"That cold?", Desmond chuckled with mischief glittering in his eyes.
Aaron shot him a glance, unimpressed at his attitude. "You expected different?"
"Yes, because relationship and feelings can be developed when you work towards it and I believe that she is willing to give you a chance even though she has been head over heels for Davis." Desmond advised.
"Then, you should also know that though she agreed to marry me out of responsibility—her heart is still with Davis.", he countered.
Aaron don't want to believe that Vera will be willing to love him when at the initial stage she has never acknowledged him.
He did not just expect the Louis family will accept a marriage proposal from him when he pressured his father to propose one. They had betrayed Davis without giving him a chance. Aaron always felt Davis is really pitiful in love.
Desmond noted the various changes flickering across Aaron face. He has always known Aaron attitude toward Vera and was hoping that with time he will change but it seems that at end he was wrong.
Vera Louis had everything a man could want in a woman—beauty, grace, intelligence and ability But in the end, she had chosen duty over love. She had let go of Davis, walked away from what was once hers, and stepped into a marriage that was nothing more than a calculated move.
To Aaron, she was just another pawn, just another piece of the game. And no matter how perfect she seemed, she would never be more than that.
Desmond wanted to persuade him further but Aaron waved his hand not to —making him pause with a sigh of helplessness.
~ At the Allen Family House ~
The clock on the wall struck 2am in the morning, Vera had been awake all the while waiting for her husband but surprising he ended the call before she could even express herself "How funny".
Vera stared at her phone, the beeping sound of the ended call lingered in her ears as a bitter smile stretched across her lips, a mockery of her own choices. She didn't expect that in just a few months, she would be reduced to nothing more than an object of ridicule, a decorative wife. It is as though he had forgotten how anxious he was when he was asking for her hand in marriage.
Wouldn't it have been better if she had waited patiently for Davis?
Her fingers tightened around the phone as she felt a wave of regret washed over her. She had thought she was making the right decision—choosing stability, choosing family interests over love. But now, she wasn't so sure. Aaron treated her like she was insignificant, and Davis… she had already let go without giving him a second chance.
No matter how much she tried to justify her choices, the truth remained the same—she had lost.
She gazed out of the window in daze as memories of the past she shared with Davis flooded her mind—the laughter, the happiness, the hope for a better future. All of it had withered like grass under the scorching sun.
She could still remember how Davis used to look at her, the warmth in his eyes, the way he would indulge her every whim and tantrums. Back then, she had believed they were meant to be, that nothing could shake the foundation of their relationship, that the future will be a blissful one.
But now…
Now, she can't really explain her present or her future. She is married to Aaron yet Aaron isn't her husband because he didn't regard her as wife. She wouldn't doubt it if she is just a pawn amongst his many chess piece and might be discarded at any time.
A bitter chuckle escaped her lips. Was this karma? Or was she simply foolish from the beginning?
Slowly she turned around from the window and walked to her dressing table, she stared at herself lightly and smiled lightly. "Aaron, I am not that weak you know", she muttered to herself. "The daughter of the Louis family can't let you walk all over her just like that." A gentle tap sounded on the door and without turning around "come in" she said lightly.
The door slowly pushed in and a young man of fine and distinguished features, his eyes cold and without warmth stepped into the room.
"Trevor, What did you find?" She asked indifferently. Her gaze still on the mirror
Trevor took a few steps forward, his hands tucked into the pockets of his tailored suit. His sharp gaze flickered with an unknown emotion as he studied Vera's reflection in the mirror.
"Miss, we have some discoveries concerning the investigation," he said, his voice low and professional. "As you expected, there are some issues going on at the Allen group. The Board are getting restless again. Aaron is at the hospital because Desmond suffered from acute gastritis after he visited Davis".
Vera spurned around with shock and surprise "Davis?" What happened?".
Trevor's eyes fluttered lightly. "I don't know the details but it says Jessica gave him a bottle of wine and after he drank , the story changed.
Vera looked at him incredulously "Jessica?"
Trevor nodded lightly.Vera sighed briefly "do you feel that it is a coincidence?"
Trevor shook his head "though I don't know the details but I think Jessica played a hand on Desmond.
Vera nodded "I think so but that is a great mistake on her part because Desmond isn't to be trifled with."
Trevor sighed "He may not be but what about when he is relaxed and never considered her an opponent?" He analyzed lightly.
He has been thinking of this and he has a strong conviction that Jessica had a role to play but for her to be able to send Desmond to the hospital meant she is strong opponent not to be underestimated.
Vera nodded with understanding. "Do you have any information on Jessica." She asked.
"The information on her is very few, it is only known that she is the eldest daughter of George Brown, her mother Nora is late and after her death Jessica was sent to the countryside."
Vera looked at him to continue but when she noticed his report has ended. She sighed. "So, what are the chances of Louis family in this struggle." She asked.
"Well, there is a high chance if we secure a deal of been elected into the board members", he highlighted.
Vera nodded, her eyes turning cold and her smile frosty. "Alright, since Aaron wants to play the wild card. I don't mind accompanying him till the end", she muttered.
Trevor need not to be told how deadly the Louis family are. They might have agreed to the marriage between Aaron and Vera but the project beneath the alliance is Allen group.
"And what about Jessica Brown…" The man hesitated briefly before continuing".
At the mention of Jessica's name, Vera's grip on the edge of her dressing table tightened. Her expression remained calm, but a storm brewed in her eyes.
"Jessica Brown…" she murmured, rolling the name off her tongue as if testing its weight.
The young man observed her reaction and added, "It would be unwise to underestimate her."
Vera scoffed lightly and turned back to the mirror. "Unwise? Please. She's just a temporary replacement, a last-minute substitute of the Brown family and I don't think she can make any wave otherwise she wouldn't have agreed to be someone's substitute "
She ran her fingers through her hair, her smile growing colder. "Let her enjoy her little moment. It won't last long, besides she shouldn't be much of a nuisance I think."
The man remained silent for a while, his expression giving nothing away. "I think it is still advisable to watch out for the unexpected."
"Alright. Continue keeping an eye on them of you feel it's necessary," Vera instructed, her voice firm. "And find out what Desmond and Aaron are up to. I don't like being left in the dark."
"Yes, Miss ....." With a slight nod, the man hesitated briefly in contemplation and Vera glanced at him noting his hesistance. "What again?"
"There is an update on Aaron's girlfriend's and their activities." Trevor stated.
Vera rubbed her temples. It is already problematic dealing with the company and her so called husband and now to think of the girls messing up her plans.
"Well, let them be when the time comes they will have a role to play in the game." She concluded with a cold smirk.
Trevor nodded and exited the room, leaving Vera alone with her thoughts.
She slowly sat back down, her fingers tracing patterns on the smooth surface of the table while lost in thought. After a while she sighed. "Davis… Aaron… Desmond Jessica..It's going to be an interesting outing when we all met at the rendezvous."she smirked coldly.
With a final glance at herself at the mirror, she walked to her bed a slow smirk curved her lips.