bChapter /bb295 /b

    Noticing Maxine’s concern, Lisa muttered, “If you’re worried, just video call Vivian. She must have found herself another

    new crush.”

    Lisa pulled out her phone and started a video call with Vivian, who answered almost immediately, sounding totally uninterested. “What is it?” Vivian asked.

    Lisa held the phone up to Maxine and grinned. “See? I told you she must be with isome /iguy.”

    Given Vivian’s personality, she would never just bail without a word unless something unexpected happened.

    Sure enough, a man’s voice came from Vivian’s end of the line. ‘What’s up? Who’s calling?‘

    “Mom!” Lisa finally burst out. “You bailed on us without a word. Maxine’s been worried sick about you!”

    Vivian froze for a second before hurriedly saying, “Maxine, I’m really sorry! I ran into an old acquaintance on my way here

    and didn’t have time to let you know.”

    Maxine smiled sheepishly. “It’s fine, I was just overthinking. Stay safe out there, okay?”

    Vivian responded, and as soon as Maxine hung up, she held up her phone with a helpless sigh and said, “Someone in her family has been going through some thingstely, so she’s been a bit on edge.”

    The man arched an eyebrow. “Care to share? Maybe I can help.”

    Vivian looked at him with a smile. “After all these years, you’re still the same kind soul.”

    The man in front of her was Hugh Rowe, whom Vivian first met during her very first business trip to Hathnd. Back then, she was just starting out at thepany, nowhere near the position she holds today.

    While visiting a museum in the capital, Vivian ran into Hugh, who was also taking a break in the lobby. The two hit it off almost immediately and spent the following few days exploring various attractions around the city together.

    But unfortunately, they lost touch after Vivian returned home.

    Vivian never expected to run into Hugh at the train station, and what surprised her even more was that he recognized her immediately.

    They found a restaurant and sat down for a meal. As they chatted, Hugh brought up recent events in his life, shing a slightly bashful smile. “You know, thinking back, we almost got together, didn’t we?”

    The warmth in Vivian’s eager expression faded slightly at the mention of this. Back when they first met, she wasn’t even married yet, let alone had Lisa. After all these years, she couldn’t help but wonder what his intentions were in bringing up

    the past now.

    Vivian gave a quiet reply, “Yeah, time really fliesb, /bdoesn’t it?”

    Sensing the subtle resistance in her tone, Hugh chuckled softly and said, “Yeah, I’ve changed so much from that guy in my twenties to what I am now. But you haven’t aged a day. Still as young and beautiful as ever. That’s how I recognized you

    09:49 Sat, 30 Aug w.

    instantly.”

    There was something off about his demeanor.

    Vivian pressed her lips together, feeling a bit uneasy. “How about we go for a walk?” she suggested.

    ????,48%–

    +23)

    Being stuck in this cramped space with him made Vivian increasingly ufortable. ‘If only I’d made an excuse to leave when Maxine called earlier,‘ she thought with regret.

    Hugh nodded eagerly. “Absolutely!”

    He got up and paid the bill. Vivian waited by the door for him. Just then, her phone rang in her bag.

    09:49 Sat, 30 Aug