The Runaway Groom

It was already 10 AM.

After Zachary returned to his office after the meeting, he did not wait to turn on the monitor, which still showed various angles in his home. Luna was awake and had just finished her milk. Wendy had carried her out in the courtyard to bask in the soft sun.

There was a shed in the courtyard as well, making it a great place to bring a baby.

Luna's tiny clothes were being dried on the veranda nearby. Wendy washed everything by hand with a specialized detergent.

She was staring at the baby, holding a toy as she seemed to talk to herself.

"Are you full yet, baby?" © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

"Mr. Slate was saying you were crying a lot last night. That won't do— he's busy with work every day, so you should sleep properly!"

“Trust me, I'm a professional... sunbathing helps adjust your melatonin levels, and after this, you're definitely sleeping well tonight!"

Luna was babbling, her little hand brushing against Wendy's face just then.

Zachary felt a weird sensation as he watched, though it was clearly different from before!

He quietly turned off the monitor and sighed before suddenly chuckling —Wendy was saying that for his benefit, was she not?

Still, she was not lying when she said she studied childcare.

He stared at the screen again, seemingly goofing off and spying on her. Eventually, he glanced at the clock before heading out of the office— aside from the routine meeting earlier, he had to sign an agreement with several CEOs.

There were voices occasionally heard outside, though the mood in the company had generally been somber after several failed deals.

Vivian was following him all the way, and the clock was soon pointing at 12 sharp.

She took a half-hour leave, which she rarely did, and Zachary did not even turn around after hearing her fake excuse. "Sure, you may go." She left, hurried through an alley and arrived outside a familiar shop. She whipped out her phone, making a call as she watched the alley. No one answered, and she hung up, straightening her clothes.

She kept walking and made a turn, and she saw a familiar figure to no surprise.

"Ms. Crowe!" Erma smiled as she approached. "So it really was you—I thought I had the wrong person! I'm so sorry for causing you trouble, but Mr. Slate's baby has to be the worst baby I've ever met. She's always crying—"

Before she could reach Vivian, however, a shadow appeared behind her, and she was slammed against the wall by the man in a black mask within an instant!

"Hel—"

Even before Erma could cry out, the man clasped a hand over her mouth, while Vivian slowly walked toward them.

The man was Vivian's brother, but he would tell everyone else he was her cousin.

It was the middle of lunch hour, and no one would go there aside from them!

"What?" Vivian asked, raising a brow. “Did you forget who I am? Though I must say you've forgotten your place!"