Chapter 258

Isaac was afraid Verena and Ivan might mend the broken bridge between them, and even more afraid that in the end, he would lose her.

Two fears tugged at him from opposite ends, and with each heartbeat, the noose of panic drew tighter around his chest.

His phone trembled in his grip, Verena's number glowing like a lighthouse in the dark.

Time and again, his thumb hovered over the call button, yet every time it froze in midair.

At last, he chose to believe in her.

Verena would not deceive him. If she said it was something urgent, then surely it was.

All that remained for him was to wait-and wait patiently. But patience wore thin when the night grew long.

When the clock tolled two in the morning, Verena still had not returned.

Isaac rubbed his brow, resolve crumbling,and finally pressed call.

Meanwhile, Verena was curled on the couch, lost in slumber, when her phone shrilled through the silence, sharp and sudden.

She stirred, frowning, half-dreaming, and reached out blindly. Without glancing at the screen, she answered and said groggily, "Hello?"

Her voice-soft, husky with sleep-slid down the line and stopped Isaac cold.

His voice came low, searching. "Were you sleeping?"

The moment Verena realized it was lsaac, her lips curved into a drowsy smile. "Yeah, dozed off by accident."

The room was still, and Ivan had caught Isaac's voice through the receiver. His brow arched, and he turned toward Verena, muttering, "Maybe you should head back?"

Verena brushed it aside and asked instead, "Did you get it done?"

Ivan shook his head. He knew the urgency well, but some locks couldn't be broken in a short timne.

He had overestimated his own hands.

It was never going to be that simple.

On the other end, Isaac's breath faltered. A man's voice lingered near Verena.

They were together, in the same room.

Too close-close enough for lsaac to picture the narrow distance between them.

His grip on the phone tightened, knuckles bleaching white.

The calm mask he wore cracked, and beneath it bled panic, darkness, and jealousy. He swallowed hard, forcing his tone steady, though a tremor slipped through. "Verena, where are you? I'll come get you."

He needed to see her-only then could the gnawing unease find rest.

Verena glanced at the glowing clock on her phone-two a.m.

Had she really slept that long?

No wonder people said pregnant women were forever drowsy.

She didn't want Isaac coming out at such an hour."No need, go to bed. I'll come back on my own."

"Verena," Isaac cut her off, voice lower, firmer,carrying weight. "I want to pick you up."

She caught it-the strain beneath his words.

And she knew him too well.

So she yielded. "Alright. I'll send you the address." She hung up, typed the address, and then rose from the couch. "Ivan, it's late. Get some rest. I'll head back too. Thanks for tonight."

Her voice carried a thread of guilt-she had kept him up until the small hours.

Ivan stood, pretending offense. "Say that again, and I'll be angry."

He treated Verena like kin, and nothing irked him more than her distance.

His mock protest drew a laugh from her lips.

Ivan rubbed at his weary eyes. "Go on. I'll call the second I crack it."

She nodded and made her way to the door.

Ivan moved as though to walk her out, but she waved him off. "No need. Rest."

And with that, she opened the door and slipped into the night.