Outside, Vivienne wasn't eavesdropping on the conversation; she just happened upon it quite by chance.
Who would have thought that Maddox, the proverbial prodigal son, would be so out of his depth in front of Willa?
Their chat was all kinds of odd.
Peering through the glass, Vivienne observed Willa.
Willa seemed oblivious to matters of the heart as if she had no clue what feelings really were.
Toward Jasper, it wasn't kinship but a gratitude that had to be repaid.
Toward Maddox, there was a vague sense of romance, yet she could not fully comprehend it.
She wasn't obsessed with being the Perez heiress like Diana, nor did she harbor an unswerving affection for someone like Vivienne did for Percival.
Even the most obtuse wouldn't be this clueless, right?
"What are you thinking about?"
Behind her, Percival suddenly appeared, carrying a box of strawberry cheesecake.
Vivienne turned and leaned half against him, gesturing lazily toward the hospital room. "They're playing lovey-dovey in front of my mom."
Percival wrapped one arm around Vivienne's waist and sat down, planting her securely on his lap.
"No, they haven't fallen for each other yet. There's no lovey."
Vivienne chuckled. "If Uncle Maddox heard you say that, he would hold a grudge."
rested his chin on Vivienne's shoulder, threading his hands around her waist to untie
slender, stood out starkly against the cheesecake,
Vivienne's bright eyes lifted slightly, reflecting his refined profile. "Mr. Wolf,
denying it. Vivienne always had a knack for detecting
forked a piece of the cheesecake and offered it to her lips. "It's alright; today, I moved Flynn, and
she took his wrist
wrapped her arms around Percival's
Wolf, cheer up. I'm sharing my strawberry cheesecake with
taken aback for a moment before
how could he afford to stay downcast?
gently pecked Vivienne's lips, a fleeting touch that didn't cross boundaries. Some kisses convey deep love without
out and caught this tender moment. He sighed heavily
twenty-something-year-old girl was already in the throes of cuddles and endearments. What a cruel twist of fate! Vivienne remained seated on Percival's lap, nibbling on the cheesecake he fed her, and asked, "Uncle Maddox, was Aunt Willa always like this,
snapped back to
quite understanding affection, whether it's familial, romantic,
Vivienne hadn't spent much time
had her own approach to people. It seemed she didn't know how to relate
moment, then said, "You know,
retreating entirely into Percival's embrace
Vivienne from Percival's embrace and made her sit properly. "You, stop pawing at my niece
Next time, I'll tell Grandpa that you won't let me
taking things out of
the topic. "Uncle Maddox, you're
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