"Ah-old eyes, poor focus," George chuckled, scattering the pieces with a theatrical flourish. "Let''s reset the board and pretend I never saw that."

"Grandpa, that''s outright cheating," Vivian sighed, thoughughter shimmered behind the reproach.

"I''m telling you, these eyes betray me. I y the same way with Jon," he insisted, tapping his temple as if the faulty there.

Vivian had never expected the patriarch of the Sinir family to be such an incorrigible rascal. Apparently, only Jonathan could keep the old man truly content.

But Jonathan wasn''t around. He had gone home.

Hearing the yful quarrel, Zachary wiped his hands on a towel and strode into the lounge.

"Grandpa, remember Vivian''s pregnant. Take it easy on her, will you?"

Only then did recognition flicker across George''s face.

"Right, right—my memory, heavens! Vivian, this round is yours." He pushed the queen toward her like a peace offering.

A tremor of unease rippled through him.

Moments earlier, he truly had forgotten about her pregnancy; it hadn''t been an act.

Age gnawed at his memory, snatching thoughts away the moment they formed. "It''s fine, really," Vivian said softly. "I''m only teasing you."fnda64 ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F?ndNovel/fnda64

"Teasing or not, he should still give you the advantage. He''s your elder," Zachary replied, his protectiveness unmistakable.

George''s eyes crinkled with approval. "Rest assured. I''ll let Vivian win every game from now on."

"Good," Zachary said, shoulders loosening. "I''ll get back to the stove before the broth rebels."

Vivian turned back to the board but noticed Zachary''s phone vibrating on a side table, its screen shing an unfamiliar number.

She rose, phone in hand, and padded toward the kitchen, the hem of her cotton dress whispering across the polished floor.

"Zachary, your phone''s ringing."

Over the hiss of the pot, he called, "Could you answer it for me? See what they need."

"All right."

She slid her thumb across the screen and lifted the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

The shrill ring of Vivian''s cell broke the quiet kitchen like a snapped guitar string. When she epted the call, the director''s breathless voice spilled out at once. "Mr Zachary, the

patient named Ste on

seeing you."  s

Pet

The director''s words hurried on. He admitted he had tried to ignore her requests, yet Ste kept swearing she and Zachary had once been inseparable. She even promised that if Zachary returned, she would reward the hospital-and especially the director-beyond measure.  s

That desperate carrot was why, with reluctance knotting his gut, the director finally dialed the number.

Ste Ross?

Vivian''s brow pinched, the namending like an unexpected thorne She forced her tone even. "Zachary is in the middle of cooking. I''ll pass him the message when he''s free." Each syble tasted of polite frost.  s

The director heard the cool female voice-and the informal "Zach"-and recognition drenched him in cold sweat. That must be Mrs. Sinir, the wife.

Nerves crackled through him. "Ma''am, I wouldn''t dream of troubling you," he babbled. "Please forget I called. It''s nothing at all."

"I won''t disturb you and Mr. Zachary further," he stammered, then mmed the call dead.

The moment the line went silent, he felt as if he had triggered a bomb. If Mrs. Sinir bes jealous of Ste, she''ll me the messenger-me!

Panic shoved him out of his chair. He paced his office in frantic, tight circuits.

Back in the kitchen, Vivian stared at the phone''s dark screen, bemused. "He says it''s nothing and not to pass it on, yet he goes out of his way to call? Truly bizarre," she muttered, shaking her head.

Across the living room, George waited by the chessboard. When Vivian failed to return, he called, "Vivian, who was on the line?"

"No idea," she answered, setting the phone aside. "Sounded like one of Zach''s subordinates." With a practiced smile, she rejoined the game, moving her knight as though nothing had happened.

Momentster, Zachary emerged, apron still tied, fragrant steam trailing after him. Vivian rose and reported, "A man rang just now. He said Ste Ross wants to see you."