Chapter 399

Vivian shook her head firmly. "I'm not going inside today."

Sophia's eyes widened in disbelief. She grabbed Vivian's arm tightly. "You're just walking away? This manor means everything to you! They're turning it into a waste processing plant! Doesn't that make your blood boil? How can you stay so calm?"

Vivian inhaled sharply, her expression turning grave. "Of course it infuriates me. But arguing with security won't solve anything. He's just following orders."

"Then what's your plan?" Sophia pressed.

"I need to find the real puppet master behind this land grab and make them back off."

"The puppet master?" Sophia frowned. "The guard said it's a municipal planning decision. A government project. Who else could be pulling strings?"

Vivian's gaze turned sharp. "On paper, yes. But some corporation is definitely driving this. To stop it, we have to confront the business interests manipulating things behind the scenes."

A chill ran down Sophia's spine at Vivian's intense look.

Her instincts screamed warning bells. Whatever shadowy figure was orchestrating this had specifically targeted Vivian - and wouldn't be easily defeated.

Back at Sunrise Heights apartment, Sophia left for a date with her new boyfriend William, leaving Vivian alone.

Vivian booted up her laptop, fingers flying as she researched the Lockhart Manor district's recent history.

The area had been marked for expropriation six months prior. The official reasoning cited numerous disturbing incidents - Vivian's parents' tragic deaths, alleged hauntings, and the devastating fire.

After the manor burned, the arsonists - the couple whose daughter died mysteriously at Nathan Prescott's club - had hanged themselves on the property. Their wrongful death lawsuit had been crushed by Julian Montgomery's legal team.

Now the neighborhood was infamous. Residents fled, leaving the area abandoned for years.

Six months ago, Harborview City announced plans for a new waste facility. Public surveys supposedly showed overwhelming support for locating it in this "cursed" district.

On the surface, it seemed legitimate. Objecting would make Vivian appear selfish, fighting progress. She'd lose both the property and public sympathy.

But Vivian saw through the facade. This was all about money and power plays.

Her investigation revealed the true architect: Dominic Pascal of the elite Pascal family.

The Pascals were among Newport City's most secretive elite clans. Few knew their true influence, but rumors swirled about Dominic - a middle-aged man obsessed with youth, allegedly using young women in bizarre rituals to maintain his vitality.

Vivian's brow furrowed. She'd never crossed paths with Dominic Pascal. Why would he orchestrate this elaborate scheme against her?

But motives didn't matter. One thing was certain - no one would take Lockhart Manor from her.

Just as Vivian located Dominic's private number, her phone buzzed. Her cousin Emily's excited voice burst through:

"Viv! Where are you? The main donor just arrived! Oh my god, he's so gorgeous I might faint! Get over here now!"