Chapter 252

Astrid's fingertips brushed lightly against Simon's jaw, and for a fleeting second, he froze as though turned to stone. Then, as if jolted by an unseen current, he shoved her away in haste.

The force he used was too much-Astrid staggered back, nearly losing her footing.

Only then did Simon realize his reaction had been far too severe. His head dipped, his deep voice carrying a shade of remorse. "I'm sorry, Ms. Mills. I lost my composure."

Astrid studied him with a discerning eye, and then shook her head slowly. "It's fine," she said, her tone even.

After leaving the hospital, Astrid descended into the underground parking lot and dialed Verena's number. When the call connected, she spoke with deliberate calm, her tone brimming with confidence. "Evelyn,from my experience and professional eye, I can say with certainty-Simon has undergone plastic surgery.The lines of his face, the symmetry of his features,they bear the marks of alteration that can't deceive my eyes."

Verena's eyes lit with sudden clarity. Her vague suspicions had just been confirmed.

Now, she could be nearly certain of one thing: Simon was Carl.

Verena steadied her racing thoughts, answering firmly, "Thank you, Astrid. I've already transferred the payment to your account. Please check."

Astrid smiled. "If you need my help again, don't hesitate to call."

A few pleasantries passed between them, and then the line went dead.

Verena lowered the phone, moving toward the floor- to-ceiling window of her office. Arms folded, brows drawn, she gazed into the city's distant haze.

She recalled Isaac's earlier warning-that Luis and Simon might share some hidden bargain.

Luis now had his sights set on Bennett Group,and his hand was clearly joined with Simon's.

But why would a man of Luis' stature stoop to help Simon?

Unless... Simon possessed something against him.Or Luis carried a weakness Simon had seized.

That would explain why Luis, proud as he was, found himself·bound to Simon's cause against Bennett Group.

Verena's eyes narrowed. The knot to this puzzle seemed tied to Luis.

With that thought, she turned back to her desk, lifted her phone, and began to type a message.

At the same time, Luis had just stepped out of a meeting. Glancing at his phone, he noticed a message from an unfamiliar number.

He was about to dismiss it outright when the opening line caught his eye.

He opened it and read the simple text. "Mr.Sampson, this is Verena. If convenient, let's meet."

His brow arched in surprise. Verena, taking the initiative? That was a twvist he hadn't expected.

But the surprise didn't last long. A faint smile curved his lips. With long fingers, he typed a single word."Okay."

Their meeting was set at an upscale coffee shop in the heart of the city.

Inside, warm light spilled softly, mingling with the faint aroma of roasted coffee and refined dishes,wrapping the place in an inviting charm.

Verena sat by the window, her expression taut with seriousness.

Opposite her, a tall man lounged with practiced grace, legs crossed, his sharp gaze trained directly on her.

Luis' lips lifted into a faint, teasing smile. "Mrs.Bennett, after the incident at the hospital, I thought you'd want nothing more than to keep your distance.Who would've guessed you'd inyite me yourself?Truly, an unexpected pleasure."

With that, he adjusted his collar and dipped his head lightly. "I still owe you an apology for what happened that day."

Verena's brows knitted slightly. His polished manner struck her as nothing short of an act.

But she wasn't about to be charmed. Straightening,she spoke with cool firmness. "Mr. Sampson, you're no fool. You must know I didn't come here for apologies or pleasantries. Let's not dance around it.Tell me-what deal do you have with Simon?" Her eyes locked on his, sharp as a blade. "Did he promise you benefits, or is he holding something over you that forced you into recklessly opposing the Bennett family?"

Luis faltered for the briefest second. His smile lingered, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.

He leaned back, folding his arms across his chest.

The truth was circling dangerously close.

Though his mind raced, outwardly he remained composed. "Are you investigating me?"

Her slender fingers drummed lightly against the table.

She tilted her chin, a faint laugh slipping out. "Isn't it only natural? To know both your own strength and your enemy's weakness-that is the surest way to win. Or tell me, Mr. Sampson, haven't you done the same while opposing my husband?"

Luis only shrugged, offering neither denial nor admission. Verena pressed on. "You're a businessman.Businessmen never strike without profit, nor do they stir trouble with the powerful without cause. You have no reason to pit yourself against my husband-unless someone asked you to."

She folded her arms, her gaze unwavering. "You met Simon almost immediately upon returning to Akoitha.Only after that did you move against us. That alone tells me Simon, not Isaac, is your true concern."

Luis' brow twitched as he lifted the coffee before him,taking a deliberate sip.

Inwardly, he sighed. She had piecedit all together with uncanny speed.

"Go on," he said quietly, lips curling faintly.

Verena tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression calm yet edged with steel.

"The first day you came to my hospital, you stirred up trouble, pretending to harass me. But the moment Simon showed up, your act vanished. A man like you has no shortage of female company. Clearly, your performance was nothing but a test of Simon's :reaction to me. Let me hazard a guess at your motives."

She leaned her temple against her fingertip, her tone measured. "First, Simon must hold something over you. Otherwise,with your influence, he couldn't dare corner you. Later, you had someone investigate him,discovered he was working at my hospital, and chose to exploit his Achilles' heel. That day, you saw Simon's concern for me-and so you ceased your antics and left. Surveillance showed he left soon after. 1 suspect the two of you struck some kind of deal then, didn't you?"

Her eyes shone clear and steady, pinning him in place.

Luis' expression shifted, surprise mingling with a grudging respect.

The woman before him-though outwardly uninvolved-saw through every layer of his plans.Remarkable. He had believed himself the one pulling strings,every move hidden. Yet she had unmasked the play with a single sweep of reason.

His so-called skirmishes with Isaac had been nothing but smoke. Simon was the true target, and Verena had unmasked it all.

Luis lowered his gaze, silently admiring her keen mind. Admiration, and something more, welled inside him.

Isaac, he thought, was fortunate indeed to have such a wife.

Looking back at her, his eyes glimmered with interest. "Impressive. Tell me-since you've unraveled so much, what's your purpose in calling this meeting? Surely not just to flaunt your wit?"

"Of course not." Her voice was cool, he lips set in a faint smile. "I want to know what kind of deal you struck with Simon, Mr. Sampson."

Luis' eyes sharpened, but Verena pressed on, her tone unwavering. "You're a clever man. You should weigh which partnership profits you more. If you tell me the truth of your arrangement with Simon,perhaps Isaac and I can work with you. Together, we can let Simon see precisely what he expects to see."

Her words struck Luis like ripples across still water.

He frowned slightly, an inner struggle flaring.

His sister was the one treasure he could never forsake. He would move heaven and earth to find her.

Yet Simon, that cunning wretch, kept her whereabouts locked tight.

Should he, then, consider cooperation with Isaac?

Luis' hand clenched around his cup, knuckles whitening with pressure.

One reckless move could doom his sister.

He felt ensnared in a vast, invisible net: the harder he fought, the tighter it bound him.

Simon was sly,Isaac formidable. But to remain passive before Simon was to walk into his trap. Perhaps it was better to seize the reins himself-and gamble.

Perhaps... perhaps cooperating with lsaac and Verena could be his way out.