Chapter 56 He Can Wait

"You and Vera are both so damn stubborn. Once you set your mind on something, there's no stopping you," Ivor said, shaking his head.

As he spoke, Ivor's mind drifted back to when Arnold lost his identity and became a mercenary because of some twisted manipulation.

Ignoring his family's protests, Ivor had rushed off to help Arnold, leaving behind his life as an heir. There were times when Ivor feared Arnold wouldn't make it, but young Arnold, stubborn as ever, pulled through and rose to the top of the Pierce family with sheer determination.

Arnold stayed quiet, his thoughts wandering to Vera's face. They did have a similar vibe.

"I'm heading back," Arnold said, putting his glass down on the table.

Ivor was taken aback, saying, "Damn, you're all about romance over friendship."

On his way home, Arnold's mood noticeably lifted. Braving the cold wind, he made his way back. As soon as he entered the room, a faint floral scent unique to Vera greeted him, instantly lifting his earlier gloom. It was oddly comforting.

In a daze, Vera felt a warm embrace and recognized the familiar scent of pine. Calmed by the scent, she relaxed into the hug.

Vera slept soundly, only to wake up and find Arnold lying beside her.

He gently ran his fingers through her messy hair. Vera wondered when he had come back the night before. Despite the surprise, she had grown used to his presence after spending these days together.

Both silently agreed to keep their relationship as it was.

As Vera got ready to head to the bathroom for a shower, Arnold embraced her. Still groggy from sleep, he murmured lazily, "Let's shower together."

After an hour-long bath, Vera emerged from the bathroom, steam still rising from her body. She shot a playful glare at Arnold, who planted a kiss on her cheek, clearly smitten by her.

"After breakfast, I'll drive you to the office," Arnold suggested.

When they arrived at the office, Vera felt the weight of many eyes on her. A sense of unease settled in her heart.

As she reached her office, her assistant rushed over, "Ms. Garcia, there's something."

Vera asked, "What's going on?"

The assistant hesitated, looking troubled, and said, "There's a man claiming to be your father causing a scene at the company."

Daniel? Vera's expression darkened instantly. Her hand trembled as the trauma resurfaced. Controlling her emotions, she finally said, "Take me to see him."

Following the assistant to the lounge, Vera spotted Daniel lounging on the couch, his hair and beard a mess. Despite his disheveled look, he wore high-end clothes and had a luxury cigarette dangling from his lips.

The receptionist, looking helpless, advised, "Please refrain from smoking here."

"I'm the father of a big shot executive here. I can smoke wherever I damn well please. If I tell my daughter, you'll be out of a job!" he snapped back.

Seeing Vera, people around started snapping photos, their respect turning into ridicule.

Vera felt suffocated and bit her tongue, using the pain to focus.

"Security, get him out," Vera ordered coldly.

As the shareholders spoke, employees sprang into action, security guards ready to escort Daniel out.

But Daniel panicked, struggling and shouting, "Vera, have you lost your mind? I'm your father, how can you do this?"

Vera stayed silent, staring at Daniel as if he were a stranger.

Tears welled up in Daniel's eyes. "My dear daughter, I worked hard to raise you. How can you treat me like this? You can't just ditch your dad once you hit it big. I may be your adoptive dad. But if I hadn't taken you in, you'd be dead in the cold."

He cried with such genuine emotion that it reminded Vera of the past. There was a time when Daniel had gambling debts, and he had knelt just like this, begging those loan sharks to spare him.

He portrayed himself as a pitiable father, kneeling before the thugs and then before the police. As for how the debt was eventually repaid, Vera had no idea.

All she knew was that Daniel was a master at playing the victim, and beneath that facade lay a foul and dirty soul. His emotional outburst started to sway the onlookers.

"Wow, I never knew Vera had this side."

"Even if he looks rough, like a druggie, he raised Vera. She's got no gratitude at all."

"With ice in her veins, likely due to her status in the Garcia family, she regarded her adoptive father as nothing more than trash."

The crowd's chatter didn't reflect the Garcia family's treatment of Vera; they only knew her as a Garcia daughter and company shareholder.

Listening to the accusations against Vera, Shirley felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. She thought, 'This bitch needed to be put in her place.'

Vera's adoptive father turned out to be quite the character. Shirley had only heard rumors before, never laid eyes on him. Wasn't he just a money-hungry junkie? How had she missed it?

As the accusations flew, Vera shook with anger. She had steeled herself for this, but facing Daniel, helplessness and pain washed over her once more.

Just as she felt like giving up, Charles's smiling face flashed in her mind. Vera's gaze hardened as she said, "Have you forgotten that you're a drug-addicted, womanizing, alcoholic jerk who locked me in a cattle barn?"