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."

shoulder, threading his hands around her waist to untie

pale and slender, stood out starkly against the cheesecake,

lifted slightly, reflecting his refined profile. "Mr. Wolf,

denying it. Vivienne always had a knack

and offered it to her lips. "It's alright; today,

didn't take the bite he offered. Instead, she took his

she wrapped her arms around Percival's neck, enveloping

cheer up. I'm sharing my strawberry

was taken aback for a moment before bursting into

cheesecake, how could he afford to stay downcast?

gently pecked Vivienne's lips, a fleeting touch that didn't cross

stepped out and caught this tender moment. He sighed heavily and sat

over forty, he was still teaching his beloved what liking someone meant, while this 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

back to

affection, whether it's familial, romantic, or

Vivienne hadn't spent much time with

It seemed she didn't know

pondering for a moment, then said, "You know, now that you mention it, Willa was much

embrace without realizing it. "What?

made her sit properly. "You, stop

time, I'll tell Grandpa that you won't

of context; that's outright

back to the

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