Chapter 252

Chapter 252

When Vivian reached the middle of the walkway, the white pergola looked light and airy in the sunlight, and the hanging flower garlands and string lights slowly came into focus.

Riley recorded a video on her phone, panning the camera along the path Vivian walked, capturing the stretch between the walkway and the pergola, and the side profile of Arthur waiting underneath.

As Vivian approached the pergola, Sadie quickly slipped around from behind and made her way back to her seat, smoothing out her skirt as she sat down.

Vivian stood in front of Arthur, less than an arm's length away.

She looked up at him and said something, not loudly, but the distance between the walkway and the pergola was just enough for the words to reach the few people nearby: "You've been waiting a long time."

"Not really," Arthur said.

A breeze passed through, and the flower garlands on the pergola swayed for a moment before settling back into place.

Riley turned sideways in her seat and whispered something to Dr. Hoffman. He glanced at her, then looked back toward the pergola. His expression didn't change much, but his eyes seemed a little brighter than usual in the light.

"You carried me on your back once," Vivian said, "running out through the iron gate, running all through the night. You said something to me then."

Arthur looked at her without saying a word, but he held out his left hand, palm facing up. She looked down at it for a moment, then placed her left hand in his. When his fingers closed around hers, he didn't hold too tight — just enough to wrap her hand in his.

"You said don't be scared, I'll get you out of here," Vivian said. "I've never forgotten that."

"Every word I've ever said to you still stands," Arthur said.

Riley lifted her phone, then lowered it again. She didn't take the photo. She slipped her phone into her pocket, the corners of her mouth curving up slightly.

By the time the wedding ended, the sky had grown dark.

The warm white string lights on the pergola came on, trailing down along the edges of the white draping and casting soft, gentle arcs of light through the dusk.

The wind had died down a little since the afternoon, carrying with it the damp smell of grass and earth.

Guests began to leave one by one. Dr. Hoffman was still going on about his bottle of medicinal wine as he headed out, saying he'd personally bring it over to wherever they were staying. Sadie left with Riley, the two of them walking side by side along the path at the edge of the lawn. Riley's steps were a little slower than usual, the hem of her dress brushing lightly against the tips of the grass. Sadie carried the wicker basket in her hand, dried flowers peeking out over the top, swaying gently with each step.

Vivian stood under the pergola watching them go. Arthur stood beside her, his jacket sleeves rolled up slightly, revealing the slender silver bracelet on his wrist — the one Vivian had put on him before the ceremony began.

She hadn't said where it came from. She'd only said, "It looks good on you," and he'd worn it ever since without taking it off.

"I'm really happy today," she said.

Arthur glanced down at her, his gaze drifting from her face to a small white petal that had landed on her shoulder.

He reached over and picked it off, held it in his palm for a moment, then tucked it into the inner pocket of his jacket.

He didn't say "me too" or "glad to hear it." He just rested his hand back on her shoulder, gave it a gentle squeeze, and said, "The wind's picking up. Let's head inside."

"Arthur, do you want to kiss me?"

Arthur stopped mid-step. He turned and looked at Vivian, standing there in her wedding dress with a soft smile in her eyes.

This girl who had been woven into his life since childhood was standing in front of him now, in a wedding dress, asking if he wanted to kiss her.

Arthur walked back to her.

Later, when Vivian tried to recall the details of that evening, most of them had already blurred together. She was sitting on the couch scrolling through the wedding photos on her phone when a light rain started outside, the drops tapping against the window glass, the quiet making the sound feel bigger than it was — like a slow, unhurried song.

Arthur came out of the study holding a manila envelope, its kraft paper looking a shade darker than usual under the lamp. He sat down beside her and set the envelope on his knees without opening it. He looked at her first, like he was choosing his words carefully. The pause was longer than usual. Vivian turned off her phone screen and turned to face him.

"Raymond reached out to me."

Vivian set her phone on the table and didn't say anything.

"He wants me to move a shipment for him. Not artifacts — weapons. Out of Country M, to a designated port. This is his way of calling in the favor I owe him for the treatment."

Arthur's voice and pace were about the same as always, but Vivian noticed his fingers resting on the flap of the envelope, pressing down slightly.

Vivian sat there, her eyes on the envelope. She thought about that vial of medication, about all those days lying in the treatment room watching the liquid drip slowly into her veins. Arthur had never told her where it came from. She'd asked once, and he hadn't answered, so she never asked again.

"If you don't take this job, will he find another way to come after you?"

"He will. The longer this debt sits, the heavier the leverage he'll bring. This time it's weapons. Next time it could be something else. Better to settle it all at once."

Vivian didn't ask anything more. She pulled her gaze away from the envelope and looked down at her hands.

The narrow silver-grey ring on her ring finger caught the light, casting a thin ring of brightness. She turned it slightly, settling it back into place on her finger.

"I'm coming with you."

Arthur looked at her for a few seconds, then set the envelope on the table. "Okay," he said.

Late that night, the rain outside had stopped. A few thin streaks of water still clung to the glass, catching the faint glow of the streetlights.