Chapter 243

After a moment, Verena broke the silence, her voice soft but sincere. "I wanted to thank you again for helping me earlier."

Simon blinked, momentarily thrown off. It took him a second to recall the incident with Luis.

The memory of how he almost exposed his connections to Luis sent a faint pang through him,but he quickly masked it with a smile. "It's nothing. Friends and colleagues look out for each other, don't they?"

Verena stole a quick glance at him, but his calm expression betrayed no sign of trouble.

She had expected something more, some sign of discomfort, but he remained utterly calm.

Reaching for a book on the nearby shelf, Verena flipped it open, her fingers brushing the pages with an absent sort of grace.

Simon, content with the quiet, said nothing more either.

The silence in the archive room was broken only by the soft rustling of pages, making the stillness even more noticeable.

His gaze drifted back to her.

She was standing with her head slightly bowed,her hair tied neatly, fingers delicately turning each page as if lost in thought.

The sunlight filtered in through the window, bathing her in a warm glow. Her long lashes cast faint shadows under her eyes, and the pale pink of her lips almost beckoned him closer. Her skin seemed to shimmer,glowing softly in thelight.

Simon's breath quickened, and his heart thudded loudly,echoing in his chest.

There she was, the woman he had dreamed about for so long,standing just feet away.

An intense,unspoken longing burned in his eyes.

He wanted to hold her, to let the emotions he had buried deep inside burst free.

With each passing thought, his hatred for lsaac deepened.

Isaac had taken what should have been his.

Isaac was the one who had claimed the life, the love, that was rightfully his.

Why did Isaac always get to take what he wanted with such ease, while Simon was left in the shadows,struggling for a chance?

Isaac.

The solution was simple in Simon's mind: eliminate Isaac,and Verena would be his.

The stillness lingered between them before Verena's casual voice broke through. "How old are you, by the way?"

Her question cut through Simon's swirling thoughts,pulling him back to reality.

He turned to face her, his gaze faltering just for a moment before he answered, his voice steady,"Twenty-six."

A flicker of surprise crossed Verena's face. "So young?

Dr. Moss, you've already achieved so much at your age.Your girlfriend must be amazing as well."

For a brief moment, Simon's eyes dulled, and he shook his head. "I don't have a girlfriend."

Verena leaned forward slightly, her curiosity piqued."Oh? Haven't met anyone who caught your eye?" Simon stared at her for a beat, his silence speaking volumes before he finally replied,"There is someone."

She tilted her head, intrigued. "What's she like?"

His gaze never wavered from hers. "She's beautiful.Brilliant. Kind-hearted."

Verena's eyes softened. "Does she feel the same way about you?"

A sharp ache twisted inside Simon. His grip tightened on the book in his hands, and the bitter sting of unspoken emotions surged.

If Isaac weren't standing in his way, Verena might have fallen in love with him by now.

The words slipped from his mouth through gritted teeth, laced with a hint of desperation. "She will.Eventually."

The words were as much a promise to himself as they were to Verena.

Verena sensed the underlying turmoil in his eyes.Before she could press further, Simon's voice cut through the silence. "I've gathered the materials,Evelyn.I'll head out now."

Without another word, he turned and left the room, leaving Verena standing in the quiet, her mind racing.

A small frown tugged at her lips. Simon was a master at hiding his feelings. This attempt to probe felt far too shallow.

It seemed she would need to take a bolder approach...