157 An Overheard Conversation
“Yes, that’s the one,” she confirmed, her voice soft. “We’ve made significant advances in predictive Al algorithms.”
Ethan closed his notebook. “Thanks for helping me, ra. I think I understand it now<b>.” </b>
ra’s chest tightened painfully. She shouldn’t be standing here, eavesdropping on her own daughter’s conversation. Yet something kept her frozen in ce, absorbing each word like a slow–acting poison.
Rising from her chair, ra decided she needed something to upy her mind. A book would be perfect. She remembered leaving several novels in the bedroom she shared with Damien, as well as in Cora’s room.
“Not right now, sweetheart. I’m still looking for
my books.”
“That’s nice,” ra murmured, pulling a book from the shelf that was indeed hers.
She stared at the novel in her hands without seeing it. All those hours she’d spent reading to Cora, all those attempts to bond over music or books–and now Vivienne had effortlessly stepped into that role, earning Cora’s adoration with what seemed like
minimal effort.
“I miss you too!” Cora eximed. “Next time can we make those special cookies again? The ones with the chocte chips?”
Each casual revtion was like a knife twist. ra had been trying to get Cora interested in piano for years.
Piano lessons too. ra felt increasingly like a stranger in her own family’s life.
“She’s going to help me pick out a dress this weekend,” Cora continued excitedly. “Dad said we could go to that fancy store in the city.”
“I know! I’m so excited for this weekend! Dad promised we could go shopping for a new dress.”
ra nced around the colorful room. “I’m missing a few novels. I thought they might be in here.”
“Mom!” Cora sat up, surprised. “You’re out of bed!”
14:47
157 An Overheard Conversation
A pause. Cora was clearly on the phone.
“I’m feeling much better,” ra replied, her voice carefully controlled. “<b>I </b><b>came </b><b>to </b><b>see </b><b>if </b>you’d borrowed any of my books.”
He beamed at thepliment, then his expression shifted to excitement. “Oh! Did <b>you </b>see Vivienne’s racest weekend? She ced second at Monaco!”
ra’s hand dropped slowly to her side. She should walk away. She didn’t want <b>to </b>hear this conversation, yet her feet remained rooted to the spot.
“Love you too!” The words Cora had spoken to Vivienne echoed in her mind. When was thest time Cora had said those words to her with such enthusiasm?
Cora shrugged. “She calls me all the time. She’s teaching me piano too! She says I’m really good.”
The bedroom door remained open. Through it, ra could hear Cora’s footsteps bounding down the stairs, her daughter’s cheerful voice calling out to Martha about
soup.
Those final words sent a sharp pain through ra’s heart. She took a deep breath,posed herself, and knocked on the door.
The manor was quiet as she climbed the stairs, her strength mostly returned after days of rest. When she reached the master bedroom, she found it empty. Damien’s absence was unsurprising; he rarely spent time there when at the manor, preferring his study.
“You can look if you want,” Cora offered, already distracted by something on her phone.
“Yes, I finished that book you gave me,” Cora was saying. “The princess was so brave! Just like you in your race car!”
After Ethan left, ra remained seated, staring out the window. The garden wasing alive with spring blooms, a stark contrast to the heaviness in her chest. She felt restless and confined, despite the spacious manor grounds.
“But I thought-” Ethan paused, confusion crossing his face. “Damien mentioned you watched the Dubai Grand Prix.”
She located one of her books on Damien’s nightstand–a historical novel he’d <b>taken </b>from her side of the bed months ago. She’d never seen him read it. Perhaps <b>he’d </b><b>simply </b>
157 An Overheard Conversation
moved it while cleaning.
“That’s what mypany, YodaVision, specializes in,” she said.
“Grandmother said Martha made soup,” Cora said, changing the subject. “Can we go
have some?”
The booky forgotten in herp as she sat motionless, listening to the sounds of her daughter’s happiness–a happiness increasingly centered around a life that didn’t seem to include her.
“You’re wee.” She gathered the papers scattered across the table. “You’re quite bright, Ethan. You just need confidence in your abilities.”
“Come in!” Cora called cheerfully.
Another pause, shorter this time.
ra pushed open the door to find her daughter sprawled on her bed, phone still in hand, a bright smile on her face. At eight years old, Cora was the perfect blend of her and Damien–ra’s gentle features with Damien’s striking blue eyes.
“I was merely recognizing some people there,” she replied diplomatically. “Not following the race itself.”
Book in hand, ra headed to Cora’s room next. Her daughter had a habit of “borrowing” her books without asking. As she approached the door, she heard Cora’s animated voice from within.
As Cora bounced out of the room, ra sank onto the edge of the bed. The happy excitement in her daughter’s voice when talking to Vivienne contrasted sharply with the casual indifference she showed toward ra.
“Bye, Vivi! Love you too!”
ra made a show of checking the bookshelf, though her mind was elsewhere. “Who were you talking to just now?” she asked casually.
“Oh.” Cora’s expression fell slightly. “I don’t think so.”
“The techpany you founded with Julian Croft?” Ethan asked. “Dami
mentioned
it once.”
157 <i>An </i>Overheard Conversation
“Dad says you know all about fashion, Cora continued. “He says you always look perfect
The mention of Vivienne’s name felt like a sudden drop in temperature. “I didn’t watch it,” ra replied evenly.
Ethan looked up from his notebook, surprise evident on his face. “Really? I didn’t know
that.”
“Okay, I promise I’ll practice piano before youe. I want to y that song you taught me.”
“You exin things way better than my professor,” Ethan remarked, scribbling down the solution. “Were you always good at physics?”
Ethan seemed disappointed but nodded. “Oh, okay. Well, I’m going to watch some reys.” He stood, gathering his books. “Thanks again for the help.”
“Vivi,” Cora replied without hesitation. “She called to tell me about her race<i>. </i>She came in second ce!”
“Physics often seems moreplicated than it is,” ra said with a small smile. “Just remember the basic principles and take it step by step.”
Vivi. The familiar nickname struck ra like a physical blow.
ra raised her hand to knock, but Cora’s next words froze her in ce.
Ethan’s brow furrowed in concentration. “That makes sense now. I was overthinking it.”
Cora giggled. “I told him that! He said you’re naturally beautiful so everything looks good on you.”
“So the eleration is found by dividing the change in velocity by the time interval,” she exined, pointing to his calctions.
“You should!” Ethan pulled out his phone enthusiastically. “I recorded the whole thing. The way she handled that final curve was incredible.”
“Really? You’ll help me pick one out?” Cora’s voice rose with excitement. “You have the best taste, Vivi!”
“When are youing to visit again? Dad keeps checking his phone. I think he misses
157 An Overheard Conversation
you.”
ra’s eyebrows rose slightly. Damien rarely discussed her achievements with others.
ra sat across from Ethan at the small table in the manor’s sunroom, going through his physics homework. Though still recovering from her illness, she’d kept her promise to help him.
“Okay.” Cora headed for the door, seemingly unbothered by ra’s refusal. “I’ll see youter then!”
So Vivienne had been baking with her daughter. Another detail ra hadn’t known.
“Will youe downstairs with me?” Cora asked, sliding off her bed.
ra shook her head. “I’ve already had some. But you should go ahead if you’re hungry.”
“Dad showed me the video of your race. You looked so cool with your helmet off at the end! I told all my friends my Vivi is a race car driver!”
“And then Ms. Peterson said my science project was the best in the ss!” Cora was saying.
“I enjoyed it in school,” ra replied. “But my real passion wasputer science and AI development.”
“I see.” ra reced another book on the shelf. “I didn’t know you two spoke on the phone regrly.”
ra recognized the gleam in Ethan’s eyes–the same admiration everyone seemed to have for Vivienne. “I’m not particrly interested in car racing.”
“I’ll be right down,” ra murmured, though no one was there to hear her.
My Vivi. The possessive term echoed in ra’s mind.
ra closed her eyes briefly. Vivienne had been giving Cora books? She hadn’t known.
Of course he didn’t. Nobody in the Thorne family seemed interested in who she was before bing Damien’s wife.