Year Five The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 290

She always had a way with words, Finn thought with a cold snort, giving Vianne a look that said he wasn’t buying it.

He didn’t want to spend another minute alone with Vianne downstairs. Grasping for an excuse, he scooped up Lola and headed upstairs.

Once they were gone, Vianne found herself alone on the sofa. She lifted a hand to gently wipe away her tears. By the time she looked up again, apart from the faint redness in her eyes, there was no trace of sadness left.

Standing, Vianne glanced around the room. The housekeeper was nowhere in sight, and the maids were busy with their chores. She pressed her lips together, her gaze drifting toward the study on the upper floor.

Quietly, she rose and made her way up the stairs toward the study.

Standing outside the door, her heart began to race. She stared at the door, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. Raising her hand, she was just about to push the door open when, suddenly, the master bedroom next door swung open.

Finn emerged, having tucked Lola in for her nap. Catching sight of Vianne in the hallway, he arched an eyebrow.

“What are you doing up here?” he asked.

Vianne coughed lightly, relieved that she’d withdrawn her hand in time—any slower and Finn would have caught her in the act. She managed a gentle smile, gazing at Finn. “I just wanted to come up and check on you all, but as soon as I reached the landing, here you were.”

Thankfully, the study was close to the staircase, making her excuse plausible enough.

Finn eyed her suspiciously, searching her face for any sign of guilt, but found nothing. He let it go.

“Just remember your place,” he said coolly. “Don’t do anything foolish.”

“I understand,” Vianne replied obediently, her expression perfectly composed.

“Why didn’t you finish the job all those years ago?” she shot back, her voice sharp, nothing like that of a loving daughter—more like someone confronting an enemy.

Jewel laughed, a low, throaty sound.

“Vianne, you were part of it too, weren’t you?” she replied quietly. “Why are you acting like I was the only one involved? Don’t forget, we’re in this together. If I go down, you’re coming with me—my darling daughter.”

Vianne’s face tightened, her jaw clenched. Her voice was icy as she spat, “If you ever really thought of me as your daughter, you’d kick your habit! We took plenty of money back then, and you’ve squandered every penny over the years. Why else do you think I’m back here, crawling back to Shipley?”

Her voice cracked at the end, tears threatening to spill.

If only she were still the Ashfords’ eldest daughter—how different life would be. At least then, her mother would be the gentle, cultured Lola, not Jewel.