The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 357

Thinking back to all of it, Vivian couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"So, you thought Amara was your savior. You threw away your business management degree and switched to cardiothoracic surgery just for her. You even hired someone to run me over with a car because she found my presence annoying and felt I was outshining her."

What a tragic joke.

It was all a lie.

Amara's heart condition had been perfectly managed for a long time; she didn't need a transplant at all. What she craved was money and power, not this kind of blind, self-sacrificing devotion.

Jonah looked at the mocking smile on her face, and his heart felt like it was being sliced open.

"Vivian..."

The words 'I'm sorry' felt entirely too inadequate, so hollow they were difficult to even speak.

He had truly believed it was Amara. He had been so careful, terrified she would find out, hoping she would eventually just fall in love with him naturally over time.

He never expected his desperate actions to backfire and hurt the one person he should have protected.

"I know it's all my fault. I was blind. I didn't investigate thoroughly... I've completely cut ties with her now. Will you just give me one more chance? Give me a chance to make it right. I swear I'll give you everything the world has to offer."

"Even if you handed it to me, I wouldn't want it."

Vivian let out a light sigh.

Before she knew the truth, she had felt nothing but pure disgust for Jonah.

Now, it was mixed with a dash of pity and a heavy dose of contempt.

It was truly pathetic.

"I don't need your repayment, and I don't need you to do anything for me. If you insist on offering something, just tell me what you know and then stay far, far away from me. That's all the satisfaction I need."

What happened eight years ago meant nothing to her. She only stepped in because she was in a miserable mood that night.

Even though the Granger Family was a top-tier dynasty.

Getting entangled with someone like Jonah would bring her absolutely no benefit.

Jonah's complex gaze was locked onto her. It felt as though he wanted to carve out his own heart and offer it to her, terrified she wouldn't take it... No, he knew for a fact she wouldn't take it.

"Vivian... I don't want this." Jonah's voice was so strained it sounded as if it were being violently dragged from his throat. "Before, I didn't even know why I existed. No one ever cared about me. If you hadn't saved me, I probably would have died on the streets of California."

"Those three years I spent with you... I was genuinely happy."

He truly was.

Even though he was officially her private doctor, she had never treated him like an employee or hired help. She took him everywhere and gave him immense respect and love.

"Then your happiness was a waste." Vivian gave him a half-smile, entirely devoid of emotion, save for a hint of mockery.

In a twisted way, she and Jonah were quite alike.

Jonah had forced himself to 'love' Amara to repay a debt.

And she had only tried to be with him because she thought he had saved her.

She had even given up her past ambitions, hoping to live the life of a normal, average person.

"Did you really think I loved you during those three years? No. I was just trying to force myself to be normal. Like most girls, I wanted to date, live a quiet life, and maybe get married and have kids."