You Had Me, You Lost Me, You'll Never Find Me novel Chapter 37

Sylvia had no idea why Ashton had suddenly proposed. Whether it was a moment of vulnerability brought on by his fever or a sudden change of heart, it didn't matter anymore. It had nothing to do with her.

She would never tie herself to a man who remained hopelessly entangled with another woman.

As she made her way downstairs, a sudden wave of nausea hit her, and she hurried into the nearest powder room.

After throwing up twice, she ran into Ashton's aunt, Vivienne Wyatt. Vivienne paused, her eyes narrowing as she subjected Sylvia to a thorough, judging appraisal. The girl had a pair of stunning, expressive eyes that shimmered like water, and her luminous skin gave her the ethereal beauty of a siren.

In the past, Vivienne had only ever shot her brief, dismissive glances. But observing her up close now, she had to admit the girl possessed a rare elegance.

However, acknowledging that only made Vivienne angrier.

She had no idea where Ashton had dug up this little weed, but there was no way she could ever compare to Reina Winslet.

"You're Sylvia, aren't you?" Vivienne asked sharply.

Sylvia's stomach was still churning violently. She looked up and met the older woman's gaze in the mirror. Vivienne was a woman of undeniable wealth and status. She looked remarkably young, with only the faintest trace of fine lines around her eyes and completely uncreased skin, a testament to a life lived in absolute luxury and devoid of hardship.

She wore a pair of bespoke gold peony earrings, the petals encrusted with brilliant diamonds that exuded pure, refined elegance.

Sylvia instantly picked up on the hostile scrutiny.

"Can I help you?"

Vivienne instantly saw right through the girl's defensive front. "Whether you're pregnant or not will be obvious once you see a doctor. Don't try to deny it now, only to show up at our gates with a baby a year down the line."

Vivienne made it a habit to assume the absolute worst of people, even though the girl standing in front of her looked as pure and innocent as a blooming flower, completely devoid of malicious intent.

But this was exactly the kind of girl who had kept Ashton on a leash for three years. Vivienne had no choice but to expect the worst.

"I'll be perfectly honest with you," Vivienne continued sharply. "The only woman I accept as my future niece-in-law is Reina. She and Ashton have been through so much. When Reina was getting medical treatment abroad, Ashton flew out to see her every single year. I was always worried someone would try to take advantage of the distance, and clearly, that's exactly what you did."

"But Reina is back now. She and Ashton are a perfect match in looks, family background, and education. I heard you graduated from some ordinary college? Reina earned her Ph.D. abroad and has published in top-tier medical journals. I'm not saying this to crush your spirit. I'm just telling you a fundamental truth: in a marriage, social standing and education are non-negotiable."

"I have no idea why my father favors you, but you need to get one thing straight—you will never get past me. Ashton's parents weren't around, so I watched him grow up. I watched Reina grow up, too. I absolutely will not allow some random, opportunistic girl to ruin their relationship."