're hitting people."

In the past, I would definitely have already stepped in front of Edith, taking everything upon myself.

But now I just coldly watched Edith perform, then pretended to cry myself:

"Gentlemen, my husband's body is barely cold. What can we widows and orphans use to repay debts?"

The lead creditor spat: "Cut the act. That villa in the neighboring town was Harrison's doing, wasn't it? It's enough to cover the debt."

I hastily waved my hands: "Sir, I just asked my mother-in-law---there's no such thing."

Then I turned to Edith for confirmation. "Edith, right?"

Edith's neck stiffened, her eyes darting wildly as she randomly nodded twice.

With such a guilty appearance, how could the creditors not see through it?

The leader slapped down a paper on the table: "The property owner's name is yours, old lady Harrison."

Edith's face turned white as a sheet as she stammered:

"It's... it's my retirement savings house..."

"Retirement house?" The creditor sneered, pulling out a mortgage agreement. "Sign. Use it to settle the debt right now."

Edith clutched her clothes and shrank back. That was her son's love nest---how could she give it up?

She stood and rushed to grab my arm: "Vivian, think of something. How will I survive without that house?"

I sneered internally but looked distressed on the surface as I pried her hand away:

"Mrs. Harrison, with Harrison gone, the old house is enough for us. This million in debt---we could work ourselves to death and never repay it..."

Hearing this, the creditor erupted in fury, pressing Edith's neck toward the table:

"Your son's dead so you think you can renege on debts? If you don't sign today, I'll chop off your hand and use it for your thumbprint."

Edith threw me a pleading look, which I ignored.

She gritted her teeth and pretended to faint.

The creditor laughed coldly and delivered a sharp slap.

The crisp sound exploded. Edith jerked awake in pain, no longer daring to play tricks, trembling as she signed and stamped the document.

Only then did the creditors swagger away.

Edith's rage attacked her heart, and she actually did faint.

Grace happened to come by and urgently asked if we should send her to the clinic.

I pulled my lips into a smile: "Where would we get extra money? Just send her back to the old house."

Grace immediately called a worker to fetch a cart and send Edith back, then looked at me worriedly:

"Vivian, now that we've set a precedent of using property to settle debts, the other creditors will probably come knocking very soon."

I smiled. "I know."

Haha, I was afraid they wouldn't come knocking.

"Grace, go check how much inventory is still in our warehouse. Before nightfall, pack it all up and take it away. Remember---quietly, don't let anyone else know."

Grace blinked her almond eyes and asked: "Vivian, where should we ship this packed inventory?"

"New York." I met her searching gaze. "What do you say? Do you dare venture out there with me?"

Grace's eyes lit up at these words: "As long as Vivian is willing to take me, I'll go through fire and water."

I smiled and patted her head, then turned my sharp gaze toward the roiling dark clouds outside the window.

A storm was coming.

Harrison and his pampered childhood sweetheart would have nowhere to hide from the rain tonight.

4

Since the villa in the neighboring town was seized, debt collectors descended like a plague of locusts.

I'd already settled the workers' wages in advance and let them leave early.

The creditors entered the factory unobstructed and quickly emptied it of machinery, equipment, tables and chairs.

When there was nothing left to take from the factory, creditors set their sights on the old house.

Edith was furious, demanding why I wasn't finding solutions.

"Vivian. Aren't you supposed to be so capable?"

So much for Edith's act now.

I covered my face and sobbed: "Edith, I've exhausted every option... at least most of the debt is cleared now."

Edith slammed the table in fury: "The machinery and equipment have all been taken---what is the Harrison family supposed to do in the future?"

I lowered my eyes, deliberately adding fuel to the fire: "Edith, as long as we're still here, there will always be a way."

Sure enough, the next second, Edith picked up a teacup and hurled it at me.

I staggered back on cue, porcelain shards exploding near my ear.

"You jinx. Why don't you just die."

When the debt collectors entered, this was exactly the scene that greeted them.

I laughed inwardly while tears streamed down my face:

"Edith, don't worry. I'll go back to the factory right now and find a solution. I'll definitely bring our factory back to life."

Without waiting for Edith's response, I "stumbled" out clutching my forehead.

Behind me, her cursing was cut off by the creditors' rebuke: "Old woman, less talk. Hurry up and hand over assets to settle the debt."

I left the old house and ran into Grace returning.

Before seeing Edith, I'd instructed Grace to do two things:

First, using Edith's name, demand my gemstone bracelet and gold earrings back from Lucy.

Second, in Edith's tone, send Harrison some money, telling them to "take the money and run far away to avoid the storm."

My dowry---why should it benefit Harrison.

"Vivian, I got everything back."

I nodded. With this, everything was ready.

I cried all the way back to the factory, then waited until evening when everyone should be eating dinner, and set a fire just like Harrison had done.

However, Harrison had only burned a small warehouse at the time, while I ignited the entire factory.