Chapter 190


    Chapter 190 Are You Really Listening?


    At first nce, her disguised appearance could easily be mistaken for that of the leadingdy in a high-


    end club.


    Her hairstyle reminded Will of the popr hair essories from over a decade ago in dance halls, and


    her earrings were sparkling emerald jewels.


    Thedies’ watch on her hand, adorned with the most expensive diamonds, was valued at over two


    million dors.


    But for Will, all this wealth barely held any meaning.


    Elsie approached, leaning against Eric’s body, her voice alluring and seductive, “It seem set his sights


    on your girlfriend! You better be careful.”


    Eric, with a cool gaze, pulled her hand away from his chest, creating distance between th


    Just at that moment, the office door swung open.


    “Come in.”


    Eric turned around abruptly, and a hint of a shattered expression appeared on Elsie’s face.


    Entering the room was Gavin.


    Gavin reported, “Ms. Vera is here.”


    “Let her in.”


    “Understood.”


    Elsie felt the gaze upon her, and a bold smile lifted her red lips. “What’s this? Are we such an old pair


    that my presence is unbearable?”


    He remained silent, and Elsie chuckled, saying, “Eric, I used to wonder what kind of person could


    capture your affection.”


    C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    “You can deceive Will, but you can’t deceive me…”


    Vera?


    Who knew if she was just a pawn to him?


    Even the person closest to him could be manipted.


    |||


    1/5


    Someone like him truly had no heart.


    Elsie was also curious about who could make him willingly descend from his pedestal disregard


    everything. Who would that person be?


    Could someone like him genuinely like someone?


    She swayed her hips as she exited the office.


    Coincidentally, she crossed paths with Vera at the entrance.


    Elsie shared a smile with her and left.


    Vera held a lunchbox in her hands. “Eric, sorry to disturb you.”


    Eric masked his emotions, but this time, a warmth softened his usual icy facade as at Vera. “What


    brings you here?”


    “It’s been ages since we shared a meal, and I happened to grab your favorite chicken st downstairs.


    How about we enjoy it together?”


    “Sure, take a seat.”


    Eric settled on the sofa.


    Vera upied the opposite spot, unveiling a few dishes Eric frequently indulged in at ho As she set


    them out, shemented, “It might not match up to home-cooked perfection. Sharon’s gone, and you


    rarely make it home for meals. Considering your sensitive stomach, I worry you might end up with


    stomachaches again.”


    “You should be in ss at this hour.”


    His remark hung in the air, creating a tense stillness.


    Handing him the spoon, Vera’s eyes lowered slightly, carrying a trace of grievance. “I just wanted to


    check in on you.”


    “Let’s eat.”


    Vera, with a bowl and a spoon in hand, ate with deliberate slowness. The silence brought a subtle


    awkwardness, an ufortable vibe she couldn’t quite identify.


    After wrestling with her thoughts, she finally vocalized what had been weighing on her.


    “Eric… it feels like we’re together, yet at the same time, it’s like we’re not really together. Why does it


    fee! that way?”


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    There was a sense that everything remained unchanged, with their rtionship as the only


    addition.


    She often felt that Eric was avoiding her.


    Eric asked, “What’s on your mind?”


    “Every time youe back, I’m already asleep. Besides those quick moments when you drop me off at


    school, we hardly ever share a meal like we are right now. And… in the month-plus. we’ve been


    together, we’ve never been on a date.”


    Even holding hands was a rarity.


    Even that one night, if she hadn’t unexpectedly started her period, staining her skirt wit blood, she


    wouldn’t have had the chance to call him and ask him toe over.


    That was the only reason Eric carried her out of the ssroom.


    “Eric, are you free this weekend? Can we go on a date? You didn’t even spend Valentine’s Day with


    me.”


    “I understand. We’ll figure out the timing when the weekendes.”


    It was always the same response from him.


    During thest Valentine’s Day, Vera had nned to watch a movie with him and then go shopping for


    clothes together.


    He had agreed, but ultimately, he didn’t show up. He was working overtime at the


    “How about we go to the amusement park? I’ll wait for you on Friday after school.”


    Eric agreed with a nod.-


    After lunch, Gavin came in to give a work update. Eric had a meeting in half an hour.


    Vera left thepany without disturbing him.


    After Gavin departed, Eric, engrossed in reviewing a project document, identally nudged. the mouse


    on the desktop.


    This action roused theputer from its slumber, and the screen lit up, revealing an audio file.


    As Eric nced at the audio file, his gaze took on a distant and contemtive look. Suddenly, his eyes


    turned icy. He clicked the y button, and a familiar, nostalgic voice slowly resonated from the


    computer.


    |||


    3/5


    “I… miss you.”


    A simple expression of longing that Eric had never heard before. So, she can adopt such a tone


    too?


    The voice belonged to a recording of a lengthy call with Eileen, spanning four to five hours.


    Eric listened to the voices in the call. Her voice was not the only one in the recording; Jasper’s voice


    was in it too.


    It seemed like they had truly be a couple.


    For a moment, Eric’s thoughts were in disarray.


    It felt like the ivy that had entwined around him was suddenly being unraveled.


    His possession was slipping away from him bit by bit.


    He felt like he was losing his sanity.


    His mind was consumed with thoughts of her.


    He couldn’t afford to make more mistakes.


    Otherwise, the situation would truly be unsalvageable.


    In the library, with the final half-hour ticking away, Eileen couldn’t remain seated any lon She neatly


    stowed her pen in her pencil case, feeling a slight twinge in her nerves as she noticed a guy and a girl


    across from her.


    Fortunately, the library wasn’t too crowded today.


    “Elm, I’m stuck on this problem. Can you help me? I didn’t catch what she said earlier; she spoke too


    fast.”


    Eileen packed up her books, remarking, “We’ve covered everything discussed today. There’s still half


    an hour, so you can work on your homework. I won’t disturb you any longer.” With that, she tucked her


    books into her backpack.


    As she was preparing to leave, Elm grabbed his girlfriend’s textbook and pointed to at question. “How


    do you solve this one?”


    Eileen, maintaining herposure, furrowed her brow. “I only agreed to tutor one person.”


    Elm, sitting with his legs crossed and tapping his foot, emitted a slightly spoiled rich kid vibe. He tilted


    his head andughed in a mischievous manner. “What’s the matter, are you jealous? One more person


    or one less person, what difference does it make to you? Besides, I don’t


    4/5


    know how to answer this que


    “You don’t know?” Eileen stared at him with a serious expression. A subtle look of frustration. appeared


    on her face. “We just went over this question, and you’ve already forgotten how to solve it? Were you


    even paying attention?”


    Calliope, leaning on Elm’s shoulder, discontentedly said, “Why are you being so harsh? It’s not his


    fault. You didn’t exin it clearly.”


    So, she spent two and a half hours, acting as a third wheel in front of them for two ho


    Forget it. She owed them that much.


    “I’ll go over it again with you guys…”