“Mommy, where are you now?” Larry had waited for fifteen minutes, yet his mother was still not home yet.
Vivian knew she was near the neighborhood when the familiar row of shops came into sight. “I’m almost home now.”
She soon arrived home and was changing into slippers in the doorway. It startled her when she suddenly heard Larry’s voice from behind, “Mommy.”
She spun around to see Larry looking at her, his gaze shining with awe.
The next moment, the little boy furrowed his brows and said, “Mommy, don’t forget about Daddy.”
With that, he turned and left for his bedroom.
The little boy waited up for his mother so that she would come home early. Now that his mission was accomplished, he could finally cast his worries away and go to bed.
Meanwhile, Vivian was amused by her son’s remark. Is he worried that I might find him a stepfather?
As she entered the washroom, she noticed Larry had helped squeeze toothpaste on her toothbrush and had the towel prepared for her. At that instant, she felt warmth in her heart.
With a heartfelt smile, she murmured, “Little pumpkin, you’re starting to look like your father.”
In no time, she brushed her teeth and removed her makeup.
In her bedroom, she saw a note with neat handwriting on the nightstand, which wrote: Goodnight, Mommy.
The heartwarming words brought a smile onto her face. Soon she fell into a deep slumber.
Life went on as usual. Every day, Vivian would recharge herself by spending some family time with Larry after a tiring day at work. The little boy had always shown his care and concern for her.
She realized that Larry started to look increasingly like his father.
Sometimes, she would find some of his facial expressions and behavior similar to Finnick’s. He was just like a miniature version of that man.
Yet, the two had different characters and personalities. Finnick was a warm person, while Larry was a bit overbearing and dominant.
As his mother, Vivian would accept Larry for who he was. What was more, Larry was the crystallization of the love between Finnick and her.
She couldn’t ask for more as long as the boy was always there with her.
One morning, when Vivian arrived at the office, she noticed the others were all talking about her. Some even regarded her with an envious gaze.
After settling down at her desk, she asked her colleague sitting next to her, “What happened?”
Her colleague seemed hesitant as she spoke, “You haven’t heard about it? You’re going to interview the president of a large company.”
Vivian couldn’t help feeling confused.
Soon, Lesley was there to clear her doubts. “Vivian, come with me.”
Lesley had received the news when she arrived at the office. Seeing Vivian at her cubicle, she called her into her office to talk to her about it.
“Oh… Okay.” Vivian’s had a bad feeling about it, yet she had no choice but to comply with the senior editor’s order.
In her office, Lesley asked Vivian to take a seat and then handed a document to her.
Vivian’s eyes widened as she skimmed through it. I’m going to interview Finnor Group’s president?
She was shocked to learn that she was being entrusted with the duty to interview Chase Neville, the man who took over Finnick’s company.
Although she was reluctant to interview that man, she must comply with her superior’s order. Yet, it was a bitter pill for her to swallow.
She tried to negotiate with the senior editor, “Um… Ms. Jenson, could I not do this interview?”
“Either you do the interview or quit your job,” was the ruthless Lesley’s reply.
What a fool I am to pin my hope on the Lesley to show mercy. In the end, Vivian gave in. “I’ll do it.”
She listened to Lesley when the latter told her about the things she needed to be mindful of during the interview.
Downhearted, she came out of the senior editor’s office with her feet shuffling and her shoulders slouching. I’ve been trying hard to stay away from everything that reminds me of the past. Why must they ask me to interview that man?
Vivian knew she couldn’t run away this time.
For the past few years, she had always refused to buy any of the Finnor Group’s products as they would remind her that the company had changed ownership.
She had even transferred her son to a new kindergarten to prevent him from going to the same school as Joey.
