Chapter 17 Every move Sienna made radiated an effortless authority . A single glance was enough to command respect . Linda trembled with rage . Sienna was being utterly ruthless , leaving her no room to save face . And Aiden , her supposed ally , had simply turned and walked out to the courtyard to smoke , abandoning her . She tomped her foot in frustration , but no matter how she tried to stop the servants from searching , it was useless . Everything taken from Selina's room was retrieved . Those things had been hers for ten years - there was no way she wanted to give them back . Vivian , however , was overjoyed to see the familiar faces of the old staff . After Linda arrived , they had all been dismissed . She had pleaded with her father to let them stay , but he , swayed by Linda's words , had ignored her feelings completely . The new servants Linda hired were lazy and disrespectful , bullying the sisters behind their father's back . Step by step , Linda had sown discord between the sisters , turning their father against them until , one by one , they were driven from their home . Madam Hart clutched her chest . " Sienna , I'm not dead yet ! You're going too far ! " she rasped . " Then feel free to die , " Sienna replied without missing a beat . " No one is stopping you . " " You … " Madam Hart's eyes rolled back , and she collapsed . Sienna instructed the butler to call an ambulance and send her the bill . Sienna knew Madam Hart had never liked her mother and , by extension , despised the sisters . A staunch believer in the superiority of sons , Madam Hart made no effort to hide her disdain for her granddaughters . Every visit was a trial , as she deliberately sought to make things difficult for Selina . Selina was no pushover . After she cut off Madam Hart's allowance for three months , she had come crawling back with a smile on her face . But in private , she was still cruel . Sienna vividly remembered being seven years old when a stray dog had charged at them . Instead of protecting her , her grandmother had shoved her forward . That was the day she learned that not all grandmothers loved their granddaughters . The dog had mauled her leg while her grandmother stood by , clapping . " I'm calling the police ! " Linda shrieked , hysterical . " Sienna , you've gone too far ! " Sienna just crossed her arms , looking bored . " Go ahead ." " You're too much ! " Linda screamed , " Just wait and see ! " Sienna simply ignored her . She walked into her newly renovated room , a satisfied smile on her face . " Perfect . " " It's so beautiful ! " Vivian said , awestruck , as she followed her in . The room was grand without being ostentatious . Sienna smiled and ruffled here hair . " How about we take a nap here ? " Vivian nodded enthusiastically . Soon , they were both lying on the bed , sleeping soundly . The Hart residence was so large that the construction barely disturbed them . And the efficiency of the workers was astounding . When Vivian woke up from her nap , the entire living room was completely transformed . Linda , stewing in her own anger , saw Vivian come downstairs . Accustomed to treating the girls with casual cruelty , she walked up and slapped her hard across the face . 1/2 7:38 pm ! Chapter 17 The sharp crack echoed through the living room . Vivian clutched her cheek , her eyes filling with tears of rage . " You little brat ! Just as worthless as your mother , " Linda spat , her voice dripping with venom . " You think because Sienna's back , you can look down on me ? Dream on . I kicked you out once , and I can do it again . " Vivian's hands clenched , a familiar fear creeping into her heart , draining the color from her face . " You- ! " Seeing Vivian's fear , Linda felt a surge of contempt . She leaned in close , her voice a poisonous whisper . " You don't know your place . When you were thrown out , how do you think you paid for that apartment ? " she laughed . " For your tuition ? You think I don't know ? " Vivian's body trembled , but Linda continued . " You're filthy , disgusting . And Mason … you think he didn't abandon you because he likes you ? Please . The only reason he keeps you around is because your blood is useful . If you died , he wouldn't even spare you a glance . " Her words were a curse , chipping away at Vivian's fragile self - worth , dragging her down into a pit of despair . Linda knew Vivian's weaknesses : her insecurity , her cowardice , her self - loathing . She had spent years torturing her , breaking her spirit . A little push was all it would take . She leaned in closer , her lips brushing Vivian's ear . " Do you remember what happened when you were sixteen ? I have pictures . Do you want to see ? " The mention of that year was like a lightning strike . Vivian grabbed her head , her pupils dilating in terror . " No ! " she screamed . " No , don't come near me ! " Linda pressed on , enjoying the show . " I saw it with my own eyes , Vivian . That guy was drunk . He slapped you and hit you with his fist , and you just cried and screamed . Do you remember his disgusting smile ? " " No ! Stop it . Don't say anymore ! " Vivian cried out , " Help me , Dad ! " Her screams brought Aiden running . Seeing her crazed state , he frowned . As he moved to approach her , Linda threw herself into his arms . " Darling , I'm so scared ! " she cried , her voice trembling . " She just … she just snapped ! I've been telling her to see a doctor , but you know how she is with me . She'd never listen . Now … now I really think her mental state is … " Aiden patted her back . " Don't be afraid . I never thought … I never thought Vivian was actually sick . I'll have her sent to a psychiatric hospital immediately . We can't have her staying here . 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