Caroline lifted a brow, yet chose to remain silent.
Tears kept rolling down Vivian's cheeks as she spoke. "Jacob's condition has gotten worse lately. I've been with him these few days, and the way he looks now... Caroline, I'm only twenty. I don't want my whole life tied to someone like that."
Still, Caroline gave no response.
Taking her silence as indifference, Vivian broke down even more. "Jacob's brother, Alec Lloyd, doesn't treat him like family at all. He humiliates him, calls him useless, a burden. His wife is even worse. She never misses a chance to insult me and bring up my background. I can't stand it anymore."
At first, Vivian believed Jacob's affection would secure her a comfortable and wealthy life within the Lloyd family.
However, reality proved otherwise. Jacob had no authority in that household.
He couldn't even stand up for her.
Time and again, he stayed silent while his sister-in-law picked on her.
Thinking of that, Vivian wiped her tears and looked at Caroline with desperation.
"Caroline, please help me get a divorce. And ask Braydon to find a better man for me. I don't need a rich one. I just want someone kind. I don't want anything to do with the Lloyds anymore."
Caroline looked at her, sneering inside.
In her previous life, she had gone through the exact same humiliation after marrying into the Lloyd family.
Alec once pointed at her and called her a fool. His wife even dumped leftovers onto her plate and told her, "The Lloyd family doesn't support freeloaders. If you want to eat, then work."
She took care of Jacob and handled everything for him, yet they still accused her of pretending to be devoted just to get their money.
And back then, where was Vivian?
Vivian married Braydon and lived in luxury. Occasionally, she would visit, dressed in expensive brands and covered in jewelry, looking down on her. "Caroline, if you had listened to me, you wouldn't have ended up like this."
Now their roles had reversed, and Vivian was the one crying.
Letting out a soft sigh, Caroline put on a conflicted expression. "Vivian, it's not that I don't want to help. I'm barely managing my own situation right now."
Shock flashed across Vivian's face. "What do you mean? Didn't you marry Braydon?"
"I did, but he has no feelings for me," Caroline replied with a bitter smile. "We didn't even have a wedding. After we registered the marriage, he left me at the villa and never gave me any allowance. If I want to buy something, I have to figure it out on my own."
That explanation was only partly true. It was true that there was no wedding, and he hadn't given her money. But none of that mattered to her.
Vivian hadn't expected that answer at all. She forgot to wipe her tears. "Then... what should I do now?"
Caroline shook her head lightly. "I'm barely managing things on my end. How could I go to him and ask him to find you a new husband? And with someone like Braydon, asking for favors would only make him look down on me more."
Panic flashed across Vivian's face. She bit her lip, then suddenly grabbed Caroline's hand. "Caroline, please. I'm begging you. You have to help me!"
Inside, Caroline felt nothing but disdain, yet she didn't let it show. "I'm sorry, but I don't know how to help you."
"Caroline!" Vivian clutched her hand more tightly. "I'm your sister. Can you really stand by and watch me fall into this? Please help me. I'll do anything, as long as I get a divorce."
Caroline watched her in silence for a moment. After a brief pause, she sighed and patted Vivian's hand. "Alright. I'll think of something."
Hope instantly lit up Vivian's eyes. "You mean it?"
"Of course." Caroline nodded. "You mentioned earlier that Jacob isn't well?"
Vivian nodded quickly. "He's been sick for days, and no one's taking care of him. When I visited, he was alone in his room. No one even gave him water."
After thinking it over, Caroline suggested, "Then that gives you even more reason to step in and take care of him."
Vivian stared at her, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Think about how the Lloyd family sees you right now."
A hint of frustration crossed Vivian's face. "His brother and sister-in-law both dislike me."
"Right. So what should you be doing now?" Caroline's tone softened as she guided her. "From what I know, Jacob's mother rarely interferes in family matters. First, take Jacob to the hospital. The Lloyd family has strong ties in the medical field, so once she hears about it, she'll definitely ask questions. That's your chance. Tell her you want to move out with Jacob so you can care for him properly. Most importantly, you need to mention that he's been mistreated by his brother. Once she finds out her youngest son has been suffering, she won't stay calm. Then you'll take him for treatment and look after him. She'll see you as thoughtful and responsible."
Vivian hesitated. "But..."
"No buts." Caroline cut her off. "Build your reputation now and get the Lloyd family on your side. That way, you'll have leverage later. When you say you can't endure it anymore and want a divorce, they won't be able to force you to stay. Do you understand?"
Vivian fell into thought.
Caroline added casually, "Besides, you're taking him for treatment anyway. What if he actually recovers? If he can walk again, you might not want to divorce him anymore."
Hope flickered in Vivian's eyes. "But what if his condition can't be fixed..."
"Even if he never recovers, you still come out of it with a good name." Caroline gave a small smile. "When you ask for a divorce, people will blame him for not cherishing such a devoted wife. No one will accuse you of leaving him for a better life. Do you understand?"
Vivian nodded quickly. "I do! Caroline, you really think things through. But... I don't have much cash right now."
Caroline let out a soft sigh. "I'm not exactly well-off either, but I've saved a little. The treatment shouldn't cost too much at the start. I can give you fifty thousand. Will that be enough?"
A bright gleam lit up Vivian's eyes. "That's more than enough. Thank you, Caroline!"
Caroline gave a small nod, grabbed her phone, and sent her fifty thousand.
After thanking her repeatedly, Vivian finally left.
Once she was gone, Caroline leaned back and allowed a slow smile to form.
In her previous life, the moment she married Jacob, she took him for treatment right away.
She went from one hospital to another across Praginia, pleading with every doctor she could find. Yet no matter what she tried, his condition only worsened. His legs never improved, and his overall health declined further.
It was only later that she uncovered that Jacob and Alec didn't share the same mother, and Jacob was an illegitimate son.
Years back, Rory Lloyd, Jacob and Alec's father, got a woman pregnant after a drunken fling. To hide the scandal, he claimed the child was his wife's son and brought the baby home.
His wife, Stacey Lloyd, despised that illegitimate child, and Alec hated him even more for threatening his share of the inheritance.
Alec was the one who had shattered Jacob's legs.
And as for Jacob's worsening condition, Stacey had been tampering with his meals all along.
They didn't want Jacob to die outright. That would raise suspicion. Instead, they kept him weak and bedridden, letting him fade away slowly.
Now, Vivian was about to step in and push for his treatment, digging into the cause of his illness.
How would the Lloyd family react to that?
A faint smile appeared on Caroline's lips.
"Vivian, now it's your turn to go through all the pain I endured before."
