Vivienne didn't deny that she had her own reservations about this relationship. She had been cautious and restrained. She hadn't let herself go completely in front of him. But it wasn't because she didn't like him, it was because her feelings went beyond just like and love for him that made her feel even more cautious about it.When you live a dream, you'd always want to walk around carefully in fear of waking up from that dream.She was the person who felt like it was like a dream that she didn't want to wake up from."I'm pretty sure that between the two of us, it's me who went to law school. Then why do have such a convincing power in your words? Is it something you learned from your Dad?"Noah knew that she was joking and he smiled back at her, "You'd always be influenced by your parents in one way or another, right? I don't see a problem with this. But you..." He put his hand on hers as he asked, "Are you convinced now? Can you let go of your reservations? Just follow your heart.
When Vivienne came back home, her new car had already been delivered. Vivienne didn't really have too much excitement toward it though. She went inside and buried herself in work. For the next few days, she had been busy with her own work and didn't step out of her studio much either. But to not let down Noah's expectations, she even set reminders on her phone so she could call him or text him which Noah found quite amusing as she was too punctual about it.It seemed so formal that he doubted if it was a right decision to remind her to think more about him. He definitely didn't have this in mind when he asked her to think more about him in her daily life. It was already Friday and on Sunday was Noah's mother's birthday. Vivienne finally had some time to take a break and she spent this time wondering if she should really spend the weekend at Noah's place or just agree to go with him to see his mother?She had been quite conflicted about it but she couldn't find the right answer. She
Then Vivienne took the time to explain in detail how she met Noah's mother for the first time looking rather disturbed by it. Anna burst out laughing which earned her a glare from Vivienne. "Sorry," said Anna as she tried to hold back her laughter. "Why are you so adorable? Is that something to be worried about?""Isn't it?" retorted Vivienne. "I left an awful impression on her.""And how do you know that you left a very bad impression on her? If it was so, why would she invite you to her birthday? Aren't you just overthinking it again? I really don't get it why you insist on making your own life so complicated and difficult.""I'm making my life difficult?" questioned Vivienne."Yes," replied Anna firmly. "Life is very simple. You keep on overthinking and making it complicated for yourself. You are dating Noah, his mother invited you to her birthday, and here you are thinking about what first impression you left on her. Just follow your heart and go. When did you become so rude? Whe
"Lina is getting prettier and prettier after the marriage."Angelina was pleased to hear the compliment from Jeanine and even touched her face. "I also think I'm getting prettier. But I still can't compete with you, Jean. I wanna age as gracefully as you. Oh, I am so envious."Jeanine smiled at her, "You sure know how to talk. But be careful, what if my sister got jealous of you complimenting me?"Jennifer sat down with the two of them and said, "I'm not jealous. Not at all. I agree with her very much. Sometimes, I am also envious of you, Jean. You better be careful. What if your son's wife felt unsettled seeing that her mother-in-law is more beautiful than her?"Jeanine laughed it off while Angelina thought about this seriously before sharing her view, "I don't think that's possible. My Vivi isn't the type to be envious of others. And she also has a very steady personality. She doesn't like comparing with others."Both Jeanine and Jennifer looked at her with bright eyes. Angelina shu
"Okay, let's not discuss these disturbing things," said Jennifer as she couldn't handle the solemn mood because of her restless personality that hadn't changed even if she was already old enough to be a grandmother. "Angie, tell me. Do you think Noah will bring Vivienne with him?""The question is not that whether Noah will bring her or not, the question is, whether Vivienne will be willing to come with him," Angelina said reasonably as she understood the situation better the two ladies who were eager to meet Noah's girlfriend. "Why? Why won't she wanna come?" questioned Jeanine. She didn't think Vivienne had a reason to refuse. Angelina gave them both a subtle look and sighed, "Who asked you to catch her when she was trying to sneak away on the morning after my wedding?"Jeanine and Jennifer froze when they heard this question."No way. She won't come just because of that?" Jennifer was in disbelief as she didn't think there was a reason to avoid them because of such a small matter
Vivienne woke up on Saturday feeling refreshed. Maybe because she was looking forward to today, her insomnia didn't act up. Surprisingly, she slept like a baby last night and was feeling too good. She planned to pamper herself a little today for the occasion as she couldn't be casual about it. Vivienne took her sweet time to indulge in a ritual of self-care that felt both luxurious and grounding. She started with a long, hot bath, adding scented bath oils that filled the room with the delicate aroma of jasmine and sandalwood. As she sank into the water, she let the warmth soothe her muscles, easing away the day's tension and clearing her mind for the day ahead.After her bath, she wrapped herself in a plush robe and sat at her vanity. She applied a hydrating mask to her face, letting it refresh her skin while she carefully selected the makeup that would best complement her outfit.Since Noah said it was just a small family gathering, she wasn't a little uncertain about her outfit ev
Noah arrived at her door, looking as effortlessly handsome as ever, his smile immediately easing some of her tension. "Hey, babes! What's the emergency? I'm at your service."Vivienne held his hand and dragged him inside. Noah let her do whatever she wanted and easily followed her back to her bedroom. He couldn't help but tease her when he noticed where they were heading, "Oh? Are we going to the bedroom?"Noticing his teasing gaze, Vivienne wanted to roll her eyes at him, "Don't get ahead of yourself." Noah chuckled. When he entered the bedroom and saw the clothes scattered around the bed, he finally understood what was happening."You called for a fashion emergency?" he teased lightly, raising an eyebrow at the sight of her room."Yes, I did. And I expect you to take this very seriously," Vivienne replied, her voice a mix of determination and nerves."Okay," he agreed. "But what exactly is the occasion? I mean, I need to know where you are going so I can offer my sincere help.""Ha
"You look ravishing," complimented Noah with a teasing smile playing on his lips but it was quite obvious that he was just trying to change the topic right now. Vivienne didn't really care though. If she had anything against his past, she would have never agreed to be with him. But she really didn't feel anything about it. Although she had failed, it didn't mean she hadn't tried dating in these years. However, the experience was something she didn't want to recall.And she had already noticed that Noah seemed even more unwilling to talk to her about his failed relationship. She was actually very curious about it and this curiosity was only increasing the more he tried to avoid it. She wanted to be understanding and she knew that knowing too much might make her upset but the itch in her heart was just not settling down."What time is it? And when should we leave?" questioned Vivienne. Seeing that it was only a little over 2 o'clock, Vivienne was stumped. She laughed awkwardly, "It see
"What's wrong with you Dad? Why do you keep staring at me so strangely?" Noah couldn't hold back from asking as the silence between them was prolonged for far too long. It made Noah feel uneasy. So, he had to ask why his father called him aside. "If you have something to say to me, just say it already."Mr. Sullivan turned around to look at his wife who was happily chatting with Vivienne and his eyes were filled with a smile. He eased up his expression and asked, "Didn't you say last time that you had no time for dating?"Noah frowned, wondering why he'd ask this question at this time. "Dad, you wanted me to go on a blind date. Why would I have time for that?" He took a pause and looked at his father suspiciously, "Don't tell me that you are still planning to get me together with your friend's daughter."Mr. Sullivan waved his hand at him saying, "I have no such plans. Last time, it was he who insisted that I should arrange a meeting between our kids and who knows they might be compat
"Can you stop sarcastic for once?" Angelina rolled her eyes at Vivienne, "Sometimes, I can't believe you studied law. How can you be so speechless at times like this? Really, the more you care, the more you can't find the right words. At times like these, you need a friend like me."Only Mr. Sullivan had seemed to notice Angelina's words when she said that Vivienne studied law. Something finally flashed through his mind and the nagging feeling that he had finally became clear now. The image of Vivienne in his mind became clearer and he understood why Vivienne seemed familiar to him all this time. The way he looked at Vivienne changed at this moment and his smile also deepened.On the other hand, Angelina turned to Jeanine and said, "Jean, this is an exquisite piece. Don't you like it?""I just said that I love it," replied Jeanine. "But you know I don't accept expensive gifts.""Just as Vivi said, it's not expensive. At least not to her. It's absolutely free.""Huh?"Jeanine was confu
With the family gathered in the cozy warmth of the living room, Jeanine decided it was time to open her birthday gifts. One by one, she unwrapped each thoughtful present, her smile growing wider with every gift. Each family member had chosen something personal. Some thoughtful trinkets, her favorite books, and cozy items were all meant to show how much they cherished her. Jeanine was never fond of fancy things and valued the thought behind each and every gift rather than its material value.And from the look of it, she could tell that all the relatives had really put their heartfelt feelings into picking gifts for her. She valued this sincerity more than anything. Since the time she had a long battle of life and death with her illness, she had come to understand what really mattered in life. To her, the people around her matter more than anything right now. That's why she didn't throw those fancy and grand parties anymore. She loved to have this cozy time with close friends and relati
Vivienne entered Noah's childhood room which seemed to have frozen in time. It was filled with his memories from high school. He must have moved out after high school and that's why the things inside his bedroom were all from the year when he was eighteen. There were awards that he had won in programming competitions. There was also his favorite basketball lying on the shelf.Surprisingly, there was only one picture in his room and that was a family photo. Vivienne didn't expect it but then again, it also didn't seem as unexpected. He was the kind of a guy who valued family which seemed to have become quite rare in this generation. There was a solid reason why she said he was a little old-fashioned. "I thought your room would be filled with posters of favorite sports players or female celebrities. Why is it so clean? My ex's childhood room was filled with everything a teenage boy would like."Noah glanced at her and sighed, "Not everyone has the same interests. I don't like cluttered
Angelina smiled mischievously as she had knowingly asked that question earlier. She might have a little less understanding of Vivienne after such a long time apart but she had figured out one thing clearly and that was Vivienne's attitude and feelings toward Noah. A lot changed but Vivienne was still wearing her own filter when she looked at Noah even now. She was so predictable.After everyone had finished their dinner and the conversation naturally lulled into a comfortable hum, Jeanine looked across the table at Noah, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Noah,” she said with a knowing smile, “why don’t you show Vivienne your old room? I’m sure she had been wanting to see where you spent your time growing up.”“Oh, nonsense,” Jeanine replied with a playful wave of her hand. “I’ve kept it exactly the way you left it. Vivienne might enjoy seeing it. Besides, it’ll give you both a little break from all the family talk.”Noah stood up, offering his hand to Vivienne. “Alright then, come on.
"Really?"Angelina was speaking with a proud smile on her face and couldn't resist sharing more about Vivienne's accomplishments with the Sullivans. "You know," she began, turning her gaze to Noah's family, "Vivienne's incredible blog is her sacred diary where she chronicles her travels around the world. It's not just your average travel diary, though. She makes it educational, weaving in the history, culture, and unique perspectives of every place she visits. It's like a guided journey that makes you see the world through a whole new lens."Jeanine's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh, that sounds fascinating! I've always admired people who can share their experiences in such a vivid way," she said, clearly impressed."And it's not just a blog anymore," Angelina continued, her enthusiasm growing. "Vivi recently landed a deal to turn her blog into a travelogue! Can you believe that? It’ll be a beautifully crafted collection of all her adventures, thoughts, and the stunning views she’s cap
Mr. Sullivan, seated at the head of the table, took a moment to glance at Vivienne again, his curiosity from earlier still lingering. He leaned in slightly, his deep voice cutting through the chatter as he addressed her directly. "So, Vivienne," he began, his tone friendly but probing, "tell me a little about yourself. How did you meet Noah? I imagine there’s quite the story there.”Vivienne paused, feeling the weight of his attention, but she met his gaze with that same calm grace she’d shown before. “It’s not as interesting as you might think,” she said, a soft smile playing on her lips. “We were in high school together. Later, I moved out of the country and recently, we reconnected at Angelina's wedding."Mr. Sullivan’s eyes narrowed in a thoughtful way, though his smile remained. “High school sweethearts, then?” he mused. “That explains why Noah seems... different tonight. A little more alive, perhaps?”"You have got it all wrong, Uncle," Angelina chimed in at this moment. "In hig
As everyone gathered around the grand dining table, the air was filled with the comforting scent of roasted herbs, garlic, and a hint of sweetness that promised an unforgettable dessert. The table was a feast for the eyes. The mood was warm, with light conversation buzzing from all corners of the room. With a proud grin, he placed the cake in the center of the table, its golden layers and perfectly whipped frosting hinting at the culinary skill of the man who seemed to do everything well, from managing a law firm to baking a perfect cake. "I hope it lives up to its reputation," he said with a twinkle in his eye, looking at Jeanine, who gave him an affectionate smile, her eyes full of pride and love.The family exchanged teasing looks. Everyone knew Mr. Sullivan’s love of cooking came out only on the most special occasions. And those occasions only had something to do with his wife. Jeanine smiled fondly at her husband, touched by the thoughtful gesture as always, while Noah, leaning
Mr. Sullivan's eyes swept across the room, his sharp gaze landing on each familiar face with a warm nod until he paused, his eyes narrowing slightly in confusion. He had spotted Vivienne, the only unfamiliar face in the living room. There was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes, the kind of look he reserved for puzzles he hadn't quite figured out yet.Jeanine, catching the subtle shift in her husband's expression, stepped forward with a smile that seemed to brim with a hint of mischief. "What are you looking at? Let me introduce you to Vivienne," she said, gently touching Vivienne's shoulder. "She's Noah's girlfriend."For a split second, Richard's face froze, his eyes widening in surprise. "Girlfriend?" he echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief before a delighted smile slowly stretched across his face. "Well, now, that’s certainly a wonderful surprise."He turned his full attention to Vivienne, his stern demeanor softening as he extended his hand to her. "Vivienne, it's a pleasure to