Chapter 5: Chapter Five: A Villainous Alliance

**Translation:**

"Go on." Samuel Vaughan instinctively moved back a bit.

"It's just that..." Maria Conrad's eyes sparkled as she told Samuel Vaughan about her plan.

"Okay, I agree."

Samuel Vaughan agreed so readily, which was unexpected. After all, this was about teaming up to trick his own father! It seemed the young master didn't have a very good life at home.

The next day, news of Lambert Vaughan, the president of the Vaughan Group, having an illegitimate child went viral, with over a billion views within an hour.

"Maria Conrad! You're asking for it!" Phoebe Conrad fumed when she saw the news in the morning. She knew without a doubt that it was her stinky little Shuang who had done it.

Maria Conrad and Samuel Vaughan, who had been busy all night, were now sound asleep. They were startled awake by Phoebe Conrad's roar.

With a loud "bang," Phoebe Conrad kicked open their door from the outside.

"Phoebe, calm down! Getting angry isn't pretty." Maria Conrad quickly pulled the drowsy Samuel Vaughan in front of her as a shield when she saw Phoebe Conrad storming in, fuming.

"Calm down? Maria Conrad, I think you're itching for a beating! If I don't teach you a lesson today, I'm not your mother!" Phoebe Conrad then grabbed Samuel Vaughan and set him aside before yanking Maria Conrad off the bed by her ear.

"Ouch... ouch... Phoebe, go easy... " Maria Conrad realized she had gone too far this time; Phoebe was really angry.

"You know it hurts, but you ignore my warnings, Maria Conrad, you've got some nerve!" Through her interactions with Lambert Vaughan over the past year, Phoebe Conrad could tell he was not someone to be trifled with, especially since he was Gloria Vaughan's husband. She didn't want any trouble with him.

After saying this, Phoebe Conrad dragged Maria Conrad out of the room and slammed the door, locking her out.

"Toby, Young Master, help me!" Maria Conrad pounded on the door, calling for help. She knew pleading with Phoebe wouldn't work, so she had to seek external aid.

"Woof woof..." Toby ran to the door, trying to open it for Maria Conrad, but after a stern look from Phoebe Conrad, he quietly retreated to his bed.

"Phoebe, forgive her, it's my fault." Samuel Vaughan, hearing Maria Conrad banging on the door, looked at Phoebe Conrad with teary eyes, his voice thick with sobs.

"Young Master, do you have a switch for those tears?" Phoebe Conrad wasn't truly angry at Maria Conrad; she just wanted to teach her a lesson. After all, they were in China now, where Lambert Vaughan's power and resources were much greater than abroad. If Maria Conrad's actions were discovered, there would be serious consequences.

"Phoebe, Shuang, poor, let her in." Samuel Vaughan tugged on Phoebe Conrad's sleeve, speaking softly. Toby also whined beside him, as if pleading for Maria Conrad.

If Phoebe Conrad had previously suspected something was off with the young master, she was now certain. In a normal family, a child wouldn't have such issues. It seemed Gloria Vaughan wasn't as perfect as she appeared, and Phoebe Conrad couldn't bring herself to scold the young master harshly.

"How long have you two known each other? Already colluding like this. If your father found out, he'd probably be so angry he'd spit blood, raising a son who turns against him." Phoebe Conrad shook her head in exasperation.

Although Phoebe Conrad didn't explicitly say to let Maria Conrad in, Samuel Vaughan caught the hint. "Thank you, Phoebe." He then happily ran to open the door for Maria Conrad.

"Little rascal." Phoebe Conrad shook her head and went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

"Young Master, from today, you're my brother." Maria Conrad said excitedly as Samuel Vaughan opened the door for her.

"Phoebe is angry."

"Don't worry. It's no big deal, I can handle it." Maria Conrad changed her clothes and sauntered into the kitchen.

"Phoebe, don't worry. I only did this to give Lambert Vaughan a small lesson. He won't find any clues."

"You're too impulsive. We're in China now, not abroad. Lambert Vaughan's influence here is not something a little kid like you can match. Don't forget why we came back."

"Don't worry, Phoebe. I know my limits. And with the Young Master's help, everything will be fine. As for the Song family, I won't let them off the hook." Mentioning the Song family, a maturity beyond her years appeared in Maria Conrad's eyes.

"Alright. I know you have your limits, but dragging someone else's son into this is a bit low, isn't it?" Phoebe Conrad gave Maria Conrad a disapproving look.

"Phoebe, it's not Shuang's fault." Samuel Vaughan, who had somehow appeared at the kitchen doorway, spoke up.

"Young Master, don't be fooled by my stinky little Shuang. She's a total money-grubber. Don't end up counting her money for her."

"Phoebe, is that how you talk about your own daughter?" Maria Conrad protested, looking at Phoebe Conrad.

"What, am I wrong?" Phoebe Conrad carried the breakfast out of the kitchen.

"Phoebe, I envy you." Samuel Vaughan said enviously as he sat at the dining table.

"Young Master, you don't understand. Phoebe and I are like sisters through thick and thin... Ouch!" Maria Conrad was cut off by a thump from Phoebe Conrad.

"Shut up, eat, and stop talking nonsense. Nicola is going to video call us soon, get ready."

"Really? Nicola has time for a video call? Great!"

"Who's Nicola?" Samuel Vaughan looked at the two cheerful faces, confused.

"My twin sister, a musical genius, currently on a world tour." Maria Conrad's face filled with pride as she mentioned Nicola Conrad.

Looking at Phoebe Conrad and Maria Conrad, Samuel Vaughan felt a strange sense of envy.

...

"I don't know what happened, but right after Phoebe Conrad returned, Lambert Vaughan's illegitimate child was exposed. I think this isn't simple." Gloria Vaughan spoke grimly on the phone.

"What do you mean?" The person on the other end of the line was clearly more composed than Gloria Vaughan.

"Mom, please check if the doctors and nurses at the hospital where Phoebe Conrad gave birth followed our instructions and killed her child." A flash of ruthlessness passed through Gloria Vaughan's eyes.

"Alright, be careful. Visit your mother-in-law more often. With her support, Lambert Vaughan won't do anything too extreme."

"Alright, I know. I'll hang up now." After hanging up, Gloria Vaughan looked at the trending news, which featured a boy who bore a striking resemblance to Lambert Vaughan and Samuel Vaughan. Despite the awkward angle, it was clear that Lambert Vaughan and the boy seemed close, and Lambert Vaughan was smiling at the boy. The scene was not in China.

Gloria Vaughan recalled that shortly after Lambert Vaughan returned from abroad, she met Phoebe Conrad, and then the news of Lambert Vaughan's illegitimate child broke. There was no such thing as coincidence.