Chapter 227

At Shoildon Airport, amid the constant shuffle of travelers in the crowded hall, a man strode forward with unhurried confidence, and at once, all eyes seemed drawn to him.

His back was straight, his steps measured, carrying the quiet authority of someone accustomed to command.

His face,chiseled with cold precision, was made all the more striking by eyes sharp as a blade, eyes that carried a chill like winter frost. A faint scar traced across his skin-a silent reminder of past battles,lending him a rugged,unforgettable charm.

Though countless glances followed him,Luis remained unmoved,his gaze fixed steadily on the path ahead.

Yet,the moment he stepped out of the airport and realized the driver he had arranged was nowhere in sight, a faint crease lined his brow.

Just then, his phone rang.

He answered, displeasure flashing briefly in his eyes."Where's the car?" An anxious voice came through the line. "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Sampson. The driver met with an accident on the way. I've already dispatched a replacement,but it may take some time..."

Luis cut in, his tone clipped. "How long?"

The assistant faltered. "The new driver is a distance away, and with traffic this heavy, at least... an hour."

An hour.

That was longer than the time he had promised to meet Simon.

For a man of Luis' stature, others usually bent to his schedule. Yet, paradoxically, he was the sort who would never break his own word.

To put it bluntly, he had a streak of obsession with punctuality.

Lifting his chin, his gaze fell on a sleek black Bentley slowly rolling toward him.

He spoke into the phone, voice calm as still water."Don't bother."

With that, he ended the call and slipped the phone neatly into his coat pocket.

Inside the Bentley, Verena gripped the steering wheel with one hand, her eyes steady on the road ahead.

Suddenly, a tall man in a black trench coat came into view, striding directly toward her car as though intent on blocking her path.

Broad daylight, in a law-abiding society-what was he thinking? Was this some poorly thought-out ploy?

Verena eased the car to a stop and lowered the window.

"Sir, is there something you need?" she asked evenly.

As the window slid down, Luis finally saw her face clearly, and for a fleeting moment, his eyes sparked with interest.

The woman before him was strikingly beautiful-slightly upturned eyes laced with quiet allure, a nose sharp in its symmetry, and lips naturally red,untouched by any makeup.

She was the kind of beauty that could turn heads without trying.

Yet what made her stand apart was the frost in her gaze-cold, distant, like the pale moon on a midwinter night, both breathtaking and beyond reach.

Luis regarded her with a trace of admiration. Beauty was common, but beauty wedded to pride and distance-such women were rare gems indeed.

After a pause, he reined himself in and spoke with measured courtesy. "Would you be willing to take me to Nandita Restaurant? I'll make it worth your while."

And, as if to ward off disbelief, he added lightly, "One million."

As the man stood by the car door, free of the glass between them, Verena had a full view of his face.

She was momentarily taken aback, but recognition soon dawned.

She had seen him in the news, and Miranda had spoken of him often-a figure wielding immense power within Akoitha's underground forces.

A reputation so formidable that one had to see him in person to believe it.

Indeed,impressive.

A wealthy heir through and through, tossing out a million as casually as spare change.

Such status left little room to suspect deceit.

Nandita restaurant? It lay barely five hundred yards from her hospital.

Verena tilted her chin, gesturing lightly toward the back seat. "It's on my way. Get in."

Once Luis settled in, Verena set the car in motion again.

She drove with one hand steady on the wheel, the other resting against the window frame, her slender fingers tapping a casual rhythm.

At a red light, the car slowed to a stop.

Verena glanced into the rearview mirror, her eyes narrowing slightly.

If memory served her right, the latest reports had placed him abroad, expanding his empire.

Yet here he was, back in the country in less than two months.

Sensing her gaze, Luis looked up and caught her eyes in the mirror.

Unperturbed at being discovered, Verena shifted her attention away, only to notice his hand, like hers,drumming lightly against the window with the same idle rhythm.

Luis seemed to notice as well, and his brow lifted ever Their eyes met again in the mirror.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds later, both allowed a faint smile to appear.