Chapter 299: Relationship Progress

Henry Sterling’s words were very soft.

Vivian Lowell was too far away to hear clearly, but Eleanor Rhodes pursed her lips and glanced at him without saying a word. Things for next time could be left for next time to decide.

After a day of playing in the amusement park, Vivian was tired too. The park was huge with numerous attractions. Fortunately, they were the only ones there when it opened today, so there was no need to wait in line. They even got to sit in the front row for all the shows. The whole experience was absolutely perfect.

By evening, as Vivian and Julian Faulkner walked away hand in hand, she felt a bit reluctant to leave.

“It’s a little sad that we have to go now,” Vivian said, looking back at the park. “I loved coming to amusement parks when I was a kid, but I rarely had the chance. Hmm… I love the Ferris wheel the most.”

At the mention of the Ferris wheel, the two shared a knowing smile. They had ridden one together the last time.

“That’s okay. A little regret just means we have something to look forward to next time. Whenever you want to go to Disney, just let me know, and we’ll head over to Valeria,” Julian replied.

“Mhm.”

After agreeing, Vivian and Julian said their goodbyes to Eleanor.

“Eleanor, be careful on your way back. Oh, right, I just remembered, isn’t your car restricted from driving today? Are you taking a cab?” Vivian asked.

That explained it. For something as fun as a trip to the amusement park, Eleanor had arrived quite late that morning. Vivian had initially assumed her friend had simply overslept while getting her “beauty sleep.” But in reality, it was because of the license plate driving restrictions. Her parents had cars, but since it was a weekday, they probably couldn’t lend one to Eleanor.

“Yeah, it is…” Eleanor nodded.

Just as she was about to speak, Henry offered, “What a coincidence, my car isn’t restricted today. My place is pretty close to yours, so why don’t I give you a ride home?

“It’s almost rush hour. Look at the sky—it’s so gloomy, it might rain soon. It’ll be hard to get a cab. Plus, taking the subway would be inconvenient.

“You didn’t bring an umbrella, did you? You’ll easily get drenched on the walk home from the subway station. Let me take you.”

Eleanor remained silent.

Vivian wouldn’t have minded taking a detour to drop Eleanor off first, even though it would turn her forty-minute commute into an hour-and-a-half drive. But since Henry had spoken up… Vivian decided to wait and see what Eleanor wanted.

“Alright,” Eleanor compromised after a brief moment of thought. She just didn’t want to trouble her family’s nanny to drive all the way out to pick her up. It was quite a distance from her home, and waiting alone would be painfully boring. She had been having so much fun in the park that she had completely forgotten about her transportation dilemma.

“Sorry to trouble you. I’ll pay you for the gas,” Eleanor said politely, thanking him.

Hearing this, Henry smiled and said, “There’s no need for gas money. If you want to thank me, you can treat me to dinner. Or a movie. As long as it’s just the two of us, I’m not picky.”

Well, she was picky!

Eleanor thought to herself, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. Yet, she found it incredibly difficult to actually get angry at him. Henry was simply too handsome. When he said those words, his smile was so gentle and radiant. Faced with a Henry like that, Eleanor just couldn’t bring herself to be harsh!

“Let’s talk about it next time!” Eleanor used her go-to excuse, attempting to brush him off.

Henry let out a soft chuckle. Perhaps he saw right through her intentions, but he didn’t call her out. Nodding, he said, “Let’s go. It’s getting late.”

“Mhm.” Eleanor agreed, then turned back to wave at Vivian. “Well… Vivian, it’s late, so we’re heading out. Go home and rest early. Remember to text me when you get home so I know you’re safe.”

“I will,” Vivian replied, waving back before leaving hand in hand with Julian.

By the time they arrived home, it was past six o’clock. It got dark early in Aethelburg. Over the horizon, the setting sun was already visible, looking extremely dim. The sky overhead was completely blanketed by dark clouds, signaling an impending storm.

Just as she was looking up, a bolt of lightning flashed across the distant sky, followed by an earth-shattering BOOM of thunder. The sudden deafening sound startled Vivian, making her jump.

Vivian clutched her chest. Before she could let out a breath, Julian walked over, wrapping her in a reassuring hug. “It’s okay. It’s just thunder,” he said softly. “But that was a really mean clap of thunder, sneaking up on you like that. Don’t be scared, Vivian. Let’s go inside first.”

Julian was coaxing her as if she were a little child. Vivian instantly burst into laughter, shaking her head. The tiny bit of fear she had felt vanished without a trace.

“I used to be scared of thunder when I was little, but not because I was a coward. It was because… I slept alone back then. You know how vivid a child’s imagination can be,” she explained. “One night, I was lying there making up stories in my head when the thunder suddenly struck and terrified me. I just hate it when things sneak up on me from behind. If I’m mentally prepared, I won’t be scared of even the most terrifying things!”

“Right, exactly,” Julian agreed supportively. Squeezing her hand, he added, “Our Vivian is definitely not a coward. I know that.”

No, you don’t.

Seeing Julian’s “my wife is always right” expression, Vivian really wanted to sigh. She had a feeling that if she claimed the sun rose in the west right now, he wouldn’t even argue. Why was he treating her like a child?

With a soft sigh, Vivian didn’t say anything more as she, Julian, Grandma Faulkner, and Ms. Shaw all headed inside the house together. Since Ms. Shaw had been out with them all day, the other nannies at home had already made the rice and prepped the ingredients, just waiting for her to return and cook the dishes. It couldn’t be helped—Vivian liked Ms. Shaw’s cooking the most. She just wasn’t used to anyone else’s food.

By the time they sat down for dinner, the rain had started pouring. The family’s golden retriever was feeling energetic. It stood by the edge of the balcony, staring out at the rain as if it wanted to go out and play in it.

Seeing this, Grandma Faulkner couldn’t help but click her tongue. “Look at this rascal. Since when did it get so hyper? It’s acting like a husky. If it goes out to play in this downpour, it’s going to get all muddy, and I’ll be the one who has to give it a bath. Honestly!”

Grandma Faulkner looked at the dog with a face full of disdain. However, that didn’t stop her from pulling out doggy treats to give the golden retriever an extra meal right after dinner!

That evening, Eleanor texted Vivian early on to let her know she had gotten home safely. Recalling Henry’s behavior today and the slightly thawed tension between the two, Vivian’s inner gossip was ignited.

She replied, “How are things between you two? He… looks like he’s genuinely trying to pursue you. Eleanor, I don’t even know what to say anymore.

“I just feel like… it’s really a karmic entanglement!”

Eleanor replied very quickly.

“Tell me about it,” she wrote. “On our way home today, we were waiting at a red light when a little girl came up to knock on the window and sell flowers.

“She… well, long story short, Henry actually bought them. I was so speechless, but it would’ve been rude not to accept them. Now the flowers are sitting right here on my desk. Vivian, I…”

Vivian could sense Eleanor’s conflict through the screen. But when it came to matters of the heart, even as a best friend, offering advice was a tricky endeavor.

“Well… Eleanor,” Vivian replied. “It’s fine. Life is long. As for Henry, I used to think he was super unreliable, but he seems to be doing a bit better now.

“People change, after all. Falling for someone is a massive gamble in itself. Ultimately, I think you have to be the one to make the decision.

“You need to be brave and decisive in life. If it were me… when I like someone, I would give it my all. And if I stop liking them, or if their feelings change, I’d just walk away gracefully.”

They say that the love you can’t have is always the most unforgettable. Eleanor used to be in love with Henry, but they had never gotten together. Because of that, he would always hold a special place in her heart. But if they actually got together now, that unresolved knot in her heart would finally untangle. And who knows? Maybe one day she would realize he wasn’t who she imagined him to be, and she’d finally be able to let go.

As for Henry… Vivian only needed to care about her best friend. Whatever happened with Henry, she would leave it to fate!

“Alright, Vivian. I understand. I’ll think about it seriously,” Eleanor texted back. “Hmm… I’m a bit tired. I’m going to find a movie to watch and relax for a while. You should rest early too!”

“Mhm!”

After sending her reply, Vivian set her phone aside. She had just lain down and was preparing to find a movie to watch when her phone chimed. It was a message from Mr. Drake.

“Vivian, rest early. Don’t overthink the things on the internet. No matter what public opinion says, I know what the truth is. Don’t worry, I won’t forget about those matters.

“If you have any doubts, feel free to ask me. However, I won’t be staying at the villa district for the next few days, so just send me a text.”

Huh?

Seeing Mr. Drake’s message, Vivian was stunned for a moment before it clicked. He must have been talking about Shelly Drake, right? Someone in the Drake family had murdered Vivian’s biological parents, and Joy Drake had arranged for the imposter, Shelly Drake, to take her place. Mr. Drake clearly had his own plans in motion. He had reached out specifically to explain because he didn’t want Vivian to get dragged into it and hurt, but he was also worried she might overthink things and feel uneasy.

Vivian felt a wave of emotion. This was what true family felt like. They would always look out for you, no matter what. Mr. Drake was like this, and honestly, so was Julian.

With that in mind, Vivian picked up her phone and typed out a reply.

“Mr. Drake, I understand. It’s getting late, so please rest early. While you’re not home, I can drop by to help feed the kitties when I’m free!”

“Alright, Vivian. Thank you.” Mr. Drake replied almost instantly, attaching an adorable sticker of a winking cat.