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Novel Catalog
Chapter 75
Victor listened intently, his expression remaining unreadable, though there was a flicker of interest in his eyes as she spoke. He hadn’t expected this answer. Eden’s past, especially the part she couldn’t remember, intrigued him even more. There was so much she had left unsaid, and something in him felt an undeniable urge to know more.
“I see,” he said softly, his tone a little more reflective than before. “Spiula County, huh? It sounds like a place full of memories for you.”
Eden nodded slightly, her gaze distant for a moment as she relived the past in her mind. “It was… a quiet place. I didn’t mind it there. But when we moved to River City, everything changed. I had to adapt to a new life, a new environment, and a new school.” Her voice trailed off for a moment, as if the weight of those memories was still heavy on her.
Victor remained silent, watching her carefully. He could tell there was more to her story—more that she was withholding. But he didn’t press her. He respected her space.
“You’ve been through a lot,” he said, his voice softer now, and for the first time, there was a certain warmth in it that Eden hadn’t expected. “But you’ve made it this far. You’re stronger than most people give you credit for.”
Eden blinked in surprise, meeting his gaze. His words, so simple yet sincere, took her off guard. Victor, the man she had once seen as cold and calculating, was showing a side of himself she hadn’t anticipated.
“Thank you, Mr. Alwynn,” she said quietly, feeling a sense of gratitude for his unexpected kindness. “It’s not easy, but… it’s life. We all have our battles, right?”
Victor nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “We do,” he said, his eyes flicking down to his phone briefly before he slipped it back into his pocket. “But you seem to be handling it better than most.”
Eden gave him a small, appreciative smile. There was a subtle connection between them in that moment, something unspoken but understood. Perhaps it was the shared understanding of what it meant to carry burdens, to endure challenges, and to keep moving forward despite the weight.
Before either of them could say more, the waiter came over to usher them to their table at the Sichuan restaurant, interrupting the quiet but meaningful exchange between them.
Victor stood first, his demeanor returning to its usual composed state. “Shall we?” he asked, offering his arm in a gentlemanly gesture.
Eden smiled, feeling her nerves ease a little as she accepted his offer. “Lead the way, Mr. Alwynn.”
As they walked toward the table, Eden couldn’t help but feel that the night was unfolding differently than she had anticipated. The dinner, the conversation—it was all beginning to feel less like a business arrangement and more like an opportunity to truly understand the person Victor Alwynn was beyond the boardrooms and deals.
And as they sat down at the table, Eden couldn’t shake the feeling that, perhaps, there was more to Victor than just the powerful, enigmatic CEO she had first encountered. There was depth, vulnerability, and a side to him that only a few ever got to see. She was beginning to wonder if she could be one of those few.