Vivienne exined, "Basically, it''s like she can''t empathize with others. She doesn''t feel happiness, anger, sadness, or joy. When
she snuffed out Birdie, she just thought the chirping was annoying. She didn''t consider that it was Diana''s beloved pet. When
she watches a horror movie, she just sees it as a scene of murder, nothing scary. She can''t grasp love, friendship, or family ties.
She''s like a block of ice, pure ice. And even if it melts, it''s just a puddle of water."
Maddox shook his head. "But Vivienne, Wi treasures your grandpa and your mom a lot. If she couldn''t feel emotions, she
wouldn''t have shown up today.”
People who can''t feel emotions don''t sympathize with others or worry about them.
Yet, Wi clearly wasn''t like that.
Plus, she had said in the hospital that she saw everyone as her brothers. So, it didn''t make sense that she couldn''t feel familial
bonds.
"It''s not absolute. Emotional detachment can be managed. Didn''t you say that my mom had a talk with Aunt Wi? | think that
was part of the management, which is why she''s so dependent on my mom."
Maddox''s eyes brightened in understanding. "You''re right. Wi is really dependent on Sasha."
Vivienne pursed her lips and continued, "It seems Aunt Wi wasn''t born this way. It might be due to medication."
"Why do you say that?" Maddox''s eyes suddenly took on a fierce edge.
"If it were innate emotional detachment, it wouldn''t change so easily. My mom''s been gone for over thirty years. If it were innate,
Aunt Wi would have stopped caring years ago, thinking, ''If she''s gone, she''s gone. It’s no skin off my back.’ But she''s been
searching all these years and even ran away from home out of shame upon learning she is the daughter of F-Poison.
| think, in Aunt Wi''s heart, the interests of the Perez family alwayse first, followed by my mom, grandpa, and then those
closest to her."
Maddox raised a hand. "I''m at the top of that ‘closest list!"
"Sure, sure," Vivienne said, pressing Maddox''s hand down.
Men can be so weird, fussing over such trivial rankings!
Vivienne went on, "If it were an innate emotional detachment, it wouldn''t be so easy for people to get close to her. In all these
years without my mom, it was Grandpa and you guys who gradually influenced Aunt Wi''s heart. My mom was the
enlightenment, and you guys are the continuation. That''s what has shaped Aunt Wi today.
If it''s controlled by medication, after a while, when Aunt Wi and | get to know each other better, I''ll give her a check-up. That
way, we can treat her ordingly and help her recover."
Vivienne finished thest bite of her strawberry cheesecake and added, "But Uncle Maddox, if this doesn''t affect Aunt Wi''s
health, there''s no need to worry. It''s just ack of empathy for others'' emotions, which is fine, don''t you think?"
After listening, Maddox heaved a long sigh of relief as if he hadn''t really heard what Vivienne was saying, lost in his own world.
"| get it now."
Vivienne raised an eyebrow, "What do you get?"
"Wi definitely likes me. She just doesn''t understand it yet. Once she does, she''ll realize I''m the love of her life, the one she
can''t live without. When her lovees rushing at me like a tidal wave, I''ll respond with a river of my own affection. We''ll have
seven or eight kids, leave them with the eldest to handle, and I''ll take Wi to travel the world. Vivienne, what do you think... Hey,
where did they go?"
Maddox turned around to find not only had Vivienne and Percival disappeared, but even the cheesecake box was gone!
He clicked his tongue. "Jealous, they''re just jealous!"
Vivienne and Percival hadn''t left the hospital but had gone to the office Percival had prepared for Vivienne, which held
everyone''s medical records, including those of Leopold and others who were recuperating on the second floor.
"Soren still hasn''t woken up, but Astrid is conscious now, though she can''t move much yet. The others are gradually recovering.
Soren should be up in a couple of days."
Vivienne flipped through the medical records and finally picked up Karen''s chart.
“| wonder when my mom will wake up."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.
She bit her lip, listing many methods to awaken Karen, each with its risks and not to be tried lightly.
Percival gently stroked Vivienne''s back, softly saying, "Vivienne, don''t worry. Master will be fine."
"Yeah, this surgery cost a fortune. She owes me!" Vivienne said seriously as if she really intended to collect a debt from her own
mother.
Percival moved his lips but found himself at a loss for words.
Right, his Vivienne was still the same, not a bit changed!
Over at Elite University, Aaron sat in the café, silently stirring his coffee. Keh hadn''t bothered him for days since Anna was
hospitalized, giving him some peace.
But Aaron couldn''t muster any happiness. He didn''t know how to approach Vivienne now.
The Brooks family saga was over, and he hadn''t yed any substantial role in it.
Like a side character, popping up now and then but failing to leave asting impression on the protagonist, much like his ce in
Vivienne''s heart.
Aaron felt a twinge of dissatisfaction.
Why?
He had known Vivienne first and had grown familiar with her. Why had Percival, that old man, gotten ahead?
Or was it, as Mara suggested, that Percival misled Vivienne?
Lately, Aaron felt like he didn''t have the strength to jostle with Percival for the top spot in Vivienne''s heart.
“Hey, Aaron! What''s on your mind?"
Aaron snapped out of his reverie to find Mara already sitting across from him at the diner booth.
Ever since that incident a while back, it seemed like they hadn''t really crossed paths.
"It''s been a while. How''s the leg? All healed up?" Aaron inquired with genuine concern.
Mara nodded. "Yeah, the leg''s pretty
much back to normal, teeity
asking. B tyvhataboee Yeu? ou look
Tha aah Saving the weight of the
world on your shoulders." Please read
the original content at
NovelDrama.Org.
Aaron let out a wry chuckle but didn''t respond.
But really, how heavy can a young man''s troubles be? They usually revolve around just one person, don''t they?
Mara, of course, knew all too well.
“Has Viviennee around to see you yet?" Mara asked gingerly.
Aaron''s self-mockery was evident as he said, "Why would shee see me? I''m useless, and she knows it. It would be a waste
of her time."
Mara sighed, empathy written all over
her face. "That''s such a shame. |
thought Vivienne was the kin aiee
modern L wha edt athout a
edleata Stance after what
happened. She''d be ready to move
on, especially with someone like you
waiting in the wings. Why on earth
would she cling to Percival?" Please
read the original content at
NovelDrama.Org.
Then, realizing how her words might
have sounded, she quickly tried 401 |
cktragl, th dan nit like that!
''AY not saying you''re just a backup
option." Please read the original
content at NovelDrama.Org.
But that wasn''t what was eating at Aaron. He asked, "What exactly happened to Vivienne? Has Percival done something to her?"