After Luca left the bedroom, she headed downstairs and got ready to leave.

She would be late if she did not set off now.

Tommy immediately kept up with Luca when he saw her going out. “Ms. Luca, are you going out?"

"Yes. I'm going shopping with Vivian," replied Luca. She picked up the scarf beside her and put it on her while looking at herself in the mirror.

"Ms. Vivian!" Tommy's eyes lit up and clung to Luca, "Ms. Luca, I miss Ms. Vivian too. Take me with you, please."

"Be good. I'm going to accompany Ms. Vivian to get the stuff she needs for her next semester. It's inconvenient for us to have kids come along with us. Can you stay at home? I'll make something good for you when I come back." It was not that Luca refused to take the kids along with her, but it was inconvenient to do so.

"But I wanted to meet Ms. Vivian too." Tommy tugged on Luca's sleeve while acting cute. He tried to convince her to take him along with her.

"What about inviting Ms. Vivian over to be our guest?" Luca discussed it with the child.

"Ms. Luca..." Tommy was aggrieved. Before he could finish his words, Lanie pulled him away and said, "Ms. Luca has something to do. We shouldn't disturb her."

"Ms. Luca is going shopping." Tommy turned around and looked at Luca.

Luca could not bear Tommy staring at her like that.

When she was about to say something, Lanie said, "Ms. Luca is going to get some gifts. You'll only cause trouble if you go with her."

"Lanie, how do you know about that?" Tommy gave him a confused look. What gifts was Luca buying?

"I heard Uncle Louis is going to move to a new place. Daddy asked Ms. Luca to prepare a housewarming gift. So, you'd better be good and stay at home. Don't cause any trouble for Ms. Luca," said Lanie with a cool look on his face.

Luca heard what the child said. The redness on Luca's face that took some time to fade away appeared on her face again.

Lanie had heard their conversation. Did he also see the two of them sitting so close together, then?

Luca could not help but mumble to herself that she should remind Luke to be more careful at home. After all, the kids were around.

The adults being intimate would have a bad influence on the kids' mental health,

After Tommy heard that, he had no choice but to reply in a baby voice, “Fine. Ms. Luca, please come back home early."

"Okay. I'll come back as soon as possible." Luca could not help but let out a laugh when she saw Tommy acting like a young married woman who was waiting for her husband to come home and how pitiful he looked when he reminded her to come home earlier.

Luca noticed that she was running late. She turned around and left after that.

Tommy could not help but let out a sigh while he watched Luca leave decisively from behind. He acted like a little old man and said, "Ms. Luca isn't reluctant to leave us at all."

"Ms. Luca is running late. That's why she's in a hurry," explained Rainie after she glanced at the time.

Tommy turned to look at her and asked, "Rainie, how do you know that?"

"I heard her talking to Ms. Vivian on the phone. It's almost time for them to meet each other." Rainie had heard Luca and Vivian talk to each other in Russian and English when they were on the phone. Not only did she know what time they were meeting up, but she also knew where they were going.

Tommy sat on the sofa and wondered, "Lanie, Rainie, why do you know everything?"

"You're a greedy little child. That's why you missed out on these things," Rainie replied with a smile.

Tommy pouted unhappily, "Lanie and Rainie always bully me!"

"We don't. Come on. Let's play chess. I can't beat Lanie." Rainie held Tommy's hands, planning to team up with Tommy to play against Lanie.

"Come on. I'm not afraid even if there are two of you," Lanie replied indifferently. Old Master Crawford always took him along with him when he was little. As he watched the old master play chess with others, Lanie learned more and more strategies.

Tommy said querulously, "Lanie's too proud. Why don't we ask for Daddy's help?"

"Daddy's busy with the drawings. He doesn't have time for you," said Lanie in a cold voice.

Tommy stuck his tongue out at Lanie.

On the other hand.

Luca was late even though she tried her best to meet Vivian at the place they had agreed upon on time.

She walked into the cafe and saw Vivian, who was sitting in the corner. Hence, she came forward and apologized to her. "I'm sorry, Vivian. I'm late."

"It's okay." Vivian turned around and smiled. Then, she handed Luca the menu and said, "You haven't eaten anything, right? Order something first." Luca saw her face. She could not help but frown.

Even though Vivian's smile was as gentle as before, Luca could sense the misery and the subtle emotions in her heart. All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Luca stayed calm. She talked to the waitress beside her and placed her order. She ordered a cup of coffee and a slice of cake. It was only after the waitress left did she say, "You dolled yourself up today."

"Yes. I've been watching makeup tutorials on the internet these days. I'm learning how to put on makeup," replied Vivian. She seldom put on makeup back then. Gordon said she was ugly and she would still look the same even if she had makeup on. Hence, there was no need for her to waste makeup products.

Besides, she looked like a clown in the circus who was getting all dressed up for a performance. It was ridiculous. That was why she hardly put on makeup.

However, Vivian wished to look beautiful too. Since she had come here and started a new life, she decided to take the initiative to make a change.

“You look good with makeup on, and the makeup fits you well," said Luca. Vivian's complexion looked better after putting makeup on.

It was just that the misery in the bottom of her eyes was unconcealable. Luca could see it with just a glance.

"Really?" Vivian smiled and touched her face. Her smile faded as she recalled what Gordan had told her before. "I thought it was bad."

"How could it be? You look amazing," replied Luca.

The waitress served the coffee and cake Luca ordered on the table. After Luca thanked her, she carefully asked Vivian, "Vivian, did something happen to you?"

"No. Isn't it still the New Year? I was going around to see if there was any event I could join to experience the festive atmosphere. I've been busy." There was a trace of anxiety in Vivian's eyes. She quickly found an excuse to hide her feelings.

Luca felt helpless. That excuse of hers was really bad.

Many events were held during the New Year, but almost all of the events would involve one's family and friends.

Vivian was alone here. How was she going to celebrate it alone?

Luca said, "You skillfully covered the dark circles under your eyes with your makeup, but the misery in your eyes..."

She paused for a moment and took a sip of the coffee.

"Vivian, what happened?"

"You can tell." Vivian massaged her temples and let out a sigh.

"Is it because of him?" Luca did not mention Gordan's name.

The only person who could make Vivian like this but try her best to conceal it was Gordan Norton.

Vivian had been in love with Gordan for years. Although she was eventually disappointed in him and left him, leaving him did not mean she had no more feelings for him.

Gordon would always be someone Vivian could never forget.

"Yes." Vivian nodded. She thought she might as well tell Luca what happened over the past few days. "Ray has limited subordinates here. And it seems like he has some sort of superpower. There's nothing in this world he doesn't know about. He came to A City, and he knows my address."