Vivienne's gaze drifted subtly toward Elena, who was looking into her phone with the kind of easy calm one only carried when completely at peace. Too calm, Vivienne thought, her fingers tightening slightly around the strap of her purse. There was no hint of irritation on Elena's face, no flicker of jealousy or unease—nothing that suggested the woman cared even a little about Lucas standing beside another woman.
It unsettled her more than open hostility could have.
Why is she acting like this? Vivienne wondered. Doesn't it bother her? She's sitting there as if it means nothing… as if she doesn't feel anything at all seeing us together.
Elena smiled gently when Lucas returned from filing the papers, and as the nurse confirmed everything was settled for Mila's stem‑cell renewal, she said in her calm, even voice, "Once you're done with this part, I'll come with you for your checkup. You said your doctor wanted to see you too, right?"
Lucas nodded.
