Chapter 3 

Chapter 3 

“Vivian, don’t scare me like that,” Grayson said, his face contorted with pain. 

I slowly closed my eyes, letting my thoughts settle. 

“Tiu fine, just tired,” I replied. 

Grayson as if realizing something, hastily started to explain 

“Vivian, about earlier–she’s really just my cousin from out of town. She came here alone to start fresh, and her parents asked 

Suddenly, he pulled me into an embrace, his voice trembling- 

“Vivian, I swear to you. I lor you. You mean everything to me. Without you, I wouldn’t even know how to be loved.” 

That entire night, Grayson clung to me as we slept. 

arms stayed stiff around me, like he was terrified I’d disappear. 

The next morning, he prepared an elaborate breakfast, eagerly watching as I are 

In the middle of summer, he wore a turtleneck sweater. 

If I hadn’t noticed the marks on his neck yesterday, I might have asked him about it 

Noticing where my eyes lingered, he faltered, his gaze darting away. 

*I think I’m coming down with a cold,” he muttered. 

My stomach churned as I forced myself to eat a few bites, then set down my fork. 

Grayson kept glancing at me anxiously, and after we finished, he suggested going out together. 

This time, he didn’t bring my cane. 

Instead, he carried me straight to the ear. 

As soon as I sat in the passenger seat, I spotted in–a lace bra lying on the seat. 

Grayson panicked, snatching it up immediately. 

Folding it nearly, he stuffed it into his pocket. 

He drove us to an orphanage.. 

Grayson seemed familiar with the place 

Taking my hand, he led me to the children. 

He handed out candies, encouraging the kids to come 

eplay with me 

Their laughtered the air, easing the tension that had weighed on me for days. 

Grayson never let me out of his sight, rushing to steady me whenever I played too hard with the children. 

When he finally saw me smile, he exhaled deeply, as if relieved. 

At just the right moment, he walked over and said softly. “Vivian, you’ve always wanted a child, haven’t you? We’ve h 

“I don’t want to risk your health anymore. What if we just adopted?” 

Before could respond, Lillian appeared, strolling over leisurely, 

been trying for years with no luck” 

15.14 

Love, a Hollow Promise 

Chapter 3 

Her belly had already started to show–she was clearly several months pregnant, 

Grayson reached into his jacket, pulled out the lace hea he had folded earlier, and handed it to Lillian. 

She gave him a coquettish glance before taking it. 

Then, Grayson grabbed my hand and placed it on Lillian’s stomach 

She’s my cousin,” he began, speaking carefully, 

“She’s not in a position to raise a baby on her own, and she can’t hear to put the child up for adoption. 

“Since we’re family, what if we adopted this baby instead? It would stay in the family, and we’d have a child. What do you think?” 

joy I’d felt moments ago from playing with the children evaporated instantly. 

My voice turned icy, colder than it had ever been before. 

“A cousin’s child still counts as family? Or is it actually yours?”