Chapter 106: There Was Another...
That evening, while Valerie prepared dinner, Luca Hale and Vivienne stayed in the kitchen to help her.
To Luca’s surprise, the cold and commanding chairwoman who ruled over Octaveo Pharmaceutical with an iron hand was also surprisingly skilled in the kitchen.
Her movements were practiced and efficient as she chopped vegetables and prepared ingredients. It was obvious that cooking was something she often did for herself.
’Beautiful inside and out.’
That phrase truly suited her. Luca couldn’t help but grin. It felt like he had discovered a hidden treasure.
Seeing the two of them trying to help, Valerie eventually laughed and chased them out of the kitchen, insisting that she could handle the rest herself.
With no other choice, Luca and Vivienne returned to the living room and sat together on the sofa, watching television while waiting for dinner.
A moment later, Luca felt a soft weight against his shoulder.
Vivienne leaned against him, her sweet fragrance filling the air. She looked up at him with a playful expression, almost as if she were waiting for praise.
"Hehehe, Luca, you didn’t expect that I could cook, did you?"
Luca smiled and wrapped an arm around her slender waist.
"Honestly, it was a pleasant surprise."
"Hehehe, this is only a small surprise. What if there are even bigger surprises waiting for you later?"
Luca raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile appearing on his face.
"What bigger surprise?"
Vivienne’s lips curved slightly. Her voice became softer as she whispered:
"Our fate... becoming completely tied together."
Her words were gentle, but they struck Luca like an arrow through his defenses. Before he could respond, Vivienne leaned closer and lightly brushed her lips against his cheek before quickly standing up.
She giggled as she escaped from his arms and returned to the kitchen.
Luca sat there for a moment, taking several deep breaths to calm himself.
’This woman is dangerous.’
Vivienne’s charm was on another level. If Valerie had not still been in the house, Luca was certain he would not have been able to hold himself back.
Dinner was a warm and lively affair. Valerie had prepared six dishes and a soup, far more food than the three of them could possibly finish. After the meal, Valerie suggested that Luca and Vivienne take a walk around the neighborhood.
The two walked side by side along the artificial lake nearby. Under the gentle night sky, Vivienne slowly began telling Luca about her past with Valerie.
When Vivienne was four years old, her biological mother passed away after a long illness. From then on, her father raised her alone. However, as the family business expanded, her father’s responsibilities grew heavier. Even so, he always made an effort to spend time with his daughter whenever possible.
When Vivienne was ten, Valerie entered their household as her nanny.
At the time, Valerie was only in her early twenties. As time passed, she gradually developed feelings for Vivienne’s father. Eventually, she became his wife and Vivienne’s stepmother.
At first, Vivienne rejected her.
She couldn’t accept another woman taking her mother’s place. She even disliked Valerie and kept her distance.
But Valerie never complained.
Instead, she continued caring for Vivienne with even more patience and kindness. Day after day, she looked after her as if she were her own daughter.
As the years passed, Vivienne’s feelings slowly changed. She eventually accepted Valerie completely, and even suggested that her father have a child with Valerie.
However, Valerie refused.
She told them that having Vivienne as her daughter was already enough.
Although they shared no blood relation, Valerie’s place in Vivienne’s heart was no different from that of her biological mother.
Even without an impressive academic background or a prestigious career, Valerie’s love for Vivienne had always been genuine.
As Vivienne continued speaking, her voice gradually became quieter until she finally fell silent.
The moon hung brightly above them.
A gentle late-spring breeze swept across the lake, creating ripples that shimmered beneath the moonlight. Vivienne stared silently at the water, her eyes slightly red.
She missed her father.
Seeing her expression, Luca gently stepped forward and embraced her from behind. His strong arms wrapped around her slender waist as he rested his head lightly against her shoulder.
"My little angel..." he whispered. "I will take care of you in his place."
The words were simple, but to Vivienne, they carried a weight she could feel deep within her heart.
She gently wiped away the tear at the corner of her eye, then closed her beautiful eyes and leaned fully back into Luca’s embrace. Her body molded perfectly against his, soft and warm, as if she had been made to fit there.
The breeze continued to blow softly, carrying the fresh scent of the lake and the faint floral sweetness of her hair. Moonlight spilled across the water like liquid silver, painting gentle ripples that shimmered in quiet harmony with the night.
"Luca..." Vivienne whispered, her voice barely louder than the breeze.
"Hmm?"
"The wind feels so gentle tonight."
A single strand of her fiery red hair danced across her cheek, brushing Luca’s skin and filling his senses with the delicate floral scent that was uniquely hers. His arms tightened instinctively around her slender waist, pulling her closer.
"Hmm..." he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.
"Luca."
"Yes?"
She turned her head slightly, her lips parted, eyes still softly closed. Her voice dropped to the softest, most intimate whisper.
"Kiss me."
The words hung in the air like a spell. Luca’s heart slammed against his ribs as he slowly turned her in his arms. One hand cupped her face, his thumb gently tracing the line of her jaw. For a heartbeat, they simply breathed each other in... her lashes fluttering, his gaze dark with longing.
Then he lowered his head and captured her lips.
The kiss was slow, deep, and achingly tender at first, a gentle press that quickly bloomed into something far more passionate.
Vivienne’s hands slid up his chest and around his neck, fingers threading through his hair as she pulled him closer. She tasted sweet, like the lingering warmth of dinner and something uniquely her... intoxicating and addictive.
A soft, needy sound escaped her throat, sending a bolt of heat straight through him.
Luca responded with growing hunger, tilting his head to deepen the kiss, his arm locked firmly around her waist as if he never wanted to let go.
The world around them faded... the lake, the moonlight, the gentle breeze... all of it disappearing until there was only the heat of her mouth, the press of her body, and the rapid beating of two hearts entwined.
When they finally parted, both were breathing heavily. Vivienne’s lips were slightly swollen, glistening under the moonlight, and her eyes shimmered with desire as she looked up at him. A faint, satisfied smile curved her lips.
They stayed like that for a long while, foreheads resting together, sharing quiet breaths and stolen little kisses, reluctant to break the magic of the moment.
Fifteen minutes later, Luca and Vivienne returned to the estate hand in hand, fingers tightly interlaced, the lingering warmth of the kiss still burning on their lips.
After exchanging a few words with Valerie, Luca followed Vivienne upstairs.
As soon as Valerie saw Vivienne naturally leading Luca straight toward her bedroom, surprise flashed across her face. A knowing smile soon replaced it, and without saying a word, she quietly stood up and headed back to her own room, leaving the two of them alone.
...
Inside Vivienne’s bedroom, the atmosphere instantly became much quieter.
Luca glanced toward the closed door before turning to Vivienne with a puzzled expression.
"Hey, Angel... why do I keep feeling like Aunt Valerie has been looking at me strangely?"
He had noticed it ever since they first met earlier that day.
At first, he assumed he was imagining things.
But after seeing the same surprised expression on Valerie’s face just now, he was convinced something was going on.
For some reason, it left him feeling a little uneasy.
"Really?" Vivienne asked, the corners of her lips twitching as she fought back a smile.
"Absolutely."
Luca nodded firmly.
The moment he noticed the playful smile hiding in Vivienne’s eyes, he knew she definitely understood what was happening.
A mischievous grin spread across his face.
Slowly, he stepped toward her.
"Come on, spill it."
"If you don’t tell me..."
"...you’re not getting a peaceful night’s sleep."
Vivienne wasn’t intimidated in the slightest.
Instead, she smiled sweetly and wrapped both arms around Luca’s neck, standing on the tips of her toes so their faces were only inches apart.
"Luca..."
"I’d like to see how you’re planning to make things difficult for me."
Her teasing tone only made Luca smile wider.
Without another word, his hands slid gently to her slender waist before sneaking around to the small of her back.
Just like Naomi Monroe...
Vivienne happened to be ticklish there too.
The moment his fingers lightly scratched her waist, her graceful composure finally cracked.
Her shoulders trembled.
She squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lower lip to stop herself from laughing.
Unlike Naomi, who would immediately burst into uncontrollable giggles, Vivienne stubbornly tried to endure it.
Her body quivered slightly against his as she struggled to hold herself together, soft laughter escaping only in small, broken breaths.
"Hehe... Luca..."
"...stop..."
She tried to sound composed, but every word came out interrupted by restrained laughter.
Luca, however, had no intention of showing mercy.
He continued his gentle attack, smiling as he watched the usually elegant chairwoman lose her calm.
After another dozen seconds, Vivienne finally surrendered.
"Luca..."
"Stop scratching..."
"I’ll tell you."
Only then did Luca withdraw his hands.
Vivienne let out a long sigh of relief before resting her forehead lightly against his chest.
She took a moment to steady her breathing.
A faint blush still lingered on her beautiful face.
After a brief silence, she finally leaned close to his ear.
Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.
"Actually..."
"I was once in a relationship..."