Chapter 704

Ethan sent Theo a voice message, reminding the boy to get some rest.

As his phone screen went dark, he lifted his gaze to Vivian, warmth shimmering in his eyes.

"Why are you staring at me?"

The intensity of his gaze made her ears burn. She instantly regretted sitting beside him.

"Just want to look at you a little longer."

"Looking costs money."

"How much?"

If time with Vivian could truly be bought, Ethan would empty his entire fortune without hesitation.

But she wasn't a commodity. She was a treasure he feared might melt in his palms.

"Priceless. You can't afford it." Vivian turned her face away.

Ethan chuckled softly. Even the air tasted sweeter when she was near.

"Vivi, want to take a trip?" he asked abruptly.

"Are you insane? It's the middle of the night."

"Not now. Sometime this week."

"Not interested." Her refusal was absolute.

Their last "vacation" had stranded them on Santorini Island—a memory still fresh in her mind.

"Eudora has breathtaking scenery. It'd be a shame to miss it."

"Spoken like an expert. How many women have you taken there?"

"Just you." He held up a single finger. "And that one trip ended disastrously."

"What about Sophia Evans?" Vivian arched an eyebrow.

At the name, Ethan's eyes lit up.

"Curious? Have dinner with me tomorrow and I'll tell you."

"Suddenly I don't care anymore."

"Too late. You're stuck with me for dinner tonight."

Vivian fumed. The man had thicker skin than a castle wall.

"You only ate cake earlier. You need real food."

Ethan couldn't bear the thought of her going hungry. A food street stretched near the hospital.

"Fine. You're paying." She relented grudgingly.

With Queen Eleanor asleep, they slipped out unnoticed.

The night breeze carried a chill. Vivian suddenly craved hot noodle soup from her hometown.

But every noodle shop had closed along the street.

"Forget it. Let's go back." She didn't want to trouble him.

Ethan insisted, "Wait for me in your room."

An hour later, he returned with a thermal container clutched to his chest.

"Eat it before it gets soggy."

When Vivian lifted the lid, she froze at the sight of the pathetic-looking noodles.

The uneven cuts. The half-raw poached egg...

"You made this?"

"Every restaurant was closed. Had to learn from scratch."

Band-aids dotted his fingers. Flour dusted his sleeves.