Vivienne's cheeks were flushed, yet she didn't seem inclined to pull away.

Just as their hands were about to touch, a ringtone broke the moment.

Percival was visibly annoyed. "Who is it now?"

Vivienne picked up her phone, showing him the caller ID, "It's my dad."

Percival just sighed.

As soon as the call was connected, Arthur's voice came through, trying to sound cheerful. "Honey, don't forget we have a family dinner tonight. Make sure you're here."

Vivienne acknowledged with a hum, ready to end the call, but then heard Arthur add, "Wait, don't hang up..."

"What is it now?"

Arthur sounded like he was wrestling with his conscience. "Your granddad asked if, um, your friend could also come."

Percival raised an eyebrow. Friend? Was that his title now?

Arthur continued, sounding slightly bitter, "Just letting you know, it was your grandfather's idea, not mine. I never agreed to let him set foot in this house." Vivienne pinched the bridge of her nose, "We're already married, dad. Your approval isn't exactly crucial now."

Arthur was caught off guard.

He couldn't let his daughter get swept away over a guy, but he caved in a second, "I was just pulling your leg. He can come if he wants. I won't stop him." "And honey, what do you want to eat tomorrow? I'll cook..."

Vivienne hung up before he could finish.

She wasn't ready to let the dread of tomorrow's menu overshadow her day, not when the stress of it felt more daunting than undergoing surgery ten times over. Holding hands, they headed towards the car.

the evening's plans, Vivienne asked,

"Absolutely!"

I'll need to bring a few gifts, aside from dressing up for the occasion." Vivienne couldn't help

squeezed her hand gently, "I just want your dad to

"He wouldn't dare object!"

Vivienne was confident.

use this opportunity to talk about setting a wedding

her friend Matthew to dig into the Rama family's past overseas, hoping to unearth some

also filled Percival in, so he'd

asking him to keep an eye on local matters,

residence on time, Vivienne leading him by the

and Sasha were in the living

greeted them

her

then turned to Arthur, saying, "Father-in-law," managing to

calling me 'master' after getting

when Arthur, looking utterly scandalized, shouted, "Don't you dare change

as long as there

daughter, whom he had

took a seat. "He's not calling you anything different. What's it to

at a loss

wronged and upset. "It's not okay... You've just recognized us, and now, some random guy

wondered if he was ever going to

Percival to sit, dismissing Arthur's sulking, "Ignore him. He's just upset about Frost leaving the nest so soon. He can't get over it." Percival understood, but he couldn't grasp why, as

didn't want to

had been either clinging to her mom or experimenting with his culinary disasters in the kitchen, treating the rekindling of their father-daughter

war hero to a domestic chef was a narrative she found hard to

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