Chapter 233

After finishing dinner at a restaurant, neither Isaac nor Verena felt like lingering there any longer.They went home soon after that.

Back at Seraphina Villas, both got swept up in work,typing away in silence. Isaac eventually slipped off to the bathroom for a shower,leaving Verena alone with her thoughts.

She sat at the desk, barely moving,the glow from her laptop casting shadows across her face. Isaac's earlier words kept looping in her mind, a jumble of doubts and half-formed suspicions making it impossible to focus.

Giving up, Verena shut her laptop softly, rose to her feet, and shuffled over to the window.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she folded her arms tighter across her chest. The city lights glittered before her, yet her eyes held no interest in the view.

Her mind kept circling back to the unsettling news she'd received earlier that day, refusing to let it go.

If the doctor she had recently hired wasn't the real Simon after all, then who exactly was stepping into that role?

The question sparked a memory of her conversation with lvan.

If Ivan was right, then Carl had feelings for her during his time as a patient.

He'd disappeared soon after leaving the hospital,vanishing like smoke.

Was it possible he'd resurfaced with a new face and a new name? Could he have slipped back into her world just to get close to her again?

Maybe he knew she and Isaac had feelings for each other, and to stop them from being together,Carl used her grandmother to distract her while he went after Isaac himself.

All of it was nothing more than a swirling storm of guesses.

Sorting out whether Simon and Carl were the same person would take more than hunches-Verena knew she had to be patient, to watch and wait until the truth revealed itself.

Her thoughts kept circling back to her grandmother's death,which had happened not long after Carl left the hospital. Still, another puzzle nagged at her. Simon and Carl barely shared any resemblance...

With arms locked across her chest, Verena stared out into the night. There was no warmth left in her gaze;all that remained was a cold determination that refused to back down.

If Simon really was Carl, if he'd gone so far as to reinvent himself just to get close, then Verena knew he was the one behind her grandmother's death-and the reason Isaac had been hurt.

She promised herself she wouldn't let him escape justice when the truth finally surfaced.

While she stood at the window, her mind miles away,everything around her faded into the background.

Isaac came out of the bathroom, spotting her silhouette against the city lights. Quietly, herolled across the floor and stopped beside her.

He tilted his head up, studying her distant stare.Understanding flickered in his eyes, mingling with quiet affection.

Verena stayed fixed on the view, completely unaware that Isaac was so close.

With a gentle touch, he slipped his hand into hers. Her fingers felt ice cold against his skin.

A small frown appeared on his face. "Your hands are like ice. You need to dress warmer."

He wrapped both of his hands around hers, letting his warmth seep into her.

The contact finally snapped Verena out of her reverie.She turned, searching lsaac's face for words she couldn't quite form.

He didn't pry, just smiled and said softly,"It's late.We should get some sleep."

His voice carried easily through the hush of the evening,warm and steady.

Fatigue tugged at her, and she managed a soft smile."Yeah,I think I need it."

When morning arrived, sunlight filled the dining room with a golden glow. Verena and Isaac sat at the table,breakfast nearly finished.

As Verena finished the last bite of her meal, Isaac slid a glass of warm milk in front of her. His voice was low and caring. "Don't forget your milk."

She took the glass, beaming. Her voice turned gentle as she replied, "Thanks, honey."

Every time she called him that, Isaac felt a spark inside.

No matter how many times he heard it, the word always seemed to mean more.

A gentle smile played on his lips as he watched Verena, his eyes filled with a softness reserved only for her.

She took a slow sip of milk, the creamy line left behind catching Isaac's attention.

He leaned in, his touch light as he brushed away the milk from the corner of her mouth with his thumb.

Verena's face lit up at his gesture, her lips curving into a bright,playful smile.

Isaac's heart skipped. There was a new sweetness in her that made him want to close the distance between them.

Unable to help himself, he reached for her chin,drawing her closer as he moved in for a kiss.

Before he could, Verena's hand pressed gently to his chest, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Not so fast -someone might be watching," she whispered, tilting her head toward Rhonda.

Rhonda, catching on, quietly disappeared into the kitchen.

Isaac caught sight of the rosy flush on Verena's cheeks and paused, his grin softening into something even warmer.

It was rare to see her blush from shyness, and he found it charming every time.

He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek,lingering for a heartbeat.

Their quiet moment was interrupted by the ring of Isaac's phone on the table.

Noticing Jacob's name flash on the screen,Isaac realized his assistant was already waiting outside.

He picked up, kept it short. "I'll be right there," he said,and ended the call.

Turning to Verena, he asked, "Want me to drop you off at the hospital?"

Verena offered a quick shake of her head. "I've got a few things to handle at home. You go on ahead."

He gave her a nod, grabbing his bag. "Okay. I'll see you later."

She waved her hand. "Have a great day, honey," she said with a cheerful smile. Once Isaac was gone, Verena reached for her phone and dialed Gavin.

The moment he picked up the call, she didn't waste a second. "Gavin, are you free right now? I need to talk to you about something important."

Gavin wasted no time replying, "Of course. I just left my place."

Verena reached the café about twenty minutes later and chose a small table by the window. After a short wait, she spotted Gavin coming through the door.

She raised her hand and called out, "Gavin, over here!"

He crossed the room, slid into the seat across from her, and offered a sheepish grin. "Sorry if I kept you waiting."

Verena just smiled and waved it off. "Don't worry,I barely sat down myself."

Gesturing to the cup in front of him, she added,"I got you a cappuccino."

A grateful smile spread across Gavin's face as he took a sip. "Thanks, Evelyn. So, what's on your mind? Who are we talking about today?"

Verena leaned back and took a sip of water, her gaze thoughtful. "Do you remember Carl Aguilar?"

Gavin's brow furrowed in concentration, and then his eyes widened a bit. "You mean that guy you rescued during the Dragon Quarter riot in Clokron?"

"That's the one." Verena confirmed with a nod.

Back then, Gavin was serving as her intern.

Once she finished Carl's surgery, the responsibility of overseeing his rehabilitation training mostly fell to Gavin.

Curiosity sharpened Gavin's tone. "What's got you bringing up Carl all of a sudden?"

The memory of Verena's doubts over Shawna's death flashed through his mind, and he leaned in,voice lower. "Did he do something to you, Evelyn? Are you in danger?"

Verena didn't give him a straight answer. "There's nothing solid yet, Gavin. I'm still looking for proof."