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."
family." Percival rested his chin on Vivienne's shoulder, threading his hands around her waist to
pale and slender, stood out starkly against the cheesecake,
eyes lifted slightly, reflecting his refined profile. "Mr. Wolf, something on
always had a
lips. "It's alright;
he offered. Instead, she took his wrist and guided the cake to his
she wrapped her arms around Percival's neck, enveloping him in her
sharing my strawberry cheesecake
was taken aback for a
how could he afford to
that didn't cross boundaries. Some kisses convey deep
this tender
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
to attention. "Like
quite understanding affection,
time
to people. It seemed she didn't know how to relate
said, "You
stunned, nearly retreating entirely into Percival's embrace
made her sit properly. "You, stop pawing at my niece in front of me, or I'll
Maddox. Next time, I'll tell Grandpa that you
things out of context;
pulled Maddox back to the topic. "Uncle Maddox,
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