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Novel Catalog
Chapter 42
Victor’s eyes flickered slightly at her words, but his expression remained as cold as ever. He didn’t answer immediately, his gaze lingering on her, studying her face as if trying to read something beyond her forced smile. The tension in the air between them was thick, and Eden couldn’t help but feel like a deer caught in headlights.
After a long moment of silence, Victor finally spoke, his voice low and controlled. “It seems we’re both early risers,” he said, his tone colder than the morning breeze around them.
Eden nodded stiffly, unsure of how to respond. She wanted to escape the awkwardness, but her legs felt frozen in place. She couldn’t exactly run away from him, especially with how his gaze seemed to pin her in place.
“I didn’t expect to run into you,” she said quietly, her voice betraying the slight nervousness she felt. She quickly added, trying to sound casual, “I was just out for a jog. It’s nice to see familiar faces in the morning.”
Victor studied her for a few more seconds, then glanced around, taking in the surroundings. “River City is full of surprises,” he remarked, his voice carrying an edge of something unspoken.
Eden forced herself to meet his gaze, trying to act as though she wasn’t affected by his chilling presence. “I suppose so. It’s a big city,” she said, though she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of discomfort. There was something in his stare that made her feel exposed, as if he could see through her.
There was a brief pause before Victor took a step forward, closing the distance between them, but not too close. “How’s the search for a house going?” he asked, his tone casual, but the question itself was loaded with curiosity.
Eden flinched slightly at the mention of the house hunt, her thoughts immediately shifting to the plans she had been focusing on. She didn’t want to get into details, especially not with him. “It’s going. Slowly but surely,” she replied, offering him a polite but distant smile.
Victor didn’t seem satisfied with her answer. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to decipher her emotions. “You know, it’s not easy, finding the right place,” he said, his words laced with an odd intensity. “But I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
Eden swallowed, trying to maintain her composure. She wasn’t sure what game he was playing, but she didn’t want to engage with it any longer. “Thank you,” she said, her smile tight. “Well, I should probably get going.” She turned her head slightly, already taking a step back as if trying to end the conversation.
Victor, however, wasn’t done yet. “I’ll see you around, Miss Bleu,” he said, his voice smooth, with an undercurrent of something unreadable.
Eden paused, her hand on her hip as she turned to look back at him, her expression unreadable. “Maybe,” she muttered softly, before she turned and continued her jog, her pace quickening as she tried to put more distance between them.
Victor watched her for a moment longer, his gaze lingering on her retreating figure. His lips tightened, but he didn’t follow her. Instead, he turned in the opposite direction, his mind clouded with thoughts he couldn’t shake.
Eden’s heart was still racing, her mind still reeling from the brief encounter. Why did he always have this effect on her? She didn’t understand why his presence made everything feel so… heavy.
But she couldn’t afford to dwell on it. She had a lot of things to do, a family to support, and a future to build. Victor Alwynn could remain a part of the past, where he belonged.