The payback of Jeremy Xavier

17

Vivan leaned back in her chair, staring at Hope with a mix of admiration and gratitude. "Fate has a strange way of weaving our lives together, doesn’t it?"

Hope shrugged lightly, a playful smirk on her face. "Or maybe Jeremy just has a knack for finding trouble, and I have a knack for being in the wrong place at the right time."

Vivan chuckled, the sound filled with a warmth that seemed to ease the tension in the room. "Regardless of how it happened, I’m grateful. You may not realize it, but you’ve already made an impact on him. Even if he doesn’t acknowledge it yet."

Hope tilted her head, considering Vivan's words. "He’s a complex person, that’s for sure. But I can’t help wondering... does he even want my help? Or yours, for that matter?"

Vivan's smile faded slightly, and a shadow of sorrow crossed her face. "Jeremy's pride is his armor. He’s built it up over the years to protect himself from pain. But beneath that armor is a young man desperate for connection, even if he doesn’t kno