Chapter 55 Angry Because of Distrust

"I just talked, did you catch that?" Arnold asked again.

Vera hesitated for a moment, then said, "Yeah..."

Truth was, she hadn't heard a thing and felt a wave of panic.

"Actually, I didn't catch that clearly. Can you say it again?" she asked, trying to sound cute.

"I didn't say anything," Arnold replied nonchalantly.

That's when Vera realized she'd been played. "You tricked me."

"You seemed lost in thought. What's on your mind?" Arnold asked.

Vera went quiet, debating whether to share her thoughts with Arnold. She didn't want to burden him with her problems.

She'd handle Daniel on her own; she had to deal with this herself.

"Nothing, just a bit tired," Vera said with a smile.

But she heard Arnold snort and then turn to look out the window.

Vera found it odd, thinking, 'Why's he upset?'

Sitting in the middle, Charles tried to make himself invisible, wondering whose side to take if Vera and Dad started arguing.

After a moment, Charles decided to support Vera. Arnold could be pretty intimidating, after all.

With that thought, Charles nudged Vera, his eyes shining.

Vera hugged Charles, but Arnold seemed even more annoyed. This ungrateful little guy.

When they reached the villa, Vera carried the already sleeping Charles out of the car. Before she could say anything to Arnold, he said from the back seat, "Drive."

The car sped off, leaving a trail of exhaust. Vera couldn't help but stomp her foot, thinking, 'What a bad temper!'

Back in her room, after bathing Charles, she returned to her own room and lay on the bed, her mind racing with thoughts of earlier events.

Now calm, she realized that only Shirley, Victor, Laura, and maybe Bert could have told Daniel's whereabouts.

No matter their reasons, Vera would get her revenge. She'd expose this wound and heal it herself.

Only then could she move on, instead of living in the shadows forever.

Plus, her life was getting better now, all thanks to Arnold.

Thinking about his cold demeanor earlier, she couldn't help but roll her eyes, wondering who had ticked him off.

Ivor held a glass of wine, saying, "Hey, workaholic, what brings you here?"

Arnold didn't respond, lost in thought with his whiskey. Ivor had never seen him like this and was instantly intrigued. He squinted and said, "You never get worked up over work, so it must be something at home. That leaves only one possibility."

As Ivor spoke, he teased, "Love problems? What's going on with you and Vera?"

"Am I that obvious?" Arnold retorted, the second time today someone had guessed his feelings.

Ivor shook his head, saying, "Not really, but I know you too well."

"She's hiding something from me, not willing to open up. I feel like she doesn't trust me," Arnold said candidly, naturally keeping the details vague. Vera probably didn't want others to know about her troubled past.

"I thought it was something major," Ivor said, suddenly losing interest and leaning back in his seat.

"You're a bit green in the love department," he added, patting Arnold's shoulder. "When the time comes, you should still chase after love. Why all this work every day?"

"Don't beat around the bush," Arnold said.

Ivor continued, "Think about Vera's history. How many rumors have swirled around her in the social circle over the years? She must be someone who doesn't want to burden others."

Listening to Ivor's insights, Arnold stayed silent. He knew all this; Vera was cautious of everyone's intentions. But what really bothered Arnold was that Vera didn't trust him.

"Seems like I came here for nothing," Arnold said, getting up to leave.

The place was thick with smoke and alcohol, people on the dance floor grinding against each other, as if trying to ignite their insatiable desires.

He disliked such places; he would never come here if not for social obligations.

Ivor quickly called out, "Don't leave! Arnold, do you really have feelings for her?"

After a long pause, Arnold nodded. In his mind, he could only see Vera's every expression.

His demeanor was too composed, leaving Ivor momentarily stunned. Besides a relationship he had in his twenties, Arnold had been absent from the dating scene.

Of course, there were a few ambiguous encounters with female celebrities, just to appease the Pierce family and stir up some gossip to satisfy David. For families like theirs, marriage was a strategic move for mutual benefits.

It could be said that Arnold was the most upright man Ivor had encountered in their social circle. Now, hearing him confess to having emotions for another woman, especially one with a somewhat tarnished reputation, was truly surprising.

Of course, Ivor didn't buy into most of the rumors. Having personally interacted with Vera, he could read people well, and Vera was definitely not as gossiped about.

"Are you content now?" Arnold inquired.

Ivor quickly snapped out of it, shuddering under Arnold's gaze. This man truly lived up to his reputation of someone who had faced adversity. The intensity he exuded was overpowering, prompting Ivor to analyze the situation for him, "Actually, she's a lot like Charles. They tend to their own wounds, so they can't rush things. Dealing with someone like that will drain you. They lack a sense of security, so you should mull it over."

Ivor didn't spell it out clearly, likening them to injured stray dogs who always approached their surroundings with caution. When entering her heart, be prepared to commit for a lifetime.

Vera wasn't seeking a fling that could fizzle out easily.

Then again, he had never seen Arnold in a romantic entanglement, so perhaps they were truly compatible.

Ivor said, "But who knows, you two share some similarities."

"What similarities?" Arnold inquired.