Zach scratched the back of his head. "Was it really that long?"

From stepping out to dialing and returning had been, at most, ten-odd minutes— by his count, anyway.

"You tell me," George said, voice frosty. "Perhaps you don''t need dinner after all."

Zachary sensed the sudden chill rolling off George and shot Vivian a pleading look, eyebrows raised in silent rm that asked, "What did I do this time?"

Vivian pretended not to notice. Head bowed, she lifted another bite of rice and murmured, "Grandpa George, the dishes are wonderful tonight."

"Have as much as you like," George replied, his tone warm and grandfatherly-a jarring contrast to the frost he had just aimed at Zachary.

Zachary slid into his seat, forcing a bright grin. "My cooking''s not half bad, right? In thest few days, I''ve mastered a lot."

Silence dropped like a stone into still water. Zachary''s grin froze, stranded in the hush.

Vivian and George continued eating, perfectly synchronized in their shared indifference.

Mistaking the hush for deafness, Zachary picked up a slice of lean pork and held it out toward George.

"Grandpa, have some more lean meat is good for you."

George lifted his fork, took the meat from Zachary, and—without a flicker of emotion-dropped it straight into the trash can by the sideboard.

By the time George set his utensils down, Zachary was still mid-air, fork frozen halfway to the table.

His jaw went ck; disbelief widened his eyes.

"Grandpa...do you despise me that much?"

George shot him a sideways nce and resumed eating, as though the question were mere background noise.

Only then did understanding click-both of them were angry with him, though he had no idea why.

"Grandpa, Vivian, if you''re upset with me, at least tell me why."

George then said, "You contacted that woman. After that, how do you expect Vivian and me to treat you?"

Zachary''s tongue tangled; words deserted him.

"You mean Ste Ross? I haven''t reached out to her at all."

"Enough. Don''t bother exining. I''ve lived longer than you''ve been alive. Spare me the lies."

George set his fork down. "I''m full."

Vivian rose, smoothing her skirt. "So am I. Grandpa, let me walk you back to your room."

"Very well."

She slipped an arm beneath his and guided him past Zachary without a single nce.

Before the old man left, he reminded, "Zach, don''t be a fool. Learn to see who truly cares for you."

Knowing they had misunderstood him, Zachary lost all appetite and asked the staff to clear the table.

Back in his bedroom, George waited until Vivian''s footsteps faded, then picked up his phone.

"Find out where Ste Ross is and make sure this woman is dealt with- permanently."

When Vivian returned to her room, she found Zachary slumped on the couch, staring at her as though the world had fallen out from under him.

"You''re back."

Vivian breathed out a barely audible hum, the sound hanging between them like a feathery thread.

Zachary drew a slow breath, his eyes steady. I think you and Grandpa misunderstood earlier. I

told you before-Ste was only

pretending to be unstable. I had her admitted to the psychiatric hospital. Now she can keep up the act, wants to leave, and insists on seeing me."

s

The moment his exnation settled, understanding clicked behind Vivian''s eyes,

lifting the fog that had clouded her thoughts.

"Then why didn''t you say something sooner?" she asked, a whisper of grievance sliding through the words.

Zachary stepped closer, mild

exasperation softening into

tenderness as his gaze dropped to

the gentle swell of her belly. "Neither a chance

you not Grandpa gave me

to squeeze in a single word back there."  sfn16ce ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find[?]ovel/fn16ce

He smiled palm hovering just shy of her stomach. "Now that I''ve got you and our baby, thest thing I''ll do is wander. I''m not going to seecher, I promise." Content belong

s

A sudden blush rushed across Vivian''s cheeks. She turned her head away and

muttered, "I''m not worried. Why would I ever worry about you?"