The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 15

It was Northside Central Hospital.

It seemed she had lucked out with a new nurse who didn't recognize her face.

Vivian clenched her fists, forcing her trembling legs toward the door.

Just outside was the nurses' station, where two young interns were gossiping.

Every other word out of their mouths was about Jonah Granger. His profound, undying devotion to Amara had already become legendary throughout the entire hospital.

Vivian squeezed her hands into fists, the taught strings of her sanity throbbing painfully in her skull.

She stood there for a long time.

Eventually, she turned and walked back into her room.

She had originally planned to find Jonah and confront him face-to-face. But after hearing the nurses' chatter, she suddenly realized how pointless it was.

Jonah had orchestrated all of this simply to exact revenge for Amara.

What good would a confrontation do?

He wouldn't change. If she provoked him further, he might just cook up an even dirtier trick.

Jonah Granger. Amara Fairchild.

Let's see who gets the last laugh.

——

Vivian stayed quiet and recovered in the hospital for two days, rarely stepping foot outside her room.

When she was finally discharged and went home, Dominic happened to be there.

"It's pouring rain out, why are you wearing a mask?" He shot his eldest daughter a weird look, but quickly dismissed it as unimportant. Waving his hand, he said, "Perfect timing. I have something to tell you."

"Amara is being discharged tomorrow. I'm throwing her a recovery banquet to celebrate. You're coming too."

His tone was absolutely unyielding. It wasn't a discussion; it was an order.

Vivian found it utterly hilarious.

She had just been discharged from the hospital herself.

She had been missing for two whole days, and not only did her father show zero concern, but he completely ignored her feelings to demand she attend some ridiculous banquet for Amara!

She offered a cryptic, hollow smile. "Right. You make a good point. I'll go."

"That's my good girl."

Dominic let out a massive breath of relief and quickly added, "By the way, Vivian... about that agreement..."

"I've been on a business trip these past two days. Once I'm back at the office, I'll deliver it to you personally."

"Good, good... no rush at all." Dominic rubbed his hands together. When he smiled, the deep wrinkles around his eyes crinkled, giving him an unbearably sly and deceitful look. "Everything I'm doing right now is for your own good. I hope you can understand my intentions."

Understand.

How could she not?

He simply wanted to strip her of absolutely everything and hand it to Amara, right down to her beating heart.

Vivian lowered her gaze. "I'm exhausted. I'm going upstairs to rest."

Once inside her room, she pulled off her mask, revealing the horrific purple bruises scarring her luminous skin.

Her phone buzzed with a new notification. It was a voice memo from Grandpa Sterling: "Sweetheart, could you send me a pretty picture of yourself? Silas's mother wants to see what you look like."