Chapter 180

Derek drew Vivienne closer, planting soft kisses on her cheek and temple. He asked softly, "Will you join me?"

The appeal resonated with Vivienne, yet she chose prudence, responding, "I'll be here waiting for you to come back."

"I find it hard to part from you," Derek murmured, their foreheads touching, breaths mingling as he tenderly held the nape of her neck. The idea of being apart from Derek was equally daunting for Vivienne.

She had begun to harbor doubts after overhearing Derek's conversation with a caller, and her disappointment surged when he confirmed his plans for a business trip. Her fingertips brushed his lips lightly as she gently inquired, "How long will your absence be?"

"Not certain," Derek answered, his expression clouded. "It might be three days, or even a week."

A gloomy silence filled the car. Then, unexpectedly, Vivienne chuckled.

A cold twinkle appeared in Derek's eyes as he pinched her waist, his whisper carrying a menacing undertone. "Are you in such a hurry to see me go?"

"Not at all," Vivienne chuckled, squirming away from his touch. "I've just come to a realization."

Derek's eyebrow lifted, his gaze intense and expectant. His expression demanded a flawless answer.

"Perhaps I never really loved Warren that much." Throughout her three-year relationship with Warren, his frequent trips hadn't stirred such deep emotions. The instant she learned Derek was leaving, an unfamiliar wave of loss and hesitation washed over her. Simultaneously, she reaffirmed her lack of deep affection for Warren.

Derek seemed somewhat appeased by Vivienne's admission, though he maintained a stern expression, feigning annoyance. "You dare compare me to him?"

"I'm comparing who I was then to who I am now," Vivienne explained, gently smoothing the furrow from his brow. Her voice softened. "I'll wait for your return."

"Alright," Derek responded, their lips meeting in a tender kiss.

Vivienne stepped out as the car pulled up to the luxurious Platinum Apartments. She was surprised when Owen emerged, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Show me the man who thinks he's suitable for you!"

"What are you implying?" Vivienne replied, her indignation palpable as she grasped his arm. Her concern wasn't about Owen causing a scene with Derek, but whether Owen could hold his own against him.

Owen tapped her forehead. "Really, defending him already? You've only been seeing each other for a short time. I'm here because I care. Do you think I'd wait around if I wasn't worried about you being taken advantage of?"

Vivienne, walking toward the building, retorted, "I am not a child."

They rode the elevator to the top floor in silence. The apartment's floor-to-ceiling windows, spanning nearly one hundred feet, offered a spectacular view of the Lyhaton skyline. On the balcony, an open-air garden flourished with wild plants under the night sky. Despite the hum of the ventilation system, the apartment felt cold and abandoned.

Chapter 18: The Delusional Man

As Vivienne walked into the apartment with Owen trailing behind, he said, "Tell me who this delusional man is."

Vivienne, ignoring the question, headed to the kitchen. "Do you want cola, or beer?"

"Beer," Owen responded.