Chapter 131

Vivienne was momentarily stunned. What kind of absurd remark was that? How exactly was she supposed to find out herself?

She cleared her throat, attempting to compose herself. “There’s no need. You’re perfectly fine.”

“Really?” Derek’s gaze shifted toward her, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips, his deep eyes gleaming with mischief. “But how can you be so sure without checking?”

Vivienne drew a steadying breath, lifting her chin with quiet resolve, her gaze unwavering. “I have complete confidence in you.”

Her words settled into the stillness, creating palpable tension. A low, amused chuckle rumbled from Derek. His rich, magnetic laughter broke the quiet. “Then, why don’t you enlighten me on what makes you so confident in me?”

Vivienne hesitated, her thoughts racing. No matter how she responded, it felt like walking straight into his trap. She opted for silence, inwardly cursing Sienna.

The car moved on in a hushed rhythm. Vivienne kept her gaze fixed on her hands. Derek glanced at her, his eyes tracing the soft curve of her flushed cheeks and the delicate set of her jaw. A subtle smile played on his lips, amusement flickering in his expression. Something warned him that pushing her further might upset her.

Just as he was about to speak, Derek’s gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, catching sight of a suspicious vehicle. A black car trailed them, using other vehicles for cover. Its precision marked it as professional work. Derek’s eyes hardened, a cold gleam flashing in their depths. Without a word, he pressed the accelerator, the car surging forward.

Vivienne, seated calmly, noticed the sudden change in speed. Her brows knitted slightly as she turned to him. “What’s going on?”

“If you’re tired, you should rest,” Derek masked the sharp edge in his gaze, looking at her with practiced ease.

Vivienne didn’t reply immediately, her eyes catching the movement of the car behind them in the mirror. She quickly understood the situation. Her expression remained composed, but her voice turned crisp, carrying a subtle chill. “Can you lose them?”

A faint, confident smirk tugged at Derek’s lips. “Sweetheart, never question what your man can do.”

“Are they after you?” Vivienne asked, her calm demeanor exuding quiet strength.

“Unlikely,” his tone was measured, though a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. His movements were always meticulously concealed; no one should have been able to track him.

Vivienne’s eyes glimmered with understanding. “Seems like I’ve pulled you into this,” she said, her nonchalant tone igniting a spark of curiosity in Derek. What exactly had she been through? How could she be so composed?

Pushing aside his questions, he asked evenly, “Are you scared?”

“Not in the slightest.” Vivienne met his gaze directly, her lips curving into a faint, teasing smile. “With you here, at worst, we’ll be a pair of star-crossed lovers fleeing into the night.”

“I couldn’t bear the thought.” The girl he loved was meant to flourish beneath the sun, not to be lost among shadows.

“Would you mind if we played some music?” she asked.

“Go ahead.”

With a soft smile, Vivienne reached for the player, filling the car with the mournful beauty of a violin’s song. The track was titled “Timeless Longing,” a melody Vivienne knew well.

Derek’s eyes caught the fleeting surprise on Vivienne’s face. He asked casually, “Do you enjoy violin music?”

Vivienne’s smile was soft, almost wistful. “I wouldn’t say it’s a favorite, but it doesn’t bother me.”

Derek’s gaze lingered on the road ahead, and he fell silent. The quiet stretched between them, unexpected. Vivienne turned to him, her voice laced with curiosity. “Aren’t you going to ask more?”