There was a moment of silence on the phone.
Vivian Morton heard his grim, unfriendly tone and her heart sank.
A smile immediately spread across her face as she said sweetly, "Honey, I missed you. I heard your third sister is back. As her sister-in-law, shouldn't I prepare a welcome gift for her?"
Her voice was cautious, tinged with a hint of trying to please him.
Vivian Morton's father, Mr. Morgan, had suffered a sudden heart attack a few days ago and undergone surgery. She had been at the hospital with him and hadn't met Iris Dalton yet.
But the news of the Sherwood family's third daughter's return had already spread throughout Stellan's high-society circles.
Vivian Morton had discussed it with her family and decided she needed to feel out this new sister-in-law.
If the Sherwood family valued this daughter, then she would need to get on good terms with Iris Dalton.
As a daughter-in-law, her life in the Sherwood family was difficult, so keeping her sister-in-law happy was crucial.
Tristan Sherwood, who was currently feeling irritable and frustrated with no outlet for his anger, snapped impatiently when he heard Vivian Morton rambling about such useless matters. "You're bothering me with something this trivial? Can't you make your own decisions?"
Nothing had been going his way lately. There was endless drama at home, and things at the company were a mess, too.
After he married Vivian Morton, he had arranged for his father-in-law and younger brother-in-law to work at his company.
His brother-in-law was a lazy good-for-nothing, but he had turned a blind eye to his slacking. Who would have thought his father-in-law had sticky fingers? The man had embezzled company funds and even cooked the books behind his back.
The company lost over ten million, and when the matter came to light, the shareholders wanted to call the police.
Unable to deny it, his father-in-law had a heart attack on the spot and was rushed to the hospital for surgery.
Vivian Morton pleaded on her dad's behalf, weeping and begging Tristan Sherwood to let him off the hook.
Tristan Sherwood was at his wit's end. To save face, he didn't dare tell his own family, so he had no choice but to cover up the incident and use his own money to pay back what his father-in-law had stolen.
The problem was solved, but he had lost money and reputation in the process. Worse, some shareholders were now dissatisfied with him, leaving him feeling utterly resentful.
He couldn't even be bothered to visit his father-in-law in the hospital.
"Okay, I'll take care of it myself then. Honey, please take care of yourself while I'm not home. Don't stay up too late, and try not to smoke so much." Vivian Morton added a few more caring words before hanging up.
*
「In the hospital room.」
Mrs. Morgan was wiping Mr. Morgan's face with a hot towel. She looked up and asked, "Vivi, what did Tristan say? Did he blame your father?"
Vivian Morton's expression soured. "Can't Dad just stay out of trouble for once?" she complained. "Does he enjoy dragging me down? Do you have any idea how much effort it took for me to marry into the Sherwood family!"
Knowing he was in the wrong, Mr. Morgan let out a dry, awkward laugh. "I know it hasn't been easy for you, my girl," he said placatingly, "but it's not like I took that much of the Sherwood's money. Tristan Sherwood is my son-in-law. Isn't it only right for him to give his father-in-law a little something?"
"Dad, can't you and Mom think about the bigger picture for once?" Vivian Morton, who had been bottling up her frustration, couldn't help but lash out. "Everyone is already saying we're just petty commoners who take advantage of every little thing now that we've latched onto a wealthy family."
'Over ten million, and for what? He's completely ruined his reputation and gotten kicked out of the company. I still work there! My own family has made me lose all face!'
After graduating from college, Vivian Morton had married into the Sherwood family. Unwilling to be a mere housewife, she had insisted on working at the company as Tristan Sherwood's personal secretary.
She was so ambitious, but her parents and brother were nothing but disappointments, which left her feeling utterly disheartened.
At that, Ray Morgan, who was sitting nearby eating an apple, grew displeased. He glanced at her and said, "Sis, didn't you marry into a rich family so that your family could enjoy the good life too? That ten-plus million Dad took? You buy one luxury car and it's gone. What's the big deal? And the Sherwoods call themselves a rich family? So stingy."
Vivian Morton felt a surge of anger so intense she thought she might have a heart attack herself.
She glared at her brother, not wanting to argue with them any longer.
"Mom, you stay here and take care of Dad. I'm going to head home to pack some things," she said. "Oh, by the way, where did you put all the clothes and shoes I used to wear in high school and college?"
"They're packed up in the basement. Why do you ask?" Mrs. Morgan looked up, confused.
"Tristan's third sister is back, right? From the sound of it, the Sherwood family doesn't seem to think much of her. I heard she's from some backwater mountain village and never even went to school. The Sherwoods probably find her embarrassing."
"The poor girl. I thought I'd gather up my old clothes and shoes from high school and college and bring them for her to wear when I go back to the Sherwood estate."
'Her old clothes and shoes were still in great condition, practically new, and many were designer brands. They'd be perfect for her sister-in-law, and it would be a shame to waste them,' she thought.
*
「In a five-star hotel suite.」
Serena Sherwood was curled up on the sofa, stamping her feet and wiping away tears as she cursed, "That little bitch! The moment she gets back, she wants to steal my room! By what right?"
Her agent sat across from her, her eyes lowered, a flash of annoyance in their depths.
'If Serena Sherwood didn't have the status of a wealthy heiress, I wouldn't waste my time on this brainless idiot,' the agent thought.
"That little bitch pushed my buttons! I'm going to kick her damn ass out!" Serena Sherwood shrieked hysterically, smashing the crystal glass in front of her to smithereens.
A look of exasperation crossed the agent's face.
She'd once had high hopes for Serena Sherwood, but who would have thought she was such a useless idiot? The realization made her grow impatient.
'But for the high salary, I still have to wait on her hand and foot...'
She sighed to herself, then went and put an arm around Serena Sherwood's shoulder. "Serena," she said patiently, "you're a huge star, a public figure. Countless fans are watching you. Don't lose control over something so trivial. If the paparazzi catch wind of this and a scandal about feuding heiress sisters breaks out, it would be devastating for your career."
"Then what should I do? Just swallow my pride and let her walk all over me?" Serena Sherwood was still fuming, her exquisitely made-up face contorted with rage.
The agent suppressed her own frustration and explained patiently, "You've lived in a mansion for twenty years, and she's spent eighteen years in some backwater village. What is there to even compare? Her returning to the Sherwood family won't threaten your position. You're a piece of exquisite porcelain; do you really need to get into a life-or-death struggle with a piece of scrap metal? That would be so beneath you!"
"I just can't let this go," Serena Sherwood said through gritted teeth.
Seeing her flustered and furious, the agent couldn't help but roll her eyes. 'This is exhausting,' she thought.
In the entertainment world, Serena Sherwood's public persona was that of a noble and generous wealthy heiress.
But seeing how petty, graceless, and shortsighted she was acting now, the agent regretted ever taking her on as a client.
"Alright, how about this? Go find Young Master Adler and have him deal with it for you." The agent had given up on reasoning with her and just wanted her to palm the problem off on someone else.
"Your entire persona is built on being a wealthy heiress. You absolutely cannot let a squabble with your sister destroy that image."
'With a personality like Serena Sherwood's, thinking she could ever make it big in this industry was pure fantasy,' the agent thought.
'She'd be lucky not to have her image shattered and be forced out of the business entirely.'
The agent was extremely frustrated. At this point, all she could do was play it by ear.
"But Milo is a celebrity too," Serena Sherwood said, hesitant despite wanting someone to back her up. "If he gets involved, what if the fans find out..." When it came to asking Shaun Adler, she wavered.
"We both know perfectly well what kind of background Young Master Adler has," the agent said coolly. "Your sister is clearly going to be a handful. Let Young Master Adler go put her in her place. A little girl from the sticks will get scared witless when she meets a true young master from a powerful family. She'll learn to behave herself after that."