The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174

By dropping Silas Sterling’s name, Vivian ensured the police would tread carefully. The girlfriend of Northside’s most formidable billionaire wasn’t someone they could easily toss into a holding cell.

But the VIP treatment didn’t last long.

That afternoon, she and Zoe were summoned back to the station.

Vivian recounted the details once again. The investigating officer remained polite but firm. “Miss Fairchild, we’re going to need you to wait here for a little while. There are a few more details we need to verify.”

He kept checking his watch, clearly expecting someone.

Vivian just smiled smoothly. “Take your time.”

For the next hour, they were left completely alone.

She didn’t break a sweat. She casually drank two bottles of water and, out of sheer boredom, mentally organized her work schedule for the rest of the week.

Accustomed to suspects sobbing and pleading their innocence, the police found her icy composure deeply unsettling.

“Miss Fairchild… aren’t you nervous?”

“Terrified.”

Yet her face was the picture of absolute serenity. She gave a helpless shrug. “But right now, cooperating is my only option.”

That was true, but still…

The officer sighed heavily, deciding to be transparent.

“We’re in a tough spot here, Miss Fairchild. The Fowler family has just submitted new evidence claiming this was a premeditated assault. We have to follow standard procedure. I hope you understand.”

“I understand perfectly.” Vivian lowered her eyes, a faint, rueful smile playing on her lips. “Even though Harrison tried to force himself on me, I did strike him. Honestly, I regret it now. If I had just let him do what he wanted, he would be the one sitting in this interrogation

room.”

The two officers exchanged a sympathetic glance.

At the end of the day, this woman was the victim.

What was wrong with self-defense?

12:05

She hadn’t crippled the man.

But the law relied on evidence, and with new claims on the table, their hands were tied.

About forty minutes later, Grace Gifford finally made her grand entrance.

She had managed to procure security footage showing Vivian leaving the private dining room completely unharmed, even sharing a laugh with her assistant.

If she had almost been assaulted, would she be smiling?

Grace wasn’t about to let Vivian walk out of here without a scratch.

Accompanied by a high-powered attorney, Grace exchanged hushed words with the police before being escorted into Vivian’s interrogation room. The heavy door clicked shut behind

her.

The cramped space went dead silent.

The two breathtakingly beautiful women sat facing each other.

They had completely different styles, yet both provided a stark burst of color against the bleak grey walls.

Vivian ran her tongue over her teeth and smirked. “Your schedule must be completely empty, Grace. Aren’t you worried tomorrow’s headlines will scream, ‘A-List Star Grace Gifford Implicated in Criminal Case’?”

“I have nothing to hide. Why would I be worried?”

Grace replied icily.

Her posture radiated an arrogant elegance that money alone couldn’t buy. She cast a disdainful look at Vivian. “What I want to know is where an unloved daughter from a mediocre family gets the nerve to challenge us? Aren’t you terrified of ruining your life today?”

“Ruining my life?”

Vivian let out a bright, reckless laugh.

She leaned back against her unforgiving metal chair and crossed her legs, looking as relaxed as if she were lounging in a penthouse suite.

“You clearly don’t grasp the situation. I struck him because Harrison put his hands on me first. I’m not the type to play the quiet victim. If someone crosses me, I ruin them. It’s just a matter of time. You should be thanking god my self-defense worked. Otherwise, he would be dealing with a hell of a lot more than just a few superficial cuts.”