Chapter 540

"You've got it wrong. We're just colleagues," Ethan Roscente explained, suddenly smirking. "That tone of yours... are you jealous?"

"Jealous?" Vivian Laurent opened her mouth to retort when a wave of nausea hit her.

She slapped Ethan's arm urgently. "Pull over! Now!"

"What's wrong?" He frowned. "Don't want to be near me?"

"If you don't stop this car, I'll vomit all over you!" Vivian clutched her mouth, face pale.

Ethan slammed the brakes. The moment the car stopped, Vivian bolted out toward a roadside trash bin.

Grabbing a water bottle, Ethan followed. He gently patted her back. "Vivian, what's wrong?"

She retched violently while Ethan waited patiently beside her.

When Vivian finally straightened, he immediately offered water. "Rinse your mouth."

"Should we go to the hospital?" Concern laced his voice.

Vivian shook her head. She'd barely drunk any alcohol tonight—why this sudden sickness?

"Maybe the empty stomach plus car motion," she said weakly.

"You never take care of yourself." Ethan's brow furrowed. "Just like when you brushed off your injury days ago."

"I'm a doctor. I know my limits." Vivian wiped her lips. "Go ahead. I need some space."

"No." His refusal was absolute. "What do you want to eat? I'll take you."

Vivian waved him off. Food was the last thing on her mind.

Remembering Theo at home, she hesitated. "Actually... could you do me a favor?"

Ethan's eyes brightened. "Name it."

"There's a child home alone. His mother's abroad, and his uncle's unreliable." Vivian bit her lip. "Could you check on him?"

Ethan stiffened. So her urgency was about Theo.

"That boy means a lot to you?" he probed.

"Of course." Vivian pulled out her phone. "I'll text him that an uncle's coming."

Ethan discreetly sent a message too. Soon, Vivian frowned at her screen.

"That's odd," she murmured. "Theo says his parent just returned."

Ethan exhaled silently in relief.