The IVF Secret That Shook a Dynasty novel Chapter 116

Roderic gave a noncommittal smile, not repeating himself. His task was done, and he turned to leave.

It was only after he had disappeared around the corner that Vivica remembered something crucial. She looked down at the keys in her hand. He never mentioned how much the rent was!

Chaim, with his arms wrapped around her neck, asked in his sweet, childish voice, "Mommy, are we moving?"

"Yes, we are," Vivica said, continuing toward the nurse's station. "We're going to live in Uncle Joseph's house."

"Yay! We get to live with Uncle Joseph!" Chaim cheered, his little face lighting up with excitement.

Vivica smiled at her son and gently corrected him. "Not exactly, sweetie. We're staying in one of his empty houses, not living with him."

"But why not? Uncle Joseph likes me so much. He'd be really happy if he could see me every day."

His words made Vivica laugh out loud. "You're quite the confident little man, aren't you?"

She had just reached the nurse's station and was looking for the nurse she'd spoken to earlier when the Baird family's butler appeared.

"Ms. Lynn, I've come to take Chaim for breakfast. Mrs. Baird said you are welcome to join them if you have time."

Before Vivica could reply, Chaim started wiggling in her arms. "Mommy, I want to have breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa! I don't want a caregiver, I want to stay with Grandma and Grandpa..."

Just then, the butler's phone rang. He answered it, and his expression changed slightly. He looked at Vivica and said, "Ms. Lynn, Mrs. Baird says to just leave the boy with them. There's no rush to find a caregiver."

Vivica was taken aback but immediately understood. Roderic must have passed on the message. She looked down at her son, their foreheads touching gently. "Well, baby, you got your wish."

With the injuries on her face still so visible, she didn't want to see Melanie, so she handed Chaim over to the butler. The little boy waved a cheerful goodbye, and without a second glance back, he happily followed the butler away.

Watching him go, Vivica felt a small pang of disappointment. She had told Quintina with such conviction that she was thinking of the bigger picture, that she wouldn't stand in the way of Chaim bonding with the Bairds, and that she would even accept it if he one day chose to rejoin their family. But seeing him leave her so readily still stung a little. After all, he was the precious baby she had endured so much pain and suffering to bring into the world, the little boy she had lovingly cared for for nearly three years.

…

She suspected Zavier had feelings for her, feelings she didn't want to encourage. At the same time, she valued her job and didn't want to resign impulsively. She hoped that by making her position clear, Zavier would understand and maintain a professional distance.

"Zavier, thank you for looking out for me all this time, but I think it would be better if you just treated me like any other colleague. I'm sure you understand what I mean."

As the words left her mouth, her heart pounded, and she felt a wave of unease. Thinking of how Fletcher and Ruby had turned on her, she worried that by so bluntly rejecting Zavier's concern, she might see a different, darker side of him as well.

But she had to say it. If she let it go, a misunderstanding could grow, or colleagues might notice, creating a host of new problems that could damage both their reputations. It was better to nip it in the bud.

Zavier looked at her, his expression awkward for a long moment. He then forced a smile, trying to appear magnanimous, and raised his voice slightly. "Vivica, I think you're misunderstanding. We're alumni, from the same department even. It's normal for us to look out for each other, isn't it? What did you think it was?"

Vivica felt a flush of embarrassment and was racking her brain for a reply when her phone suddenly rang in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw the name: Joseph.

"I'm sorry, Zavier, it's the hospital about my son. I have to take this," she said, using it as an excuse. She answered the call and quickly stepped out of the office.