Chapter 61: Apologize to Her
The wave of phoniness washing over her made Vivian Lowell extremely uncomfortable.
She glanced toward Wendy Wynn, pushed the door open, and walked out to stand before her and Henry Sterling.
’The two of them aren’t showing any of the affection you’d expect from a couple. Could it be they’re not together yet?’
Vivian felt a flicker of surprise.
After all, Vivian had always remembered how much Henry liked Wendy. He couldn’t even bring himself to throw away the things they had left from when they were together.
Logically, now that Wendy was back and had even humbled herself to approach Henry, he should have been quick to take her back.
’What is Henry hesitating for?’
After a moment’s thought, Vivian took the initiative to greet Wendy. "Miss Winslow, what a coincidence. I didn’t expect to run into you here."
"However, I’m very busy today. The pet hospital is swamped, so I’m afraid I don’t have time to catch up, and neither does Tanya. Why don’t you two head home for now and come back another time?"
Vivian didn’t care what Wendy’s goal was; she was just going to refuse her and send them away.
In an instant, just as Vivian finished speaking and turned to leave, Wendy suddenly grabbed her hand. "Miss Lowell, I’m sorry about what happened last time."
’Sorry?’
Vivian was a little surprised but remained on guard. She asked, "What do you mean, sorry? What? You finally remember that Tanya and I didn’t push you last time?"
Wendy Wynn nodded.
She shot an apologetic glance at Henry Sterling, then turned back to Vivian. "Last time, I was being too careless. I fell on my own; it had nothing to do with you."
"I was too nervous then, and I was afraid you had ill intentions toward me, so I misspoke. I’m sorry. I... I also came here today because I want to adopt a cat."
"Since coming back to the country, I’ve been living all by myself. Every day when I get home after a long day of work, the house is so empty, and it makes me feel a little scared."
Vivian sized up Wendy, with only two words in her mind: ’Yeah, right!’
Vivian hadn’t forgotten a single thing about this manipulator standing before her—not what happened at Aethelburg University last time, nor Eleanor Rhodes’s heartbroken reaction afterward.
No matter what Wendy said, Vivian wasn’t going to soften up.
"Oh."
Vivian drew out the sound, then said to Wendy, "So you’re all alone and your house feels empty. In your situation, I think getting a dog would be more suitable."
"Dogs are much clingier than cats, and they can provide a sense of security. Miss Winslow, I know a place where you can adopt a dog. Would you like to consider it?"
After saying her piece, Vivian couldn’t be bothered to look at Wendy anymore and turned to Henry. "Professor Sterling, you happen to know that place too. Why don’t you take Miss Winslow over there?"
"..."
Henry Sterling’s brow furrowed deeply.
He looked at Vivian and suddenly asked, "Is Tanya inside? Is... is she okay?"
Vivian was silent for a moment.
If it weren’t for the fact that Henry had been her serious and responsible professor for several years in college, Vivian would have actually laughed out loud.
Because right now, Henry’s behavior was exactly like that of a two-timing scumbag—eating from the bowl while eyeing what’s in the pot.
Last time, he had clearly sided with Wendy, and he probably knew Eleanor Rhodes would be upset about it, but he didn’t say anything then.
Instead, he waits until all this time has passed to ask Vivian about Eleanor Rhodes!
"Professor Sterling, do you want to hear the truth?" Vivian looked at him seriously, gesturing toward Wendy. "Don’t you think it’s inappropriate to be asking about another woman while you’re with her?"
Henry seemed very hesitant and conflicted.
At that moment, Wendy looked at Henry with a pitiful expression, reaching out as if to take his arm.
"I want to know if she’s okay."
Henry was dead serious. He pulled his arm away before Wendy could take it and said, "About last time, I just felt that Wendy is my friend."
"And so is Tanya. It was just a small scrape; I didn’t want to make things so tense by insisting on assigning blame. I..."
Hearing this, Vivian shot back, "So what you’re saying is, you think my Tanya was being aggressive and refusing to let it go by insisting on getting to the bottom of it, is that right?"
"That’s not what I meant, Vivian, you..."
Henry never knew that the usually gentle Vivian could be so formidable when she was being difficult. He was left completely speechless, unable to form a rebuttal.
"Professor Sterling, I apologize."
Vivian also felt her attitude hadn’t been the best. "Tanya wasn’t doing well that day," she said. "She’d been drinking and was tipsy. But she’s pulled herself together now."
"Look, the pet hospital is so busy right now, she probably doesn’t have time to see you anyway."
"My attitude that day was wrong. Vivian, since she doesn’t have time to see me now, could you tell her I’m sorry for me when you get a chance?"
Henry was very sincere. "I’ve sent her messages," he said, "but she hasn’t replied. If she’s angry, I... I can find a way to make it up to her."
"..."
Vivian looked at Henry and was a little speechless.
She had already said everything that needed to be said. Besides, Henry himself mentioned that Eleanor Rhodes hadn’t replied to his messages. Knowing Eleanor’s habit of replying instantly whenever she was free, it was as simple as her not wanting to reply.
Yet Henry insisted on being so persistent.
Vivian thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I understand. Professor Sterling, it’s getting late, you should head back for now. I’ll help pass your message along to Tanya."
"But you know her temper. I’ll tell her, but I can’t promise what her reaction will be, okay?"
Henry Sterling nodded and left with Wendy Wynn.
Watching their retreating figures, Vivian let out a sigh. Just as she was about to turn back, she saw Julian Faulkner had also come out of the pet hospital.
"Was that his ex-girlfriend from before he went abroad?" Julian asked. It was rare for him to show interest in other people’s affairs, especially this kind of gossip.
"Mhm."
Vivian nodded and recounted what Henry had just said. "Honestly, if I didn’t know what kind of person Professor Sterling is, I would think he’s a total scumbag."
"But that Wendy is clearly no saint, either. I have no idea what she was thinking, coming here today."
"I stopped her this time, but she probably won’t give up."
Wendy was clearly treating Eleanor Rhodes as a rival.
’What will happen between the two of them in the future...’
Vivian felt that a somewhat naive girl like Tanya was probably no match for Wendy.
"Mhm."
Julian Faulkner nodded and said, "It’s getting late. I need to head back to the office. You get back to work. Call me if you need anything."
"Okay, you go on ahead."
Vivian agreed and went back into the pet hospital.
Inside the pet hospital, Eleanor Rhodes had just finished her work. Seeing that Vivian didn’t look very happy upon her return, she asked in confusion, "Vivian, what’s wrong?"
"I..."
Vivian hesitated for a moment but decided to tell her everything.
After hearing the story, Eleanor Rhodes lowered her head, her expression darkening.