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Novel Catalog
Chapter 43
Victor tried to maintain his usual composure, but the image of Eden Clement, the woman he had been searching for all these years, kept resurfacing in his mind. The familiarity of her face, the mole on her hand, her graceful appearance without any makeup—everything about her felt so strikingly familiar, yet she was standing right in front of him, and he couldn’t quite place how or why.
He shook the thoughts away, focusing on Eden’s peaceful expression as she carefully placed her phone back on the table after ordering. The quiet hum of the breakfast shop surrounded them, yet Victor couldn’t shake off the tension that still lingered between them.
Eden, on the other hand, was trying to focus on the simple task at hand: eating breakfast without letting the awkwardness of the situation overwhelm her. She couldn’t figure out what had caused Victor to act so differently this morning. The encounter the day before had left her rattled, but now, having breakfast with him in silence, she felt an odd sense of unease.
She took a sip of her drink, feeling the weight of his gaze on her. It was as if his eyes were constantly assessing her, searching for something beyond her calm exterior.
The silence stretched between them, but then Victor spoke again, his voice breaking the stillness. “Miss Bleu,” he began, his tone serious, though there was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. “You seem very familiar with River City. I’m sure you’ve been here a long time?”
Eden glanced up, surprised by his sudden inquiry. She hadn’t expected him to ask anything personal. She carefully set her cup down and replied, “Yes, I grew up here. It’s been a long time, but I’m still getting used to some things.” She smiled faintly, though she wasn’t sure if he was really interested in the answer or if it was just another way for him to pass the time.
Victor’s expression softened for the briefest moment, though he quickly masked it with his usual cold demeanor. “I see. River City does change quite a bit over the years,” he said, his voice less harsh than before.
Eden nodded, feeling the awkwardness ease slightly, but the question still lingered in her mind. Why was he being so… different now? The Victor she remembered from their first meeting had been distant, even dismissive, but this side of him—the one asking about River City, the one who seemed to be paying attention to her—was unexpected.
As the waiter brought their food to the table, Eden glanced down at the pancakes and eggs, trying to focus on something tangible to distract herself from the whirl of thoughts in her head.
Victor was quiet again as they began eating, but the glances he stole toward her didn’t go unnoticed by Eden. She had to admit that, despite his coldness, there was something captivating about his presence—something that made her heart race in a way she couldn’t explain.
The tension that had been there earlier wasn’t gone entirely, but it had shifted. Eden couldn’t help but wonder: Was this just another strange encounter between them, or was there something more beneath the surface?
As she pushed a forkful of pancakes into her mouth, she caught Victor’s gaze again, and for a split second, his eyes softened in a way that made her pulse quicken. But then, just as suddenly, the coldness returned, and he looked away.
Eden was left wondering if she would ever truly understand him—or if, like the rest of her past, some mysteries would remain unsolved.