I'm Your Sister, Brother Chow
Chapter 31: So What Can You Do About It?

In this household, the only person who really treated her as part of the Howard family was Aunt Blaine. She knew that she had let Aunt Blaine down.

Aunt Blaine saw that Vivian was looking at her cautiously and let out a soft sigh. She sat down on the bed and stroked Vivian's hair gently. "Stop thinking about what happened and just have some breakfast. You've almost slept the day away."

Had she really slept for the whole day?

Vivian quickly realised the meaning behind Aunt Blaine's words.

She glanced at the clock on the headboard in a panic. It said that it was seven o'clock, but the dark skies outside her window told her that it was seven in the evening instead of in the morning.

That made sense, though. Chow literally tortured her for the entire night. How could she even think that she'd wake up at seven in the morning?

Vivian let out a surprised cry. "I still have to go for extra classes!"

It was not until she spoke that she realised that her voice was extremely hoarse.

It must be because she'd been crying all night long.

Thinking of it made Vivian feel a deep sense of guilt and shame. She quickly hid under the covers again.

Aunt Blaine sighed, reached for the porridge on the tray, and stirred it with a spoon. "Don't worry. Young Master has already informed the school that you won't be coming in today."

Vivian stiffened when she heard Aunt Blaine mention Chow.

Her shoulders drooped as she hesitated. "A-Aunt Blaine, Brother Chow, w-where..." she stammered.

She was aware that Chow wouldn't feel anything for her, but she had been in love with him for too long. She just wanted to know where he was.

Vivian knew that everything she did was futile, but she still couldn't stop herself from falling deeper.

Stunned, Aunt Blaine shot Vivian a hasty smile. She put the bowl back on the table. "Young Master has some social activities tonight and he will probably come back later," said Aunt Blaine. "Miss Vivian, get up and eat some porridge. There are some ribs stewing in the kitchen as well. I'll bring some up when they're ready. You must be famished."

Vivian nodded obediently at Aunt Blaine.

What Aunt Blaine said made sense. Vivian was still a young girl. She hadn't eaten anything yesterday because of Chow, and she'd spent most of today in bed, so she was indeed very hungry.

"Thank you, Aunt Blaine." When she sat up, she suddenly realised that she was clean, comfortable, and wearing her favourite pyjamas. She didn't feel sticky or sweaty anywhere.

She suddenly vague remembered that Chow was the one who had helped clean her up in the bathroom. There was an almost angry look on his face, but his gentle actions on her body said that he felt otherwise. Vivian felt herself blushing deeply.

She never thought that she would be able to see the gentle side of Chow. Maybe yesterday hadn't been a complete loss for her.

Holding on to the bit of warmth she felt from her memory fragments, Vivian's mood lifted as she took the tray from the bedside table and started to eat.

As soon as the porridge touched her parched lips, she swallowed the warm, inviting food immediately.

Aunt Blaine looked at her anxiously. After hesitating for a bit, she finally spoke up. "Miss Vivian, Young Master has told me that you don't have to go to school anymore. He says that you will be prepping for the college entrance exam at home."

Vivian was stunned when she heard what Aunt Blaine said. "I can't go to school anymore?"

Aunt Blaine nodded hesitantly. She really didn't want to be the one to break the news to Vivian, but she couldn't resist the confusion in Vivian's eyes.

Vivian pursed her lower lip and stirred the porridge in the bowl. She suddenly felt at loss for words.

In the past, she had always regarded the school as her private space. Even if she had close to no friends there, it was still a temporary escape from Chow's clutches.

But after what happened yesterday, she knew that it would get even harder for her to continue going to school anyway.

She actually felt a sense of relief when Aunt Blaine told her about not having to go to school anymore.

Nonetheless, she knew that Aunt Blaine was still worried about it. Vivian managed a smile at her. "I understand, Aunt Blaine. I won't slack off on my studies, don't worry."

It was just that Chow no longer allowed her to apply for the colleges she had picked out initially, so she didn't know where to go now.

Aunt Blaine nodded and stroked Vivian's long hair, sighing softly to herself. "This shouldn't even be happening. If Mr. Dylan was still around, he would have been very disappointed in Young Master Chow. You're a good girl. He shouldn't be treating you like this."

Aunt Blaine had stayed with the Howard family for decades. She had always referred to Chow's father as Mr. Dylan because it hadn't seemed appropriate to call him Old Master Howard, especially since Chow's grandfather was still alive and well.

Vivian felt sad when she heard Aunt Blaine mention Uncle Dylan. She couldn't imagine how disappointed Uncle Dylan would be in her if he found out that she'd fallen in love with Chow.

The reason Uncle Dylan stated in his will for the Howard family to take Vivian in was to teach Chow the value and importance of kinship.

However, she had ended up getting into such a twisted relationship with Chow.

Vivian really didn't know what to do in the future.

She didn't even know how to face Celine, who would be standing next to Chow, in the future.

Vivian suddenly lost her appetite. She looked at the porridge in her bowl and sighed.

She let out a bitter laugh and tightly held the bowl in her hand, clinging to the lingering warmth that was left. "Brother Chow is just blinded with hatred and revenge. He doesn't know what he's doing. Once he'd had his revenge on me, he'll come to his senses and understand that what we're doing now is wrong. When that time comes..."

When that time came, she would have to disappear from his life forever.

Vivian felt a deep pang of sorrow in her heart when she thought of the possibility.

One day, she was going to have to disappear from his life.

They never belonged together in the first place.

People might feel sorry for her because of her predicament, but only she knew that the only way to get close to Chow was precisely the situation she was in now. "Miss, just don't think too much about it. I'll go check on the stew and bring some up for you." Aunt Blaine whispered comfortingly to Vivian before she got up to leave. "Aunt Blaine, wait," Vivian said suddenly. She hesitated for a moment and said, "I don't feel hungry anymore. You don't have to bring the stew. Just this porridge will do."

She knew that Aunt Blaine would worry if she said she didn't want to eat anything, but it was probably more troublesome for Aunt Blaine if she'd brought up the stew that Vivian had no intention of eating. Before Aunt Blaine could reply, the door suddenly opened with a bang, revealing Chow in a dark suit. There was a slight frown on his face as he stood at the door, staring straight at Vivian.

Vivian hadn't expected him to suddenly appear like that. In her fluster, she accidentally knocked over the bowl of porridge onto her blankets.

"Ah, I'm sorry!" Vivian quickly tried cleaning up the mess. Aunt Blaine hurriedly removed the soiled blankets and replaced them with a clean one from the cabinet.

"Aunt Blaine, I'm sorry..." Vivian apologised and hung her head in guilt.

Aunt Blaine glared at Chow for a moment. "It's fine, I was startled myself as well."

Although Chow had always been arrogant and overbearing, there was nothing he could do to Aunt Blaine. He said nothing about her remark but instead spoke to her in a stoic manner. "Bring Vivian her dinner and watch her finish every bite."

Vivian hugged her knees and hid under the clean blanket, trying to make herself as small as possible. She bowed her head without saying a word.

Her mind couldn't help reminiscing the memories of last night. She suddenly felt her cheeks burning hot.

Aunt Blaine didn't leave immediately as Chow had hoped. Instead, she snorted and glared at him. "I'm too busy to watch her eat. If you insist, you can stay here and watch her eat instead."

With that, Aunt Blaine took the soiled blanket in her arms and walked out of the room.

Vivian didn't want Aunt Blaine to leave because she still felt uncomfortable being alone with Chow. "Aunt Blaine, wait!"

Aunt Blaine turned around and gave her a comforting look. "I'm just going to get dinner for you, Miss. You haven't eaten all day. You need some food in your stomach."

She didn't even spare Chow a glance before squeezing past him.

She even deliberately shoved Chow with the blanket as she left.

She was indeed angry about the way Chow had treated Vivian last night.

Chow was aware of Aunt Blaine's hostility towards him. He felt a surge of anger rising but he didn't want to take it out on someone who was already well past fifty years old. It was only after Aunt Blaine disappeared down the staircase that he released his anger by slamming his fist against the door.

Bang!☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐