Verena kept looking out of the window the whole time and would take a few glances at him.
She wasn't sure how she should thank Louis for his help.
She felt like her heart was melting when he said to trust him. She felt like she could get anything by his side.
She immediately shook her head, how could she even think like that?
Verena looked at him and saw his side profile.
"Um, thank you for your help. I don't know how I would have to keep her grave safe if not for you." She genuinely smiled at him.
Louis stared at her for a second longer but said nothing. She looked away from him embarrassed.
Did I say something wrong? She wondered but only shrugged her shoulders.
"Can you take me to my apartment?" Verena asked.
"Your apartment?" He asked as if he was shocked that she didn't wanted to go back with him at his house.
"Yes. I am grateful for your help so far. But I think we shouldn't be meeting each other. I will rest and get well soon." She smiled at him and told Joshua the address.
Joshua body stiffened and he glanced at his boss through the rare view mirror. He caught his boss dark look. Clearly he wasn't happy with her decision to go back to her place.
Joshua immediately look away not wanting to feel goosebumps on his skin.
"We are here." He announced and gulped when he felt the temperature in the car turned cold.
"Benny will be sad." Louis muttered.
Verena stopped when she was about to open the door and turned to him. "I know he will be but I have to distance myself with him. I don't want him to get attached to me."
Or me to him.
Louis stared at her and didn't know how to make her stop. The guy who had never beg neither shown his true feelings was a bit hesitant.
Verena got no reply so she opened the car door and with the help of Joshua she sat on the wheelchair. He helped her inside the apartment and walked back.
He halted as he took the cigarette from his pocket and glanced at the spot where his car was.
He wasn't surprised his boss left him alone here.
"Boss is very furious this time." He muttered to himself and glanced at the up at the small apartment.
…
Verena groaned and rolled over in her bed, dragging the blanket over her head.
Her phone had been ringing non-stop, the shrill vibration cutting through the quiet of the morning.
Whoever it was clearly didn't believe in mercy—or voicemail.
Blindly, she grabbed the phone, eyes still closed, and answered in a groggy mumble.
"Yes?"
"Come to my place," came the deep, unmistakable voice of Louis Heisenberg.
Her eyes snapped open. She stared at the screen, the name flashing in bold letters: The Devil.
Her brows furrowed immediately. "What for?"
"Little Benny is throwing tantrums," he said curtly and hung up.
Verena stared at the phone in disbelief. "Seriously?" She tossed it onto the bed and glared at it as if it had personally offended her.
Does he really think I'm that soft? Just because a child misses me? Hah! Absolutely not—
Her thoughts stopped as Benny's little pouty face flashed in her mind. She groaned again, this time in defeat, dragging herself out of bed.
Thirty minutes later, freshly dressed and reluctantly ready, she stepped outside her apartment only to find a sleek black car waiting at the curb.
Joshua was standing by the rear door like a statue.
"What are you doing here?" Verena narrowed her eyes.
"Boss instructed me to bring you to the manor," Joshua said, then without hesitation, opened the door for her.
Verena huffed. No point calling a cab when the ride was already paid for—and probably tracked.
With a resigned sigh, she slid into the car.
As it pulled away from the curb, she muttered under her breath, "This better not become a habit."
The huge living room remained icy cold, not just in temperature, but in atmosphere.
At the long dining table, two figures sat stiffly across from each other.
One was tall, sharp, and silent.
The other was small, stubborn, and equally silent.
"Eat your food." Louis's tone was cold, firm, and completely unbending.
Little Benny didn't blink, didn't flinch—he stared at the plate in front of him as if it were invisible.
"I'm saying this for the last time." Louis narrowed his eyes.
Still nothing.
"Do you really think a childish hunger strike will work on me?" He leaned forward slightly, his voice sharpening like a knife.
But Benny might as well have been a statue—or a tiny monk mid-meditation. He sat there with his arms crossed, his little face set in stone, ignoring the world like a sage in protest.
The ticking of the antique clock was the only sound between them.
One hour passed.
Louis didn't budge.
Benny didn't move.
The plate of untouched food sat between them like a trophy in a battle of wills.
Then—
Click. The front door opened.
Both heads turned slightly, ever so subtly.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
And then Verena appeared.
Louis straightened in his seat, his expression unreadable while Benny's eyes lit up.
Verena took one glance at the scene—the untouched food, the frigid silence, and the ridiculous tension between a billionaire and a brooding child and raised an eyebrow.
She sighed quietly and made her way toward him. Her steps were slow, a slight limp still in her gait, though her leg had mostly healed.
Benny's gaze snapped up the moment he saw her, his lips pressed together tightly.
His small shoulders gave the faintest shudder—like he wanted to cry but didn't dare.
Verena pulled out the chair beside him and sat down slowly, placing her hands gently on the table
"Still being dramatic, huh?" she said softly.
Benny looked away, then quietly muttered, "I was worried…"
"About what?" Her brows drew together.
"You were hurt. And you weren't home," he whispered. "I wanted to take care of you. But you didn't even say goodbye."
Verena's expression softened, her chest tightening.
She reached out and gently cupped the back of his head, pulling him a little closer.
"Hey… I'm sorry, Benny. I didn't mean to disappear like that. You see auntie has her job to do."
Benny finally turned toward her, his eyes glassy. "I thought you didn't want to see me again…"
"That's never true."
She helped him lift the spoon, and slowly, little by little. Miraculously, he began to eat. His appetite clearly restored by her presence alone.
Across the table, Louis watched the entire exchange in silence, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his chair.
No one knows what he was thinking.
After dinner, while Verena stood to grab her coat, Louis spoke firmly, "You'll stay here tonight."
She blinked, looking over at him. "Louis, I didn't bring anything with me—"
But he was already walking away down the hallway, his back to her as he said, "You'll manage."