Chapter 12

When Charles spoke to me, he seemed to be carefully choosing his words.

I had been leaning against the car window, feeling the wound on my arm still throbbing with pain.

Earlier, when sneaking into the study, I had climbed through a window and such, which might have torn my wound open.

But right now I couldn't care about my injury. I turned to look at Charles. "What do you mean by that?"

"What I mean is..." Charles pressed his lips together, then lightly tapped his fingers on the seat beside him.

It seemed this topic was quite unusual for him.

I spoke considerately, "If you don't know how to say it, you don't have to tell me everything."

"That's not really the reason..."

Perhaps because we'd met before and had a working relationship, Charles seemed more relaxed around me.

Actually, he was somewhat respectful and restrained when facing Virio.

But with me, he could speak freely.

Soon Charles revealed the reason to me. "Actually, Ms. Lacey, I've been working under Virio for several years now, and you're the first person I've encountered who can get this close to him."

From his expression, I could already tell what he meant. I smiled. "Person? Are you sure you don't mean woman?"

Hearing my correction, Charles scratched the back of his head.

Usually, he seemed so capable, and today he could even kick another man down without hesitation.

But in front of me, he showed some discomfort.

This person was just like Virio—they both seemed to have sides unknown to others.

Realizing I was thinking about Virio again, I cleared my throat and looked away.

But the topic I'd started made Charles continue, "Yes, you're right."

"In all these years, you're the only woman who can get this close to Mr. Soren... oh no, maybe the second one."

But when he said that last sentence, Charles suddenly stopped.

My heart was lifted by those words.

"Who was that woman before?" I admit, when I asked this question, I felt a sense of jealousy.

As if something of mine had been taken by someone else.

Even though I knew Virio and I didn't have that kind of relationship to begin with.

Virio's status and position were above mine.

If my father hadn't died and I was still the family heiress, then perhaps we could barely be considered equals.

But after my father left, my status had long since plummeted.

Charles smiled. "It's nothing. If Mr. Soren knew I was talking too much in front of you, he'd definitely kill me."

Hearing him try to change the subject, I could only pretend to be casual. "Don't worry, I won't tell him anything you've said to me."

After saying that, I looked away, watching the scenery outside the window.

To me, all of this was unfamiliar.

Charles took a remote back road, seemingly to avoid us appearing on public surveillance.

When the car finally stopped, I saw the familiar residence before me, and for a moment, my thoughts were all over the place.

Virio had somehow already returned and was sitting on the sofa waiting for me.

After Charles brought me in, he reported a few words before leaving.

Only Virio and I remained in the room, and the atmosphere suddenly became unusually quiet.

In the end, I spoke first. "Thank you, Mr. Soren."

When I sent that message, I actually didn't expect Virio could really come so quickly.

And at such a critical moment.

A few minutes later, and Killian would have found me.

Virio sat there, lazily leaning against the backrest, his legs naturally spread apart.

He was still wearing that same suit, but his whole demeanor was completely different from when he faced Freya earlier.

Virio didn't speak, just patted the spot beside him.

As if signaling me to sit over there.

But thinking about Freya's attentiveness toward him earlier, and that woman Charles mentioned, I suddenly felt uncomfortable.

I walked toward Virio, but instead of sitting beside him as he expected, I boldly sat on his lap.

My hands naturally wrapped around Virio's neck. "What's wrong, Mr. Soren? Do you have something to say to me?"

We were very close.

Sitting on his lap, I could clearly feel that he instantly reacted to my teasing.

This man should have been experienced in romance—why would he react to me so easily?

But perhaps all men were like this?

I suppressed my feelings and said with a smile, "Mr. Soren, did you come to rescue me as soon as you saw my message?"

Virio stared at me, letting my hand move restlessly on the back of his neck.

After a moment, he suddenly raised his hand to grip my waist, making me sit more properly. "In such a dangerous moment just now, you're not scared at all?"

"And now you have the mood to tease me!" As he spoke, his lips came down, giving me a light kiss on the lips.

My whole body trembled.

Actually, my casual conversation was just to cover up my earlier tension and anxiety.

But hearing Virio say this, my hands suddenly tightened, and I burrowed into his embrace. "Of course... of course I was scared!"

Otherwise, I wouldn't have messaged Virio.

"Killian came into the study with a gun just now. If you hadn't appeared, he would have almost discovered me."

And I was just an adopted daughter who had secretly snuck into his study in the middle of the night.

Perhaps in that instant, he was thinking that if he found someone, he'd just shoot directly.

Thinking of this, my whole body stiffened. "He didn't turn on the lights when he entered the study."

"I guess he was thinking that if it really was me, he could claim he didn't turn on the lights and only knew someone had snuck into the study."

To him, I was an adopted daughter who could be sacrificed at any time.

Moreover, all the investigating during this period might have also aroused their suspicion.

Sensing my trembling, Virio's large hand gently patted my back, holding me tighter. "Elvira, next time, tell me in advance if there's anything, okay?"

"What if I hadn't checked my phone today? Have you considered the consequences?"

Faced with his questioning, I sobbed quietly.

Then I thought of something else. "How did you get away later?"

He had even returned before me.

Virio chuckled softly. "What? Worried I was flirting with your sister?"

My cheeks flushed red.

Virio had just been comforting me, so why was he now teasing me?

He pinched my cheek and said leisurely, "Just used a little trick."

"Don't worry, that's always been my image to them. So whatever I do seems reasonable."

I nodded, curling up in his embrace.

For a while, neither of us spoke.