Chapter 674

Ryan Fairsprene gave a bitter smile. "Does it matter if I'm willing or not? Dr. Laurent, I'm just an ordinary man."

"She's like a star in the sky—once dimmed by dust, now shining bright again."

"While I can only stand on the ground, gazing up at her across an entire galaxy."

Vivian Laurent frowned. "I understand what you mean, but not entirely."

"Why make things so complicated?"

"How would you know it's impossible without trying? Everyone has the right to pursue happiness."

"Even Fiona Grandelle was brave enough. Are you saying you lack the courage to even try?"

Ryan lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of his coffee cup.

"Isn't it even more foolish to chase something with no hope of success?"

"It might only hurt her more in the end."

Vivian took a sip of tea. "What about me and Ethan Roscente?"

"Weren't we worlds apart too?"

"Back then, I was overweight, plain, with no degree, no job, and an average family background."

"Yet I still won him over."

Ryan looked up. "But you two still ended up divorced."

"Because he never loved me." Vivian set down her cup. "At least I tried. I have no regrets."

She patted Ryan's shoulder. "Don't make decisions you'll regret."

After a long silence, Ryan finally nodded. "Thank you, Dr. Laurent."

......

The days that followed were eerily calm.

Ethan appeared frequently at the hospital, while Bianca Semona seemed to have vanished into thin air.

The unnatural quiet unsettled Vivian.

She couldn't shake the feeling that this was the calm before the storm.

With her prenatal checkup approaching, Vivian enlisted Lucas Lefèvre's help.

"You must keep Ethan occupied. He can't find out I'm going to the hospital."

Lucas thumped his chest confidently. "Leave it to me."

He arranged to meet Ethan for coffee.

The two men sat across from each other, the atmosphere thick with awkwardness.

Ethan raised a brow. "Did Vivian send you?"

Lucas forced a laugh. "Just wanted to talk you out of bothering my sister."

"If that's all, save your breath." Ethan lifted his coffee cup.

Exactly what Lucas wanted.

Silence stretched between them as they stared at each other.

The café's background music suddenly seemed unbearably loud.