The drive to the project site took almost forty minutes, but to Well, it felt much longer than that.
It was very quiet and only the sound of the car engine was roaring.
Well sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window. The tall buildings were slowly turning into a dusty and noisy construction site.
Every now and then, he glanced at Vivian.
The woman was focused on driving. She tried to pinch her cheek but Vivian's face was calm but cold.
As if what had just happened had no effect at all.
Well clenched her jaw slowly.
"Hey, you're really good at pretending nothing happened."
Finally she spoke.
Vivian didn't answer right away, just bit her lip. Her hand was still firmly on the steering wheel.
"Now is not the time for that."
A short answer.
Well chuckled weakly.
"When is the right time, Vivian? Because every time I want to tell you, you always run away."
This time, Vivian took a deep breath.
But she still didn't look at Well.
"Focus on the work first."
That sentence put a stop to the conversation.
And once again, the distance was felt again.
When they arrived at the project site, the atmosphere was chaotic.
Several workers gathered, some talking in anxious tones, some running back and forth.
The sound of machines, the voice of instructions, and the flying dust made the situation even more tense.
A man rushed towards them.
"Mrs. Vivian!"
"What happened?" Vivian continued to ask, his voice firm.
"The scaffolding structure collapsed a little. Not a big deal, but a worker was injured. The customer has arrived, he wants an explanation now."
Well continued to look towards the area in question.
Part of the steel frame was leaning, and several workers were helping a man who appeared to have injured his leg.
"Get the full report. Make sure all the workers are safe first," Vivian ordered without hesitation.
His CEO aura returned completely. Only observed next to Vivian. Vivian's soft voice that he had heard in the car had disappeared instantly, replaced by a sharp tone that could silence the entire project site. The soft Vivian was no longer there.
The person present now was a leader respected and feared by everyone.
A few minutes later, they were in a safer area.
The project client, a middle-aged man, was waiting.
"I want an explanation now," he said without hiding.
Vivian stood tall in front of him.
"We are collecting full information. Right now, our priority is the safety of the workers."
The client shook his head.
"That is not an answer. This could affect the entire project!"
The atmosphere began to heat up.
Well stepped forward a little.
"Sir, we understand your concerns. But we need some time to make sure all the data is accurate before giving an official report."
The client looked at Well, clearly dissatisfied.
"If this was due to negligence"
"That's not certain," Vivian cut in calmly, but firmly.
Everyone fell silent.
After almost an hour, the situation calmed down a bit.
The injured workers had been sent to the hospital. The collapsed area had also been controlled.
However, the pressure was still felt.
Well was checking some reports on the edge of the area when he saw something.
Vivian.
He was standing not far away, holding a file… but not moving.
His face was a little pale.
"Okay…"
The voice was slow.
Not like usual.
Well continued to approach.
"Are you okay?"
Vivian nodded, but his movements were slow.
"I'm… okay."
But before he could continue
His steps were unsteady.
The file in his hand slipped and fell to the ground.
"Vivian!"
Well managed to catch him before he collapsed completely. The smell of Vivian's perfume mixed with the smell of dust at the project site pierced his nose.
The woman's body felt light, too light.
Her face was pale, her breathing was erratic.
Well's heart was beating fast.
"Hey! Look here… Vivian, open your eyes!"
There was no response.
His hand held Vivian's shoulder, trying to hold back the growing panic.
"Call an ambulance now!" Well shouted to the other workers.
Several people continued to run for help.
Well looked at Vivian's face.
For the first time… he saw that the woman was weak.
Not the CEO.
Not the cold woman who always controlled the situation.
But… someone who had almost lost before.
And maybe… would lose again.
"Don't do this…" Well's voice was low, almost a whisper.
His hand gripped Vivian's hand tightly.
"You said you were okay…"
But there was no answer.
Only the noise around… and his own heartbeat.
The ambulance arrived soon after.
Well followed without thinking twice.
Throughout the journey, his eyes never left Vivian who was lying on the stretcher.
That face… that he tried to forget.
The face he was angry and longing for.
Now it was right in front of his eyes.
Not moving.
"Okay…"
A paramedic spoke.
"Do you know the patient?"
Well was silent for a moment.
The question was simple.
But the answer… was too heavy.
He looked at Vivian.
Then slowly answered
"Yyy..yes, she's my wife."
The voice was almost inaudible.
"My wife." All the paramedics there fell silent.
And at that moment everything changed.
At the hospital, Well stood outside the treatment room, his hand still clutching the phone he had never used.
His mind was blank.
Everything that had happened today felt too fast.
A few minutes later, a doctor came out.
"Well kept coming over.
"How is she?"
The doctor looked at him seriously.
"She hasn't had enough rest and she has old complications that may not have fully recovered."
Well's heart raced.
"What do you mean?"
The doctor sighed softly.
"We need to do more tests. But for now, her condition is unstable."
Shut up.
Those two words were enough to make the world feel quiet.
He leaned slowly against the wall.
And for the first time
He was truly afraid of losing her.
Despite all the conflicts, egos, and misunderstandings, one thing became clear.
We might be able to fight Vivian.
But losing Vivian?
That was something he was never prepared to face.
And this time he wasn't sure if he would be given a second chance.
Or was this the beginning of a real loss?
Can Well handle it? What do you think?