In Mr. Lauren's room, Francisco was furious. He couldn't understand how his grandson had been capable of doing something like that to Vivian, nor could he forget everything his family had done to her in recent years. He listened in silence as Vivian spoke, and when he saw she was about to finish, he intervened.
"So you're saying you left to punish Mark for what he had done to you?"
"No. My decision to leave had nothing to do with that. The night I signed those papers, I felt overwhelmed, lost... I didn't know what I would do from that moment on. It was then that a man approached me and offered to listen. He saw me so sad that I thought he had taken pity on me, but after telling him my situation, he hugged me... and confessed who he really was."
Francisco was going to ask her who this man was, but he was interrupted by the screams of two women at the entrance.
"Let us in!"
"I'm sorry, ladies, you can't come in..."
Vivian immediately recognized that shrill voice and murmured with an ironic smile:
"It seems our time alone is over. I promise to tell you the rest another time, but for now, I must let you rest."
Francisco, realizing that he couldn't stop her, only added:
"But promise me you'll come back. You don't want me to escape to look for you."
Vivian smiled tenderly and nodded. She had missed that man too much, and she didn't plan to let the environment separate her from him again.
She said goodbye and opened the door. Seeing the faces of the two women who had made her life impossible in her last time there, she smiled sweetly.
"Aunt Sofia, Camila... it's a pleasure to see you again."
Her smile widened as she noticed the distorted expressions of both. Camila, still coming out of her astonishment, said:
"Vivian? What are you doing here?"
"I came to see Grandpa... and my family, of course."
Sofia, seeing the security guards, asked with annoyance:
"Did you ask them not to let us in?"
"No. They're just doing their job. Speaking of that, I have to go. But I'll see you again soon, I have unfinished business here. Would you like to meet later?" She looked at Ivan and said, "Let's go."
"Yes, Miss."
Without waiting for a response, she began to walk, but a hand with sharp nails dug into her forearm.
"Sister, wait...!"
Vivian turned around at Camila's grip, but she couldn't react in time. A firm and familiar male hand grabbed Camila's wrist and pulled her away roughly.
"Are you okay?"
"Vladimir? But... what are you doing here?" She looked at Ivan with annoyance. "Did you tell him?"
Ivan looked away, but Vladimir intervened:
"It's not time to talk about that." He looked at Sofia and Camila with disdain. "Let's go. I came for you."
"But..."
"Vivian. Now." She frowned, but he softened his tone. "Please..."
"Okay." Vivian looked at the two women with a contained smile. "Sorry, we'll have to talk another day. They came for me."
Without another word, she followed her brother. He gave them a frosty look before leaving with her. Already far from the building, Camila looked at her mother, stunned.
"Was that Vladimir Vitale?"
Sofia, still shocked, murmured:
"I think so... but how does that orphan know the most coveted CEO in Los Angeles?"
Both fell silent immediately upon hearing Francisco's voice:
"Mrs. Valencia..."
Sofia entered the room with her best hypocritical smile and a bouquet of flowers in her hand. None of them really cared about Mr. Lauren's health, but knowing that he was the one who made the important decisions in the family, they had planned to convince him to annul the marriage contract and free Mark to choose who to marry. However, seeing that Vivian had returned, their anger was evident, although they tried to hide it. They tried to extract information, but Francisco gave them no clues about the purpose of the young woman's return.
Meanwhile, outside the clinic, Vivian looked at her brother reproachfully.
"Can you explain how you got here so fast?"
Vladimir replied without hesitation:
"Did you really think we would let you come alone? Look what happened. You haven't even been here for half a day and you've already been disrespected twice. Don't look at me like that, you know none of us are going to let them treat you like before again. Maybe Nikolai is more cautious, but I won't stand by and watch them abuse you..."
Vivian smiled and, taking his arm, said sweetly:
"I won't be mad at you. But I need you to trust me. I won't allow any more offenses. You know what I came for, and I promise you that as soon as I achieve my goals, I'll come home."
He smiled wryly and, seeing how she was examining him, said:
"Enough already. Let's go to my apartment."
"Was that a smile?" She laughed. "Now yes... let's go. I'm hungry. Will you treat me to lunch?"
"Last time I chose the place. It's your turn."
Vivian nodded and they both headed for Vladimir's sports car. Ivan hurried to open the door, but Vivian, with a mischievous smile, said:
"Ivan, don't think I'm forgetting about you. I'll think of your punishment for disobeying me."
The man glanced discreetly at Vladimir, who just shrugged mockingly. That made it clear to him that he would not intervene and that his sister would find a new way to give him gray hairs. Resigned, he said:
"Okay, Miss."
Vivian laughed and got into the car. They both left for one of the most famous restaurants in the city. Neither of them noticed that, from afar, a cameraman was photographing them while they were talking so familiarly...
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