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Novel Catalog
Chapter 91
Xavier was waiting for Veronica at the entrance of the company when he saw her approaching in a light gray sportswear. As soon as she got closer, he walked up to her with a guilty look. “Roni, I’m sorry I couldn’t help.”
He really felt bad about not being able to accompany her to Almeida, especially since he had wanted to go with her. But he also saw it as an opportunity to let her go alone, thinking it might help him understand her better. Two weeks apart would give him a chance to see how she handled things on her own, and he was sure that by the time she returned, Hendric would have accepted her. After all, with her real identity revealed and her striking resemblance to Tiffany, there was no doubt it would work in her favor.
“It’s fine. I’m part of your team now, so it’s my duty to serve the company.” Veronica raised an eyebrow, her tone light and teasing as she smiled.
Xavier, overcome by emotion, pulled her into a big hug. While holding her tightly, he whispered, “I’ll wait for you to return. When you come back, I’ll have a big surprise for you.”
Veronica pulled back slightly, intrigued. “What’s the surprise?”
She was already imagining a hefty bonus—after all, the word surprise had to involve money, right?
Xavier couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, you’re so smart.” He wasn’t going to tell her yet that the “surprise” he had in mind was much bigger than a bonus. He had something else planned, something important—he was planning on proposing.
“Well, you should’ve told me earlier. I’d have been gone by now!” Veronica laughed. “Haha…”
Xavier gave her a playful but serious look. “The mountain roads there are bumpy, so be careful.” He then pointed to a minivan parked nearby. “Everything we’ve prepared for the children in Almeida is loaded into that van. They’ll drive it to the site. As for you, I’ve arranged for a plane ticket to get you there. Once you land, someone will pick you up.”
Veronica nodded, understanding. Since Almeida was far from Bloomstead, they had to fly to the nearest location and then continue by car.
“Alright, I understand,” she said.
“When you reach Almeida, the roads won’t be passable by car, so you’ll have to walk up the mountain. It’ll take about 4-5 hours, and it will be difficult, so you must take care of yourself,” Xavier continued, his concern evident.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.” Veronica smiled reassuringly, raising an eyebrow. “Trust me.”
After taking a photo with him and the other colleagues who were assigned to Almeida, Veronica waved goodbye and hopped into the car. Xavier drove her to the airport, his reluctance palpable.
“Safe travels,” he said, hugging her one last time. “If anything happens, you need to contact me immediately.”
She combed her fingers through her hair, smiling. “I’m only going for two weeks. Why make such a big deal out of it? Alright, I’m off. Goodbye.”
She turned, dragging her luggage as she waved her hand without looking back.
Once at the airport, Veronica checked in and found her seat on the plane. Her seat was next to a window, allowing her to enjoy the beautiful scenery outside. Hours later, the plane landed in Lothen, and Veronica was met by her driver.
After getting into the car, they traveled for a while before reaching the base of Almeida’s mountain. The driver, a cheerful man named Quincy Neelson, explained, “We can’t go any further by car. We’ll have to walk up the mountain for about 4 to 5 hours to reach Almeida. We should be there before dark.”
“Alright, let’s get going,” Veronica said, determined. The mountain hike didn’t faze her.
As they made their way up the slippery, muddy path, the rain began to pour down, catching them off guard. Veronica quickly pulled out an umbrella from her luggage, and Quincy did the same. Despite their efforts, the heavy rain and the muddy terrain made walking difficult.
“What kind of weather is this?” Veronica muttered as she struggled to keep her footing.
The rain was so loud, the drops making a crackling sound as they hit their umbrellas. A thick mist rose from the mountainside, adding to the eerie, enchanting atmosphere.
Just as Veronica looked up at the beautiful scenery, she slipped, almost falling face-first into the mud. She gasped, but before she could hit the ground, someone reached out and grabbed the collar of her jacket, steadying her.
“Thank you, Quincy! That was a close one,” Veronica said, breathless.
However, Quincy didn’t respond. Instead, he pointed behind her and said, “It wasn’t me. It’s him.”
Veronica turned around, and her eyes widened in surprise. “Matthew? What are you doing here?”
Standing behind her, looking cool and calm despite the rain, was Matthew. He wore a black tracksuit, with sports shoes to match, and held a gray-striped umbrella. His expression was neutral, but there was a subtle smile on his lips when he saw her reaction.
“Are you surprised?” Matthew asked in his usual flat tone.
Veronica couldn’t contain her excitement. “You should’ve told me you were coming! Now I have to carry my luggage all the way up this mountain!” She pouted playfully.
Without hesitation, she handed her luggage to him. “Bro, please help me carry it. It’s too heavy.”
Matthew gave a slight nod, and gestured for the two men accompanying him to take the luggage. One of them immediately moved to help.
Veronica breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the weight lift off her shoulders. “Ahh, this is so much better,” she said with a smile.
She tugged on Matthew’s arm and turned to Quincy. “Let me introduce him. This is Matthew.”
Quincy smiled nervously and waved. “Hello, bro.”
Veronica laughed. “Why are you calling him ‘bro’? Just call him Matthew.”
Quincy scratched his head awkwardly. “Well, since he’s your brother, I figured I should call him ‘bro,’ too.”
“We don’t even share the same last name, and we’re not really related. Anyway, let’s go.” Veronica waved off Quincy’s comment and continued walking up the path, pulling Matthew along with her.
Quincy muttered under his breath, “Damn this woman. So ungrateful…”
The rain soon stopped, leaving the air feeling fresher. The clouds parted, and the path became clearer as Veronica and the others made their way up the mountain.
When they reached a higher vantage point on the mountain, Veronica stopped and gazed down at the view below. The scenery was breathtaking.
But as she looked around, she suddenly realized something. “Wait… Where’s my luggage?” She turned, searching for it, but it had vanished.
