All Chapters of Too Late to Love Me: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Vivienne went straight to Room 319. Through the window, she saw a boy asleep beneath pale hospital sheets.She drew a breath and stepped inside. The room was silent. As she neared the bed, she could make out his delicate, handsome face and the faint smile on his lips. Even asleep, he looked lonely.He was clearly older than three, and his fair skin and sharp features looked nothing like Julian's. He couldn't have been born during Julian's three years away.Perhaps he was Maren's child from an earlier marriage.Vivienne reached out toward his cheek.The door flew open."What are you doing?"Julian rushed in and shoved her away from the bed, closing the door behind him."Why are you here?" he demanded.She lowered her hand."Vivienne, what do you want from me? I moved thousands of miles to escape you, and now you're barging into my child's hospital room. Don't tell me it's a coincidence."His hostility made it hard for her to breathe. She had once been the center of this man's

Elliot.Vivienne narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?""Where are you? I'll come find you.""I'm busy. Another time.""Vivienne." His tone turned serious. "There's something important I need to tell you.""Then say it.""Come to the Harbor Bar tonight. I'll be waiting."He hung up.Vivienne stared at her phone. When had Elliot arrived in Port Aurora? Why was he here, and what did he want?That evening, she went to the private room he'd booked upstairs. Low lighting softened the furniture, and plates of elaborate food covered the table.Elliot sat on the sofa in a black shirt and dress shoes, one leg crossed over the other. A glass of red wine rested in his hand. Smoke curled from the cigarette between his fingers.He stubbed it out as she entered. "Vivienne. Over here."She sat opposite him, looking around warily.He offered her wine. "Let's eat first. We can talk afterward."She didn't touch it.Elliot smiled. "What, do I look like the bad guy?"Vivienne remained sile

Vivienne went straight from the bar to the hospital. The pain had left her shaking, with sweat running down her face. Exhaustion, sleeplessness, and Elliot's cruel remarks had stirred up the illness she'd fought for years.At the hospital, she vomited blood and collapsed.When she opened her eyes again, she was in a bed with an IV drip beside her. Elliot's words played over and over in her mind.Julian isn't coming back. He has a new girlfriend.Maren had admitted she loved him. Three years had been enough time for Vivienne's body to begin healing. Was it also enough for Maren to heal the pain Vivienne had inflicted on Julian? Had they already become a couple?Her chest tightened. She forced herself to breathe slowly, then picked up her phone.After several rings, Julian answered. "Hello?""Julian. I'd like to see you.""Sorry. I'm busy right now.""Where are you?""At home.""I'll come over.""No. I told you I can't meet."Vivienne squeezed her eyes shut. "Please. We need

Everyone thought Leo had agreed to stay in the hospital and rest. No one expected him to slip out during a nurses' shift change the very next day.The staff searched the entire building, then called Julian."Mr. Hart? We can't find Leo."Julian shot out of bed, seized his bag and keys, and rushed downstairs. He missed a step and nearly fell. Maren happened to arrive in time to catch him."Julian! What's wrong?"He clutched her arm, trembling. "Leo's missing. What if something happens to him?"Maren listened as he explained."We'll find him," she said. "Let's split up. Whoever hears anything calls the other immediately.""Thank you.""Don't thank me. We're in this together."They hurried outside and began searching.Vivienne watched them disappear around a corner. She sat in her car a long moment before making a call."Ms. Sterling?" her assistant answered."Send people to help me locate someone.""Of course."After hanging up, she took a long breath. She considered calli

Julian hesitated. "She...""She's the one who helped me and brought me back," Leo explained. "I never thanked her. I owe her an apology, too. I was upset and snapped at her."Julian had been so focused on Leo that he hadn't noticed where Vivienne went."Maybe she had something else to do," he said with an awkward smile."Do you have her number? I'd like to talk to her myself." Leo paused. "I was crying and saying I was never going to get better. She tried to cheer me up. She even told me she'd had cancer, but she'd fought through it. She said I had to believe in myself and in miracles."Cancer?Julian stared at him. Surely Leo had misunderstood. Julian used to arrange every one of Vivienne's annual checkups. Three years earlier, her reports had said she was healthy. How could she have cancer without him knowing?He called her and handed Leo the phone."You can thank her yourself."Vivienne hesitated when Julian's name appeared on the screen, then picked up."Hello?""Hi, Viv