95: Applied & Tested

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