Sanvi stared at her friend, astonished. Vivian had already forgotten the conversation they had just moments ago. It was a typical trait of hers—Vivian often got angry over trivial matters, only to forget them as quickly as they arose.
This tendency always left Sanvi bewildered, yet it was also part of what made their friendship so unique. Vivian had a remarkable ability to forgive and move on, never holding grudges, even when others might.
"Never mind. It's nothing," Sanvi shook her head, deciding not to press the issue. "But why are you asking me to stay in the car? Aren't you going to take me with you like always?"
Vivian hesitated before replying, "Well, because I'll be back in just few minutes, and I don't want you moving around too much in your condition."
Sanvi's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. She had intended to keep the news a secret from Vivian, wanting to surprise her friend later.
"Sohan told you, didn't he?" Sanvi narrowed her eyes, her suspicion growing.
Vivian nodded reluctantly, a hint of bitterness in her expression. "He didn't tell me directly. I guessed. You know how expressive my brother-in-law is; it wasn't hard to figure out."
Sanvi's face flushed with mild embarrassment, but she quickly pulled out her phone, ready to dial Sohan and give him a piece of her mind. "He ruined the surprise! How could he do this?"
Before Sanvi could make the call, Vivian gently took the phone from her hand and canceled it. "Sanvi, it wasn't his fault. I just put the pieces together. You know I'm good at that."
"I hate you," Sanvi muttered, her frustration clear as she slumped back into the car, leaving the phone in Vivian's hand.
Vivian leaned into the car, her head popping through the open window. "Hey, take it easy. You need to keep calm. It's not good for the baby." She placed the phone back into Sanvi's lap with a smile. "And you should stop wearing heels now. Be more careful."
"I hate you!" Sanvi repeated, though her tone had softened. Her disheartened feelings were still evident, but she couldn't stay mad at Vivian for long.
"I love you," Vivian said with a wink, her eyes twinkling with affection as she started to walk toward the hotel entrance.
As Vivian entered the hotel, she paused at the door, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She was then guided by a waiter to her seat in the dining area. It was a corner table near a large glass window that offered a breathtaking view of the city—a spot she had once loved during the dating era of Sanvi and Sohan.
She had often found herself as a third wheel between them, tagging along because Sanvi, the cautious one, refused to go on a date with a stranger alone.
Vivian noticed the man sitting at the table, dressed in a jet-black three-piece suit that matched his equally dark hair. His posture was relaxed, but his gaze was fixed on the window, as if lost in thought—a behavior that struck her as unusual.
Most of her blind dates had chosen to sit in the center of the restaurant, eager to show off their blind date Vivian to everyone around. But this man had chosen a more discreet spot, one that aligned with Vivian's personal preferences.
A small smile tugged at Vivian's lips as she approached the table. Perhaps this man would be different. Perhaps this date wouldn't be as terrible as the others. For the first time in a long while, Vivian felt a flutter of anticipation in her chest.
She placed her purse on the table and was about to sit down when the man finally turned to face her. The moment their eyes met, Vivian's heart skipped a beat. His warm hazel eyes widened in shock, mirroring her own surprise.
"You?!" Vivian exclaimed in stunned, standing back on her feet, recognising the man instantly.
The man's expression quickly shifted from shock to one of distaste. He ran a hand through his perfectly styled jet-black hair, clearly irritated by the unexpected encounter.
All the warmth and excitement Vivian had felt moments before vanished instantly. Her smile faded, replaced by a frown as she quickly pulled out her phone from her purse. She scrolled through her messages until she found the one from her mother's secretary, which she had neglected to read earlier.
It read:
Prestige Hotel.
Heir of Thakkur Group.
Oldest son of the family.
Young Master Alvin Thakkar.
Age: 31 years.
Status: Single.
Vivian stared at the text, feeling a wave of regret for not checking the details sooner. She lightly tapped her forehead with her phone, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Oh, God! Why? Why him, of all people?" she groaned internally.
"Why are you here?" she demanded, tossing her phone onto the table.
Alvin, his hazel eyes cold and unreadable, replied in a calm, deep voice, "I could ask you the same question."
Vivian's irritation flared. "Didn't you check the details of the person you were supposed to meet today?" she asked, her voice sharp.
"Again, I could ask you the same question," Alvin shot back, crossing his legs and clenching his fists, clearly as annoyed as she was.
"Stop it!" Vivian snapped, her patience wearing thin. "I told you not to appear in front of me ever again."
"Certainly," Alvin said, rising from his seat and fastening the button on his suit jacket. "Goodbye," he added curtly, brushing past her without so much as a glance back.
Vivian stood there, her emotions a whirlwind of anger and confusion. She watched as Alvin walked out of the dining room, leaving her alone with her thoughts. "Why him, of all people?" she fumed, sinking into her chair as a waiter approached.
"I'll have a scotch," Vivian ordered, her voice sharp with frustration.
She leaned back in her chair, staring blankly at her drink as it arrived. This was supposed to be a fresh start, a chance to move on from the past. Instead, it had turned into a painful reminder of everything she was trying to forget. Of all the people she could have met tonight, why did it have to be Alvin Thakkur?