Chapter 396

The weight of the fountain pen felt all wrong in Adrian's grasp. "This doesn't suit me," he murmured, his voice laced with quiet disdain.

Vivian didn't even glance up from examining another pen. "It's not meant for you," she said bluntly. "It's perfect for him."

The temperature in the boutique seemed to plummet. Adrian's eyes turned glacial as he demanded, "Who is 'him'?"

"Julian," Vivian answered distractedly, rotating a silver-plated pen between her fingers. "He saved me during that boating accident. Giving him a gift just for that would feel too calculated. But his birthday's approaching, so I thought I'd pick something while we're here."

Adrian's expression darkened immediately. A sardonic smile twisted his lips. "His birthday? You remember that?"

Still focused on the pens, Vivian shrugged. "We haven't spoken in years. How would I remember?" she said absently.

The sudden light in Adrian's eyes was unmistakable. Nearby, Audrey nudged Dominic, whispering behind her hand, "Does Adrian enjoy being treated like this? When Vivian used to dote on him, he couldn't care less. Now that she's indifferent, he's practically wagging his tail—look how he's perking up at one casual remark."

Dominic, lost in thought, muttered, "Speaking of which, Julian's actually some distant cousin of Vivian's—"

He froze mid-sentence, realizing his mistake. Grabbing Audrey's elbow, he hastily retreated toward the exit. "Adrian, Vivian, we've got that movie to finish. We'll leave you to your shopping!"

Audrey blinked in confusion but allowed herself to be dragged away.

Vivian stood frozen, Dominic's words echoing in her mind. "Distant cousin?" Since when did the Dawsons have any notable distant relatives? Then realization struck.

Dominic wouldn't know about Dawson family history—but he would know the Blackwood lineage. Which meant Julian wasn't her relative—he was Adrian's.

Everything clicked into place. It explained Julian's access to the Blackwood yacht and their private conversation at Crystalpeak. But why hadn't Adrian formally introduced them?

Shaking off the thought, Vivian turned to more pressing matters. "Since you're related," she said to Adrian, "you must know his tastes. Would he prefer this pen? Or does he have other hobbies? I want to choose something he'll genuinely like."

She held up an onyx fountain pen, examining it under the boutique lights.

Adrian's expression darkened further. "We're not close," he said tersely. "Haven't spoken in years. He's some distant cousin—I've got hundreds of relatives. How would I know their preferences?"

"Fair point." Vivian nodded, setting down the black pen. She picked up the silver one she'd been considering earlier and handed it to the shopkeeper. "We'll take this one."