?<strong>Chapter 121:</strong>


    Her hand had barely grazed the doorknob when the door was suddenly flung open from the outside. Verena instinctively stepped back several paces. Once she steadied herself, she looked up and locked gazes with the man who had just entered.


    In that split second, Verena’s body went cold. Kane had not expected to run into Verena here, of all ces. “Miss Reed,” he said, his eyebrows raised ever so slightly, his lips curling into a mischievous smile. “Fancy seeing you here.”


    Verena forced a smile. “Hello, Mr. rk.”


    “You are leaving already?” Kane asked.


    “Yes, I won’t be disturbing you and Lucas. Have a nice chat, you two.”


    With that, Verena fled the office without waiting for Kane’s reply.


    Kane merely chuckled to himself and walked into the room.


    Meanwhile, Tinsley noted Verena’s hasty exit from Lucas’ office. She watched in suspicion as thetter rushed to the elevator. Then, she seemed to have suddenly thought of something. She took out her phone and typed out a message. After reading it once to confirm the text, she hit send.


    Belinda was just settling in for a nap when her phone buzzed. A message from Tinsley lit up the screen. Her lips curved into a cold smile as she read it.


    “Mrs. rk, I saw Verena bringing lunch to Mr. rk at the office today.”


    Belinda replied, “I see. Thank you, Tinsley.”


    Tinsley was quick to respond, “No need to be so formal with me. I’ll keep an eye out for you. If Verenaes again, I’ll let you know.”


    For a moment, Belinda considered telling Tinsley that it wasn’t necessary, but after a pause, she simply replied, “Okay.” Putting away her phone, she let out a sigh,y back on the bed, and closed her eyes.


    Today, she left work on time for once and returned to the rk family estate afterward. After dinner, she apanied Harold on a brief stroll before retreating to her room.


    By ten-thirty, Lucas still hadn’t returned. Belinda found herself puzzling over his absence. She hadn’t seen him since the night before. Was he avoiding her? Could it be… he was feeling too awkward to face her?


    The thought brought a smile to Belinda’s lips. But as the hours crept by and Lucas remained absent, she eventually drifted to sleep, the question still lingering.


    The next morning, she awoke to the same empty room. Her eyes sparkled with quiet amusement.


    If Lucas wanted to y avoidance games, fine. She had her own ns for the day. Since she had the day off, she decided to prepare a thermos of soup and pay a visit to Triumph Consortium. She was curious to see if she would run into Verena there.


    Upon arriving at the Triumph Consortium, Belinda walked into Lucas’ office without hesitation. Lucas, absorbed in his work, barely nced up before speaking, his toneced with irritation. “I told you, no more…” His words trailed off as his eyesnded on Belinda. His expression froze for a split second before shifting to one of mild awkwardness. He quickly looked away, pretending to focus on hisptop. “What are you doing here?”


    Belinda held up the thermos. “I brought you lunch.”


    “Take it away,” Lucas said curtly, still refusing to meet Belinda’s gaze.


    Belinda chuckled softly, preparing to respond, when a knock sounded at the door.


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