Chapter 11: Vivi's POV

"Aunty Vivi!!" Evelyn's little voice rang out, bright and full of excitement as she dashed up my porch.

"Oh, my love, look how much you've grown! How old are you now?" I asked, beaming down at her.

"I'm four, Aunty Vivi! Four years old!" she said proudly, holding up her fingers to show me just how big she was.

My heart melted at the sight of her—FaceTime calls from afar couldn't capture her sheer adorableness.

"Yes, sweetie, and you're the sweetest there is! Where's your mummy?"

"At the car!" she exclaimed.

Without a moment's hesitation, I scooped her up, spinning her in a little twirl, and walked toward her mom.

"Mia!!" I screamed, unable to contain my joy. I had missed her so much; seeing her face felt like home.

"You really did miss me, didn't you?" Mia teased, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, I did!" I replied with a grin, then linked my arm through hers. "Now, let's get inside and start our day!"

We spent the afternoon as if nothing had changed, as if no time had passed at all. Evelyn kept us on our toes with games, dress-up, and a tea party she insisted on hosting. By the time she finally drifted off to sleep, it was just us adults left, our laughter softening as we moved into deeper conversations.

"Okay, spill! I've had enough suspense to last a lifetime!" Mia teased, bouncing on the edge of her seat with eager anticipation.

I let out a sigh of relief, feeling a surge of gratitude for Mia. She had been my anchor during a dark time when I thought I'd never feel like myself again. Being here, laughing with her, felt like a balm over my wounds.

"Well, guess who that hot man was?" I asked, leaning forward with a mischievous smile.

"I don't know. You tell me!" Mia's eyes widened in excitement.

"Marcus Chen," I said with a dramatic pause, letting her register the name.

"Wait, what? The Marcus Chen?" Her voice rose in astonishment.

"Yes, babes! The Marcus Chen!"

"Hold on! How did you meet him? Give me the full scoop already!"

I laughed, knowing Mia's endless curiosity couldn't be contained. "Alright, alright! So, it was at my office. He just walked in like he owned the place, asked to see me, and mentioned an email he'd sent."

"And?" she prodded.

"Well, turns out I did receive his email, but it ended up in my spam folder, so I never saw it. Yesterday, he came by to offer his proposal in person."

Her eyes gleamed. "And what did he look like in person?!"

"Just... wow. Chiseled jawline, killer smile, and the confidence to match. He wore a suit like it was a second skin, and I swear I caught a glimpse of those abs." I laughed, suddenly realizing I sounded like a schoolgirl.

"Eishhhh, girl, you've got it bad!" she laughed, nudging my shoulder.

"I know, right?" I shook my head, feeling both embarrassed and thrilled by my own giddiness. "While he was speaking, all I could focus on were his eyes. It was like he saw right through me."

Mia burst out laughing. "Girl, you're so rusty at this flirting game!"

"Tell me about it! I must've looked like a complete idiot." We both dissolved into laughter, the weight of my past heartache momentarily lifted by the silliness of our conversation.

"So, Vivi, are you actually ready to get back into the dating scene?" Mia's eyes softened, her question coming from a place of genuine care.

I knew she'd ask that. Since my divorce, Mia had patiently waited for me to rediscover myself. "Maybe," I replied, shrugging with a smile. "But nothing serious. I'm not ready for that. Just… a little fun, you know?"

"Oh, please!" she scoffed, laughing. "I know you, Vivi. If this Marcus Chen keeps showing up, it'll be more than just 'fun'!"

"Who knows?" I laughed. "But I won't rush into anything. This is just a little spark."

"Today was fun, Vivi. I'm so glad you're coming back to yourself," she said, squeezing my hand warmly.

"Thank you, Mia. You've been my rock. Honestly, I don't know how I would've gotten through all of this without you."

Mia grinned, her eyes twinkling. "Stop thanking me! Just promise me my spa treat when Evelyn wakes up!"

Typical Mia, I thought, chuckling as I shook my head. "Of course! I promised, didn't I? A full day of pampering—on me."

Later that day, we finally arrived at the spa, ready for a full day of relaxation. The plan was simple: a few hours of skin treatments and massages, and even a little pampering session for Evelyn.

But as soon as we entered, an angry voice cut through the peaceful ambiance.

"This isn't being done correctly! Where's your manager?" a woman barked.

Mia and I exchanged surprised glances as we tried to figure out what was happening. The tension was palpable; the woman's voice was sharp, each word a jab.

"Ma'am, please calm down. Tell me what went wrong so we can see how to fix it," a spa attendant said softly.

"Fix it? You sound ridiculous! How exactly do you plan to fix what just happened to my skin? I won't ask again—where's your manager?"

The woman's voice rose, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. I glanced over and felt my heart drop.

Clara.

There she was, commanding attention like she owned the place, her expression as arrogant as ever. I hadn't seen her in years, yet nothing about her had changed. She looked as entitled as the day she waltzed into my marriage and shattered my world.

Mia noticed my frozen expression and immediately squeezed my hand, sensing the shock radiating from me.

Of all days, it just had to be today.

Our quiet day of pampering had turned into an unexpected scene. I felt my anger rise, memories flooding back of all the pain Clara had caused. The way she dismissed others now, the way she snapped and threw her weight around—it was all too familiar. I could barely stand to look at her.

Mia leaned close, her tone laced with concern. "Do you want to leave?" she whispered.

But I shook my head, breathing deeply. No, I wouldn't let her ruin this day. She may have played a part in my past, but she had no place in my present.

With one last deep breath, I linked arms with Mia, determined to push through and enjoy my day. Clara's presence may have stirred up old wounds, but I was no longer the broken woman she once toyed with. Today was about healing, laughter, and a step forward—and I wasn't going to let her steal that from me.