Chapter 254

Verena had meant to exchange a few words with Luis. Yet the moment she stepped out of the hospital room, a faint murmur of Isaac's voice drifted to her ears.

At first, she thought it was a trick of her imagination.But when she turned her head, there he was in the flesh.

"Isaac, why are you here?" Her voice carried a trace of weakness, the kind that lingered after an IV.

Catching sight of her slightly pale face, Isaac felt his heart sink with fear. Concern gripped him so tightly it robbed him of words. At length, his voice emerged-rough, trembling. "The hospital called me as your emergency contact. When I rushed here, a nurse said a pregnant woman named Verena had miscarried. I thought it was you. My wNorld nearly collapsed. Thankfully..." His lashes quivered, his voice catching. "Thankfully, it wasn't you."

His hands clutched the wheelchair armrests as if they were his anchor, trying to mask his turmoil. But the redness in his eyes betrayed the tempest within.

He dared not even imagine what he would have done had the unfortunate pregnant woman been Verena.

For a heartbeat, Verena was stunned by the rawness of his tone. Looking closer, she saw the deep worry and strain etched in his reddened eyes.

She stepped forward, her own concern rising, and gently took his cold, sweat-dampened hand. In a soft voice, she reassured him, "I'm alright..The doctor said I only need to rest and take care of myself."

To steady him, Verena guided his hand to her abdomen.

Lowering her head, she let her gaze soften, tender eyes locking onto his. "The baby and I are both safe before you, aren't we? Isaac, you mustn't torment yourself with fear." Feeling the warmth beneath his palm, lsaac tightened his grip slightly on her abdomen. Slowly,the storm inside him began to ease.

He swallowed hard, words sticking in his throat.When he finally spoke, his voice was still hoarse with emotion. "Verena... I ask for nothing else. Your safety is all that matters."

With his free hand, he gently caressed her face,thumb tracing the delicate line of her cheek. His eyes brimmed with devotion.

Verena leaned into his touch, brushing her cheek against his palm. A soft smile curved her lips. "I understand. I'll take good care of myself. I won't let this happen again-nor let you worry so."

On the bench not far away, Luis sat quietly, observing the tender tableau.

His lips pressed into a thin line, an almost imperceptible flicker of discomfort at the open display of affection. After a pause, he cleared his throat, shattering the fragile hush, and walked toward Verena.

"Mrs. Bennett, about the collaboration you mentioned-I'll think it over and give you my answer tomorrow. Does that work?"

Verena nodded, her expression solemn. "This is something that deserves careful thought."

As she spoke, she remembered something, her eyes softening as she glanced at Luis. "And thank you for bringing me to the hospital."

Luis allowed himself a faint smile. "Merely doing what needed to be done."

With that, he cast a passing glance at Isaac, and then turned back to Verena. "I have business to attend to.I'll be taking my leave."

Without another word, he walked away, his figure shrinking down the corridor until it disappeared altogether.

Watching him go, lsaac's brows drew together, confusion flickering in his eyes.

He turned back to Verena, his voice quiet. "Verena,what did he mean?"

Her lips pressed together as she weighed her words,and then she explained, "These past days, I've been thinking. Luis has no personal vendetta against you.It makes no sense for him to strike at you directly. A rational businessman never acts against his own interest-hurting you by sabotaging himself would be sheer folly."

She paused briefly, and then continued, "Which leaves only one explanation: he's being used by Simon. I suspect Simon holds something over him,forcing him into obedience. With that suspicion, I tested him today. From his reaction, it seemed he tacitly admitted as much. So I proposed a collaboration. If we join hands with him and deceive Simon, we can turn the tables and break this deadlock."

Isaac listened in silence, and then exhaled, as though a heavy burden had eased. He knew precisely what she intended.

He nodded lightly, pride flickering across his face as a smile tugged at his lips. "Verena, you never fail to astonish me."

Her answering smile shone like sunlight breaking through clouds.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed Jacob staring at lsaac, eyes wide as though beholding a miracle. His face was frozen in astonishment,mouth slightly agape.

Verena frowned in puzzlement, tilting her head."Jacob,what is it?"

It was as if he had been struck still. Only when Verena repeated herself did Jacob stir from his daze.

His body trembled faintly, and he raised a shaking hand,pointing directly at Isaac.

His voice quavered with disbelief and joy. "Mr.Bennett, you... you just stood up from the wheelchair." For an instant, Verena's mind went blank, stunned into stillness.

Then, like a spark catching fire, joy flared across her face, her smile widening as her eyes lit up. "Really?".

Jacob nodded fervently. "Yes! I saw it with my own eyes."

Isaac himself looked thunderstruck at the words.

His gaze dropped slowly to his legs-those lifeless limbs that had failed him for nearly a year.Astonishment and doubt warred in his eyes.

It was as though a man long trapped in darkness had suddenly glimpsed a shaft of light seeping through a crack in the stone, unsure if it was salvation or illusion.

Then memory struck: the moment he'd heard Verena might be in danger, his heart had nearly burst from its cage. Panic and worry had surged through him like a tidal wave.

And in that storm of emotion, he had wanted nothing more than to run to her-to shield her.

His body had responded on its own. He really had stood up.

It only lasted a fleeting moment, yet it filled him with courage,with the seed of hope.

Isaac's lips trembled as he lifted his gaze to Verena.Like a child seeking approval, his eyes glistened with longing. "Verena...I...I can stand ndw."