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Novel Catalog
Chapter 37
Eden smiled warmly at Jasper as they clinked glasses, the soft amber glow of the red wine reflecting the excitement of the moment. “It feels good, doesn’t it?” she said, her voice light and joyful. “I’m so glad to be working here and moving forward. It’s been a long time coming.”
Jasper, always the supportive friend, grinned and took a sip of his wine. “You deserve it, Eden. Your dedication and talent are what got you here. I’m sure you’ll do great things.”
They continued chatting, their voices blending with the ambient hum of the restaurant. Their easy rapport made it clear they had been friends for years, their bond strong and comfortable. But unbeknownst to them, their conversation wasn’t going unnoticed.
Victor, still sitting at his table with Lucian, couldn’t tear his gaze away from Eden. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Her smile, her grace—it was impossible to ignore how familiar it all felt. Despite her new name, despite her carefully constructed life, he could still see the essence of Eden Clement in every gesture, in every glance. The woman he had once known so well, the woman he had lost, was sitting there, right in front of him, as if time had folded back on itself.
Lucian, ever observant, noted Victor’s fixation on the table across the room. He lowered his voice, trying to pull his friend back to the present. “Victor, don’t get distracted. We have business to attend to.”
Victor barely acknowledged Lucian’s words, his eyes flicking between Eden and the phone call he had just had. The fact that there was so little information about Eden, that someone had managed to wipe away years of her past, only fueled the sense of mystery surrounding her. Why was she hiding her true identity? Why was she here, in River City, seemingly starting over?
The more he tried to reason it out, the more questions piled up in his mind, leaving him feeling increasingly uneasy.
Back at the table, Eden was in her element, enjoying the moment of celebration with Jasper. She was genuinely happy, her worries momentarily set aside. But even as she laughed and joked with him, a small part of her remained uncertain. The move to River City, her new job, the strange feeling of being watched—it all felt like a chapter waiting to unfold.
But for now, she chose to focus on the present, on the friends she had and the new opportunities before her. “You’re right, Jasper,” she said, raising her glass again. “This is exactly what I needed.”
Jasper smiled, his eyes lighting up with amusement. “We both needed a little fun. And who knows, maybe River City will turn out to be everything we hope for.”
Eden laughed softly, her mind wandering for a moment as she looked out the window. She couldn’t help but wonder what the future held—and if River City would truly be the fresh start she had hoped for.