The IVF Secret That Shook a Dynasty novel Chapter 131

As the elevator approached, Zavier couldn't help but speak up. "Vivica, if you're not feeling well, you can take a couple of days off."

Vivica turned to him, seeing the calm sympathy in his eyes, and felt a flicker of warmth. The morning's events rushed back to her, and she was filled with guilt.

"Zavier, thank you for your concern. I'm sorry for my attitude this morning."

"It's fine, I understand."

The elevator arrived, and the doors slid open. Vivica pulled herself together, nodded at him, and stepped out first.

She decided against taking time off for now because she absolutely had to be off on Friday for the court hearing. She needed to focus and get as much work done as possible in the next two days.

...

After working late, it was already completely dark by the time Vivica got back to the hospital. The room, however, was still empty. She put her things down and sighed, realizing she had to go over to Melanie's room to pick up her little boy.

She expected to find only Sheridan and Melanie, but when she knocked and entered, Joseph was there too.

The room was warm, and Joseph had taken off his trench coat, wearing only a dress shirt. He'd unbuttoned the top two buttons and rolled the sleeves up to his elbows, giving him a relaxed, almost lazy air that was a stark contrast to his usual stern and imposing demeanor.

The moment Vivica saw him, her mind flashed back to the hug he'd given her earlier that day.

Joseph was on the floor with Chaim, deeply focused on building a LEGO mechanical loader. The two of them, one large and one small, had their heads bent in serious concentration.

Seeing his mother, Chaim looked up and called out, "Mommy! Come look! Uncle Joseph helped me build this. He's amazing, he even built the robotic arm!"

"Wow, you guys are incredible!" Vivica gave her son a big thumbs-up.

As she spoke, Vivica's gaze drifted back to Joseph. It was a strange, indescribable feeling she got whenever she looked at him—like gazing up at some distant, unattainable deity.

"It's his duty," Melanie said. "No need for thanks."

Then, another thought occurred to her. She looked at Vivica. "Your mother came by to see Chaim and was quite upset when she found him gone. Did you manage to explain things to her later?"

The mention of her mother instantly soured Vivica's mood. "Yes, it's all sorted out," she said politely. "You don't need to worry about her."

Melanie hesitated, her expression filled with sympathy. "Have your parents always treated you like that?"

By "like that," she clearly meant their blatant favoritism toward their son, draining their daughter dry to support him. Having witnessed it firsthand, Sheridan and Melanie understood Vivica's situation and didn't offer any empty platitudes about filial piety or being the bigger person.