(Vivian’s POV)“She’s waiting,” I said curtly, arms crossed as I stared at Kai. “Don’t make her wait too long.”I didn’t wait for his response. I turned, heart hammering behind a practiced mask of indifference. The sound of his footsteps followed mine as we walked into the living room where Joanna stood, perfectly styled in her beige linen dress and fake sweet smile.“Kai,” she greeted him with that sugary tone that made my skin itch.Kai’s mother, God bless her effort, smiled and looked at me kindly.“Vivian, honey, you can come with us! We're just going grocery shopping for Thanksgiving dinner. It’ll be fun.”Fun? Watching Joanna cling to Kai like a toddler with separation anxiety? I don’t think so.I offered her a polite smile. “I’ll pass, thank you. I’d rather not be the third wheel.” I didn’t bother hiding the bite in my words.Kai’s mother blinked in surprise, but before she could respond, a voice cut through the tension.“I’ll come along,” Alex announced cheerfully as he stroll
(Alex’s POV)It was around eleven when I saw them.Vivian and Alex, walking through the side path that led to the villa’s beachfront terrace. Sunlight filtered through the palm trees, casting shadows across her face—her smiling, glowing face.She was laughing. Not politely. Not the kind of small laugh she gave me when I teased her in bed. It was loud, carefree, and real. The sound curled in my chest in a way I didn’t like.And she was wearing his shirt.His damn shirt.It hung loose over her bikini, sleeves rolled up, like it belonged to her. Her wet hair clung to her neck, cheeks flushed from the sun, lips slightly pink. She looked like she belonged in a surf magazine. She looked… happy.With him.I didn’t stop myself. I walked straight toward them.“Where the hell have you two been?” I asked, trying to keep my tone even, casual. I failed.Alex grinned, completely unfazed. “Vivian was up early. I saw her at the pool. Thought I’d offer a surf lesson. She killed it.”Vivian chuckled, h
(Vivian’s POV)The morning air was crisp and salty as I slipped out of the villa. Everyone was still fast asleep. I needed space—away from Kai, away from last night’s lingering jealousy, away from the storm inside my chest.I quietly made my way to the pool that stretched out toward the open ocean, surrounded by lush palm trees and white sand. The villa was designed to breathe—no gates, no solid walls separating it from the wildness of the island. I liked that. It felt… honest.Dipping into the cool water, I allowed myself to float on my back, staring up at the soft gradient of dawn above me. My thoughts kept circling back to Joanna—her smile, her comfort around Kai. The warmth in his eyes when he looked at her.I let out a small sigh, brushing my wet hair from my face. This is ridiculous, Vivian. You knew what this was. Just sex. No promises. No attachments.And yet, here I was—feeling attached."Well, good morning."A male voice startled me. I gasped, flipping upright in the water a
(Vivian’s POV)“Get some rest. Your flight to Indonesia must have been exhausting.”That gentle voice came from Kai’s mother, who was standing at the doorway of the room where I would be staying for the next few days.She smiled warmly, her face lined with fine wrinkles that made her look wise but kind.Her hand, which had held mine since we arrived at the villa, finally let go gently.I nodded with a sigh.“All right, Clara. Thank you for welcoming me so kindly.”“You're such a sweet woman, Vivian,” she said, patting my arm softly. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.”I could only smile shyly. She had been asking me many things—about my job, how I knew Kai, whether my parents knew I was in Bali.I answered everything with partial honesty—enough to make sense—because there was no way I could tell her about the contract that bound me to Kai, even though some questions made me choke on my drink.Once she closed the bedroom door, I collapsed onto the bed.The clean white sheets
(Vivian’s POV)"Ready?"Kai’s voice broke the silence in the room just as I was packing.I turned from the suitcase I was organizing and found him leaning against the doorway, one eyebrow raised and arms crossed."Not yet," I replied with a stiff smile. My heart was beating faster than usual. "I mean, just a little more."I was holding a pair of sandals that I hadn’t put into the suitcase yet, but it felt like I was holding a ticking time bomb.Kai walked toward me, his steps calm as always.He wore a simple black T-shirt and jeans, yet he still looked striking in my eyes, striking as in... handsome and sexy.I swallowed hard as he stood next to me, his eyes scanning the half-filled suitcase."You look really tense. This is a vacation, not an exam," he said lightly, though his voice only made me more nervous.I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled."This isn’t just any vacation, Kai. I’ve never met your family before. This... this is big."He looked at me for a moment before chucklin
(Vivian’s POV)Click.The sound of the bedroom door opening softly made me turn my head reflexively.Warm steam from the bathroom still lingered in the air as I stepped out, wearing a cream-colored satin robe. My hair was still half-wet, clinging to the back of my neck.The room lights were dim and cozy, creating a warm atmosphere.Kai stood at the doorway. His grey work suit looked rumpled, and his tie hung loosely around his neck.His eyes immediately locked onto me, sharp—and… worried?“Hey…” I greeted softly, trying to smile even though my chest was pounding a little. “You’re home.”But instead of responding, Kai quickly walked toward me.His tall frame made me tilt my head slightly to look up at him as he stood in front of me.His large hand lifted, and with a gentle but steady motion, he touched the side of my face.His fingers were cold and rough, a sharp contrast to my warm, post-shower cheek.“What happened?” he asked in a low voice, almost growling.I blinked. “What do you m