Chapter 158 027
VIVIAN enjoyed the suspense she was keeping her friend in, but Fiona was so impatient. She nudged her.
“Hey.”
“Relax, babe,” Vivian said, laughing as she raised both hands in surrender. “His name is Vale.”
Fiona froze.
“Vale?” she repeated slowly, rolling the name on her tongue. “Okay… okay. I like it already. Go on.”
Vivian smiled, shifting on the couch to face her fully.
“He just finished his master's like six months ago.”
“Master’s?” Fiona echoed, her brows lifting. “In what, please? Don’t tell me it is one of those ‘I studied vibes’ courses.”
Vivian burst out laughing.
“No, no. He studied Artificial Intelligence and Financial Technology.”
Fiona’s jaw dropped.
“Wait. What?” she shrieked. “AI and FinTech? Vivian!”
“I know,” Vivian said, nodding proudly. “Very fresh. Very lucrative. Very serious.”
“Oh my God,” Fiona groaned, throwing her head back dramatically. “My Lord, I see what you are doing for others.”
They both laughed.
“So,” Fiona continued, leaning forward again, “he has been abroad this whole time?”
“Yes,” Vivian replied. “For a very long time. Went through his bachelor's, did his master’s, internships, research, all of that. He has been away for years.”
“And now he is coming back?” Fiona asked, eyes sparkling.
“Yes,” Vivian said, her smile softening. “He said he is coming back fully. Like… to settle. To work, be with his family, build something here.”
“Ah,” Fiona said knowingly. “That is already sounding intentional.”
“That is exactly the word,” Vivian said. “Intentional. He told me straight up that he didn’t want to keep floating between countries anymore. He said he wants roots.”
Fiona clapped softly.
“Aha! I like this man already.”
“And when he returns,” Vivian continued, her voice a little quieter now, “he said he wants us to see. Properly. Not just pictures and video calls.”
“Ahhh,” Fiona squealed again. “He wants to see you with his two eyes!”
“Yes!” Vivian laughed. “He said he wants to look at me and know that what he has been feeling all this while is real.”
Fiona placed a hand dramatically on her chest.
“This is how serious men talk, by the way.”
Vivian nodded.
“Exactly. No games. No confusion. No friend zones.”
“So how did you two even meet?” Fiona asked. “Slide into DMs or what?”
Vivian grinned sheepishly.
“Social media.”
Fiona burst out laughing.
“Of course.”
“But not like that,” Vivian added quickly. “We started talking randomly. Comments first. Then messages. Then calls. It grew.”
“And he didn’t try any rubbish?” Fiona asked suspiciously.
“None,” Vivian said firmly. “No pressure. No rush. He was always respectful. Always clear.”
“Hmm,” Fiona hummed. “Green flags everywhere,” she snapped her fingers.
“And you know what sealed it for me?” Vivian added. “He said he didn’t want to waste my time. That if at any point he felt he couldn’t give me what I deserved, he would say it.”
Fiona nodded slowly.
“Now, that is a man who knows himself.”
“Yes,” Vivian agreed. “And he talks about family a lot, and how close they are. His mom. His siblings, especially his big sister. Seems to love that one more than any other.”
“Oh God,” Fiona said, laughing. “You are gone.”
Vivian laughed too. “I think so.”
“So when is he coming back?” Fiona asked eagerly.
“Soon,” Vivian said. “A few weeks I guess. He is wrapping things up over there.”
“And he is coming back to stay?” Fiona pressed.
“Yes,” Vivian said confidently. “That is the plan.”
Fiona grabbed Vivian’s hands.
“Viv, I’m genuinely happy for you. After all these years.”
Vivian smiled softly.
“Thank you.”
“But listen,” Fiona added, wagging her finger playfully. “When he comes, I need to see him. I must inspect him.”
Vivian laughed.
“Of course, mademoiselle.”
“Because this one,” Fiona said, grinning, “sounds like husband material.”
Vivian’s smile widened at that, her eyes glowing with quiet hope as she leaned back on the couch, imagining the day Vale would finally be standing in front of her— not as a voice on the phone or a face on a screen, but real.
Adrian sat at the head of the dining table, his laptop open in front of him, glasses perched low on his nose as he typed— something he almost never used. Across from him, Hazel was hunched over her books, pencil between her fingers, brows drawn together in concentration. The soft clatter of the twins’ cartoon echoed faintly from the living room.
Adrian glanced up from his screen.
“You have been awfully quiet,” he said. “That means either the work is serious… or your brain has travelled far away.”
Hazel smiled without looking up.
“It’s serious work, Dad.”
He chuckled.
“What subject?”
“Biology,” she replied, sighing. “Respiratory system.”
Adrian leaned back slightly.
“Ah. I remember hating that one.”
“You hated school in general,” Hazel shot back.
He laughed.
“Fair point. How is school though? Really.”
Hazel paused, then lifted her head.
“It’s fine.”
“That ‘fine’ sounds suspicious,” Adrian said gently. “Teachers treating you well?”
She nodded.
“Mostly. Mrs. Cartney is still strict, but she is fair.”
“And classmates?” he pressed. “Anyone giving you trouble?”
Hazel hesitated for a second, then shrugged.
“Nothing serious. Just… people talking.”
“Talking how?” Adrian asked, his voice calm but attentive.
“You know,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Teenage nonsense. Rumours and comments.”
“Anyone bullying you?” he asked directly.
“No,” Hazel said quickly. “I can handle myself.”
Adrian studied her for a moment.
“You know you don’t have to handle everything alone, right?”
She smiled softly. “I know, Dad.”
He nodded, satisfied.
“Good. Now…” his lips curved teasingly, “are there boys distracting you from this respiratory system?”
Hazel groaned. “Dad!”
He laughed.
“I’m serious. Fifteen is not five.”
She shook her head, embarrassed but amused.
“There is nothing like that.”
“Nothing at all?” he teased.
“Just… boys being boys,” she said. “Trying too hard.”
Adrian smiled knowingly.
“That never changes, trust me.”
Hazel laughed. “I believe you.”
There was a brief silence, comfortable, before Adrian spoke again.
“How is Amaka?”
Hazel’s face brightened instantly.
“She is fine. She is doing great, actually.”
“Still top of her class?” Adrian asked.
“Yes,” Hazel said proudly. “As usual.”
“You two still inseparable,” he noted.
“Always,” Hazel said. “Actually, I will be going to her place next week.”
“Oh?” Adrian raised a brow. “What for?”
“We have a project together,” she explained. “Group work. I will probably stay a few hours.”
“That is fine,” Adrian said easily. “Just let me know the day.”
“I will,” Hazel replied, returning to her book.
Adrian nodded, glancing back at his laptop, a small smile lingering on his face as he listened to the faint laughter of his sons from the living room and the soft scratch of Hazel’s pencil against paper.
All that was enough to plaster a huge smile across his face.