“By plane.” Vivian pouted. She lifted one leg onto Alex and swung her heel with her toe. “My feet are sore from all the walking. I can’t even walk properly.” Alex took Vivian’s heel off with one hand and held her ankle. He massaged it with moderate strength. Vivian enjoyed the massage with narrowed eyes. “Not bad. You know how to massage? What is your number? I’ll call you for a private massage session next time.” Alex scoffed. “You came to get your little massage, and now you are showing off? Remember to tell me the next time you come.” Vivian rubbed her nose, looking aggrieved. “If I tell you beforehand, you wouldn’t have let me come.” “You just came back a while ago and are still adapting to life here. You are totally unfamiliar with this city. What if someone abducts you?” “I’m not scared.” Vivian looked like a proud little girl. She clung onto Alex’s neck like a teddy bear and leaned on his shoulder. “With you around, I am not afraid of anything. Alex, I know you will
“Does she know about you being hospitalized because of a car accident?” Vivian turned around and looked at Alex. The relaxed smile on her face was replaced by a severe and cool expression. Alex looked into Vivian’s eyes. His charming Adam’s apple bobbed as he arranged the words for the appropriate sentence. He knew Vivian well. She was someone who had a clear-cut view of love and hate. She could not stand a speck of dust that crossed the line, and once the line was crossed, their relationship would break and shatter beyond repair. “Alex, don’t lie to me. I need to hear your explanation on this,” Vivian asked again in a colder tone. “Vivian, calm down.” He reached out to her, trying to hold her hand, but when he touched her fingers, she quickly pulled her hand away. “Alex, is there anything else about Anna that you are hiding from me?” “It’s just a coincidence. We bumped into each other here, had lunch, and got into a car accident outside the restaurant. I was hurt because
“I don’t want to eat these.” Vivian turned around and pouted at Alex. “Take me out. I want to eat something good.” Alex had no choice but to answer her demands. He instructed the nurse to take the meal away and took Vivian out to find a good restaurant. After the two of them left, the nurse took the lunch away in the cart. When she pushed the cart into the elevator, she bumped into Anna, who was going to the canteen. Anna recognized the nurse, and she spotted the food on the cart. She asked with furrowed brows, “What are these?” “Ms. Anna, Mr. Ortega wants me to take the meal away. He left the hospital for lunch with a woman.” “What woman?” “I think it’s his girlfriend. They look close and seem to be in love.” Anna knew Vivian had arrived. Alex would only show his gentle side to Vivian. He treated other women coldly and would instinctively draw distance from them. “Then, can you wheel the cart upstairs? I don’t need to go down to the canteen anymore.” She spent mone
“Just curious. I thought this is how people start a topic of conversation.” Anna pouted at Norman. “Don’t take it seriously.” “I cannot do that.” Norman knocked on Anna’s head like a kind big brother. “Every word you say, every move you make feels different to me.” Anna was surprised. When she realized what Norman said, she blushed. The man looked serious, but he coated his words with sugar. She realized it for the first time after knowing him for so long. “With that mouth of yours, I bet a lot of girls fall for you.” “Nope. Quite the opposite.” Norman crossed his arms and leaned back on the pillow. “I don’t have feelings for them.” Anna pouted. “You are almost 30 years old, so just get a partner. You shouldn’t drag it out.” She knew Norman had feelings for her, but she could not find herself reciprocating. She could not just force herself to love him. She knew her feelings well, so every time Norman tried to hint at her, she would beat him to it and ruin his hope. She di
The instinctive movement hurt Anna. She was not a monster, and he did not have to make hatred for her so obvious. Vivian saw the embarrassment on Anna’s face which delighted her. She believed that Anna followed Alex here and probably caused the accident to create more chances for her to be with Alex. However, Alex’s heart had no place for Anna, so no matter what she did, he would never fall for her. It would be best for her to forget him as soon as possible.“Alex, you two can talk alone. I’m tired. I want to go back to the ward to have a rest.” Vivian displayed generosity and understanding by returning to the ward first. Judging from Alex’s reaction towards Anna, Vivian knew that Anna was not a threat at all. “What are you doing here?” Alex questioned Anna. Due to Vivian’s arrival, the man became cautious. After all, something undesired had happened, and if Vivian found out, his relationship with her would be over. “I came down to buy something when I ran into her,” Ann
Anna nodded. Even though Mona’s reasoning made her feel defeated, it was cold hard facts. No matter how much of a princess Vivian was, Alex allowed her to be. On the other hand, Anna was understanding and always compromised herself for him, but it was one-sided. Sometimes, a friend that could analyze the situation from a neutral perspective and be honest was exactly what one needed to stop sinking deeper into the mess. “Mona, let’s not talk about what’s going on with me. How’s it going on your side?” Mona pouted. “I didn’t contact Thaddeus for a while, and he disappeared from my life. Without me, he can be with Ginny all the time. They are glued together. Fortunately, the kids are doing well. They are studying and eating well, so that’s enough for me.” Anna sighed. “Don’t overthink it. Maybe Thaddeus and Ginny aren’t what you think. Besides, based on my understanding of your husband, he won’t simply toy with people’s feelings. But I’m referring to his main personality. As for
“Of course, you can.” Alex had infinite patience and tolerance for Vivian. No matter what she did or said, he would accept it unconditionally. As for why, only Alex himself had the answer. “That’s more like it.” Vivian pouted. She curled her arms around Alex’s arm and brought him back into the ward. “You’re coming with me to the duty-free shop tomorrow. Don’t forget that—you said it yourself.” "Of course, I will. I always keep my promises to you." Alex was on the moral low ground, to begin with, because of what happened with Anna, so no matter what Vivian demanded or requested, he would agree to it. …After Mona came out from the hotel spa, she packed her things and wanted to go back to her room. Connecting the spa and the hotel rooms was a long corridor with dim lighting. She had to keep her eyes on the floor to see where she was going, and when she suddenly looked up, she ran into Stella, who was wearing a plain-colored dress. Stella was standing against the ligh
Mona was baffled by Stella’s question and was stunned on the spot, unable to wrap her head around the question. What kind of question was that? Was something wrong with her? The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Choose between family and love? Had writing too many horror stories got into Stella’s mind to the point that she could not differentiate between reality and fiction? Mona wanted to grab Stella by the collar and question her about what that was. Why must Stella ask her such a question in a commanding manner? Why? She returned to her room and knocked on Sophie’s door. Sophie opened the door and saw a rare burst of emotion on Mona’s face. She asked, “What is it? Did something happen?” “It’s Stella.” Mona crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame. “Is there any way that I can avoid seeing her?” Sophie frowned. “What do you mean?” “Don’t arrange any meeting with her. I don’t care what you do, I don’t want to see her.” “Huh?” Sophie knew Mon