Vivienne's perfectly curved nose was pressed against the man's chest, muffling her voice as she spoke.
It sounded like she was crying, which made Percival's heart clench, holding her even tighter.
His voice was as gentle as if he were consoling a child, and his hands were not idle, patting her back rhythmically. "It's okay; these horror flicks are all fake. Vivienne. Don't cry."
Vivienne: Which eye of yours saw me crying?
Seeing her words had no effect, her idle hand climbed to Percival's waist.
Through the thin fabric, her soft fingertips glided across his abdomen, sending a tingling sensation through him.
Percival's throat felt dry, and his lower abdomen tightened.
The eyes that were once filled with tender indulgence suddenly darkened, and when he spoke again, his voice was hoarse, "Vivienne, are you seducing me?"
On any other day, such a tone from him would have made Vivienne's eyes shine with fascination.
But this time, she remained silent, and once she found her target, her index finger and thumb suddenly pinched hard around Percival's waist. "Seduce this!"
Caught off guard, Percival couldn't help but let out a muffled groan. His arms loosened around Vivienne, and with a gentle push, he found himself sprawled on the couch, "If it wasn't for Kenneth being away from home lately, I'd think he taught you all those clumsy moves!"
Vivienne straddled him with her legs. "Mr. Wolf, can you drop those corny lines from the TV shows? They don't suit you, really. Look at me. Do I seem like someone who'd be scared of that?"
Percival lay on the couch, half his face buried in a cushion.
The more Vivienne spoke, the more she found it amusing to see Percival, who seemed embarrassed, her laughter growing stronger. "Can't you just be yourself, Mr. Wolf?"
As she spoke, she got off him and patted his shoulder soothingly.
Deciding to let him stew for a bit, she walked away to answer her phone, "Victoria, what's up?"
Her voice still carried a hint of laughter as she spoke.
Victoria paused, checked the phone to confirm it was indeed Vivienne's number, then brought it back to her ear. "Are you possessed?"
Why else would she sound so cheerful at her call?
Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, Vivienne said curtly, "Spit it out."
Her tone was cold and impatient, but Victoria wasn't upset. In fact, she let out a relieved sigh. That was the Vivienne she knew. The one before must have been her imagination.
"Day after tomorrow, 10 a.m., the café next to your place. Let's meet."
Although Arthur suggested that she go straight to Richard, after the scene her mother had made with the family, she was too ashamed to face this grandfather whom he had never met.
After a moment's thought, Victoria decided to start with Vivienne.
Vivienne didn't respond right away but turned to look at Percival still playing possum on the couch. "Fine, if there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."
"Okay..."
Victoria didn't finish her sentence before the dial tone sounded. Frozen for a good two or three seconds, she finally came to. "I swear... Vivienne, you better not fall into my hands!"
Unaware of Victoria's curses, Vivienne hung up the phone and sat back down, coaxing Percival to face her, "Mr. Wolf, cut the act. You're too old for these games."
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