Chapter 830
"Interested?"
"Absolutely! How could I refuse such a major case? When do we leave?" Patrick Alpinus's voice brimmed with barely contained excitement.
Ethan Roscente replied calmly, "Not yet. Wait for my instructions."
Hanging up, Ethan turned toward Vivian Laurent on the sofa.
She had fallen asleep without him noticing.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting delicate shadows from her long lashes across her flawless face. The interplay of light and shadow only enhanced her ethereal beauty.
Ethan found himself mesmerized.
From every angle, she was breathtaking.
Simply watching her sleep filled him with quiet contentment.
Moving carefully, he picked up a nearby throw blanket and draped it over her.
Vivian's hand rested protectively over her abdomen, as if instinctively shielding something precious.
Ethan's gaze softened.
Time seemed to accelerate.
Suddenly, Vivian's eyes flew open, locking onto his intense stare.
"What are you doing?" She bolted upright, heart pounding.
"Nothing," Ethan raised his hands innocently.
"Then why were you staring at me?"
"Just looking."
Vivian dismissed the argument with a sigh, checking the time. "What did your friend say?"
"It's handled. Need more rest?"
"No." She rubbed her temples, puzzled by her sudden drowsiness.
"Free tomorrow?" Vivian asked abruptly.
"Yes."
"I need a favor."
Ethan arched a brow. "What kind?"
"An important document needs delivering to the neighboring city. I don't trust anyone else with it."
She needed him gone.
Tomorrow was her scheduled prenatal checkup. With Ethan hovering, she'd never slip away unnoticed.
Previously, she'd tried having Lucas Lefèvre distract him, but that plan had too many holes.
Theo Evans could've kept him occupied at Disneyland, but Ethan might just pawn the boy off on someone else and follow her instead.
"No problem," Ethan agreed readily.
An awkward silence settled.
Vivian frowned. "Why are you still here?"
"Can't I stay a little longer?"
"No."
"Actually, there's something else," Ethan lied smoothly.
Even one extra minute with her was worth the deception.
"What now?" Vivian eyed him suspiciously.
Did this man ever have anything better to do?