Chapter 379

Audrey sighed. "Pretty much the same. I'm not exactly an expert myself. Dominic and I are still navigating our relationship day by day." With a wry smile, Audrey added, "You know, Vivian, life has this funny way of coming back around. The obstacles meant for you always find their way back."

Vivian's gaze drifted to the intricate patterns on the coffee table, her expression distant and thoughtful.

After finishing their brunch, Audrey left to meet Dominic, and they parted ways outside the office building. Vivian decided to swing by her apartment to collect some personal belongings.

As she stood curbside waiting for a cab, a sleek black limousine suddenly screeched to a halt before her. Vivian's pulse quickened as the tinted window rolled down, revealing Margaret's stern face. Dressed in a charcoal gray pantsuit with a single diamond brooch at the collar, Margaret looked like she was attending a board meeting rather than a casual afternoon outing.

Vivian's fingers curled into her palm before relaxing. Keeping her voice light, she said, "Margaret, what an unexpected pleasure."

"This isn't a coincidence," Margaret stated flatly, her manicured fingers tapping the armrest. "I came specifically to find you."

"Oh?" Vivian's eyebrows drew together in confusion. In all their years of strained coexistence, Margaret had never actively sought her out before.

"Get in," Margaret commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument.

With the chauffeur remaining statue-still, Vivian opened the heavy door herself and slid onto the buttery leather seat beside her mother-in-law. As the car merged into traffic, Vivian caught the faint scent of Margaret's signature jasmine perfume mixed with something sharper - impatience, perhaps.

Margaret adjusted the cashmere wrap around her shoulders, her eyes zeroing in on Vivian's midsection. "Still nothing to report?"

The implication hit Vivian like a physical blow. Her hand instinctively flew to her stomach. "Not yet."

Margaret's gaze lingered before shifting away. "If you're serious about starting a family with Adrian, you should be completing all necessary medical examinations. This child would be Adrian's heir. We can't afford any... complications."

Vivian felt the barbed words like tiny needles. She'd become painfully aware that to Margaret, she was little more than a breeding vessel. Though she'd chosen to remain married to Adrian, she refused to return to being the meek, compliant daughter-in-law of before.

No relationship built on inequality could last; oppression always bred rebellion eventually. Keeping her voice carefully neutral, she replied, "I've been keeping up with all my health screenings."

Margaret's lips pursed in obvious disapproval. "Preconception tests are entirely different from routine checkups."

Vivian traced the seam of her designer trousers, gathering her thoughts. When she looked up, her resolve had solidified.

"Then perhaps we should call Adrian to join us," Vivian suggested smoothly. "Conception does require two people, after all. It seems unfair that only I should undergo scrutiny."

The dynamic between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law often hinged on the husband's involvement. Unable to confront Margaret directly, Vivian decided to let Adrian handle his mother.

Margaret's nostrils flared at the unexpected pushback. Their interactions had always followed a strict hierarchy, with Vivian playing the obedient role. This newfound assertiveness unsettled Margaret. Yet as she considered Vivian's words, she had to acknowledge their logic. Her concern was for the family lineage, not making Vivian's life difficult.

The limousine turned onto the private road leading to the Blackwood family's medical center, its glass facade glittering ominously in the afternoon sun. Vivian's phone buzzed silently in her purse - likely Adrian checking in. She made a mental note to call him the moment she had privacy.

Margaret straightened her already impeccable posture. "We're here. Try to cooperate fully with the doctors, Vivian. For the family's sake."

Vivian met Margaret's gaze evenly, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Of course. For the family."

The unspoken challenge hung heavy in the air between them as the car door opened, revealing the pristine white steps of the medical facility. Vivian stepped out, her designer heels clicking against the marble, bracing herself for what promised to be a very long afternoon.