Chapter 184

"See? | told you. People rush to judge too fast, and now they're the ones who look foolish."

"Unbelievable! I never guessed Verena was this capable. Looks likeI won the bet,huh?"

Right ten, someone sent a message to challenge those who had carelessly criticized Verena without knowing the full story. "So where are all the loudmouths who mocked Verena before? Funny how quiet you've gotten now."

Those who had hurled insults earlier avoided the chat, unable to lift their heads, their faces burning with embarrassment.

Damn! They had been convinced she was only trying to attract attention, pretending to matter. Instead,the truth revealed she had genuine talent-and plenty of it. At his home, Bobby bounced in his seat, so thrilled he couldn't contain himself.

The first thing he did was grab his phone and dial Slater, his words spilling out in excitement.

"Man, did you catch that? Did you see how incredible my sister-in-law is? She's a legend!"

Slater, no less fired up after watching, practically shouted, "Verena is amazing! When she treated my grandpa, I already knew she was different. But finding out she's actually Evelyn? That's mind-blowing!"

Puffing up with pride, Bobby cut him off, correcting like a stubborn kid, "Hold on, you can't just call her Verena. She's my brother's wife. You'd better start saying Mrs. Bennett."

Rolling his eyes, Slater retorted, "Give me a break.Our families go way back. Your brother's like my own,so why can't I call her by name?"

The two of them were soon quarreling like boys in a schoolyard, neither willing to back down.

Across town at Bennett Group, Isaac leaned back in his office chair, eyes locked on the screen where Verena stood alone.

Flashes glared as she answered questions with poise,handling every reporter with ease.

Her presence glowed, making her look breathtakingly composed.

From his seat, Isaac's gaze lingered on the screen,his eyes carrying nothing but devotion.

He reminded himself that the remarkable woman being admired by so many was his wife-the one he cherished most.

At the same time, Katelyn's fury spiked the moment she heard Maxton confirm Verena's identity.

In a burst of anger, she shoved the table in front of her, sending it crashing over her phone.

The device survived, and Verena's voice along with the thunderous applause still rang from the speaker.

Katelyn lost all semblance of calm, her eyes blazing as rage overtook her.

Her breaths came harsh and uneven, like she was being crushed under an invisible weight,while her jawN clenched so hard it was audible.

"Verena... Verena..." she hissed, repeating the name as though uttering it alone could obliterate her."How is it possible? How are you Evelyn?"

Katelyn had always perched on her pedestal,convinced that her return from abroad would make her shine brighter than Verena, whom she dismissed as nothing more than a nobody from the rural backwater.

Because of that arrogance, she had never once treated Verena as an equal.

She had believed that after coming back from abroad, Isaac would notice the sharp difference between her and Verena and eventually regret turning her down.

She returned determined to crush Verena beneath her heel.

Instead, she was the one humiliated, reduced to a laughingstock.

No matter how she compared herself, whether in looks or in ability, Verena surpassed her completely.

Verena's success not only overshadowed her but pushed her so far behind she couldn't even compete.

"Hahaha..."

From start to finish, she had been nothing more than a source of amusement in Verena's eyes.

And to Isaac, she wasn't even worth that much.

Hot tears blurred Katelyn's vision as her fists tightened until her knuckles popped.

She cursed herself for ever dismissing Verena, for not seeing her as a threat. Had she realized sooner that Verena was Evelyn, she would have cut her down before things ever reached this point.

But realization came too late. Far too late.

Meanwhile in Clokron, the interview concluded, and Maxton appeared at Verena's door, knocking politely.

When she opened it, he spoke with rare warmth."Evelyn, I've ordered a party in your honor tonight.Would you consider staying a little longer?"

Though she appreciated his kindness, Verena knew she couldn't delay. Isaac was waiting, and his surgery couldn't be put off.

So she offered a gentle smile and shook her head."Mr. Fairclough, I truly appreciate it, but l've already been gone too long. My family needs me."

Her firm tone told him she had made up her mind,and Maxton didn't press her further. "In that case, I won't keep you. But at least allow Tobin to make the arrangements and escort you to the airport. Surely you won't refuse that?"

Unable to decline such consideration, Verena let out a small laugh. "Alright then. Thank you, Mr.Fairclough."

"You'vegiven me back my life," Maxton replied,smiling as his hand brushed thoughtfully over his beard. "The one who should be grateful is me. I'll let you finish packing."

When Maxton finally stepped away, Verena gathered the last of her belongings and stood before the tall window,phone in hand.

"Isaac, everything's done here. My ticket's already booked for this afternoon..."

She hesitated, and then Isaac's calm, familiar tone drifted back. "Tomorrow, I'll be at the airport to meet you."

Verena's lips curved faintly as she answered, "Alright. I'll see you then."

His reply came soft but certain. "Tomorrow."

No sooner had the call ended than his phone lit up again.

Assuming Verena had called back, he checked the screen, only to find Bobby's name glaring at him.A shadow flickered across his face before he answered and asked, "What is it?"

On the other end, Bobby's voice nearly crackled with energy. "Isaac, tell me-when's Verena coming back?"

"She leaves this afternoon," Isaac said casually. "Her plane will land in Shoildon tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Bobby practically shouted. "That's perfect! Let's go pick her up together-she'll love the surprise!"

Isaac's eyebrow lifted, his voice laced with dry amusement. "And you think you count as a surprise?" That barb left Bobby choking for words until he stammered, "I meant the whole family should go together. That way, it really would surprise her."

The line went quiet for a breath, and then lsaac spoke again, his voice measured and unhurried."Fine."

When her call with Isaac ended, Verena stepped outside and noticed Tobin had already arranged a car to take her straight to the airport.

Before she could climb in, Maxton lingered nearby with a look of obvious reluctance. If Verena weren't in a hurry to leave, he would've summoned all his friends for a farewell party before seeing her off.

Not every physician could earn Maxton's admiration.In medicine, Verena wasn't just another talented doctor-she was someone others would rather befriend than risk crossing.

Anyone with sense could see that keeping her close was like holding a winning card against fate itself.

Catching the heaviness in his expression, Verena gave him a warm smile. "Mr. Fairclough, please take care of yourself. I believe we'll meet another time."

Her words eased him a little, and he nodded. "Yes.We will."

Before leaving, she carefully went over Maxton's current condition with Tobin. With time pressing,she offered her final goodbyes and headed off.

By the time she reached the airport, boarding was already underway.

Inside the plane, Verena followed her ticket to a seat in business class-only to find it already occupied.

A young man sat slouched with his arms crossed,cap pulled low, and an eye mask covering most of his face.

He looked as though he had just drifted into sleep.

Verena double-checked the number on her boarding pass, and then leaned forward and tapped his shoulder politely. "Excuse me. I think this is supposed to be my seat."

The man let out a faint groan, clearly annoyed at being disturbed, but something about her voice cut through his irritation.

He tugged off the mask and pushed the cap back,his eyes widening in surprise as he looked up.

"Wait...my sweet Verena? Is that really you?"

Before she could gather her thoughts, Verena found herself swept into a tight embrace.

That familiar voice and the way he called her name left no doubt who it was.

She pressed her finger lightly against his shoulder,creating just enough space between them.

"Ivan? What on earth are you doing here?" Her tone carried both surprise and a faint smile.

Instead of answering, Ivan lowered his gaze to where her finger rested, his expression exaggeratedly hurt."Look at that. You've changed. Feels like you're pushing me away."

A few nearby passengers glanced over, whispering at the unexpected scene.

Ivan, with his mop of natural curls, smooth skin, and sharp features, wore a small blue stud in his left ear that caught the light with every tilt of his head. The whole look screamed trendy and effortless charm.

Yet standing beside Verena, the contrast made it clear-her indifference was stronger than any attention his style could draw.

Unmoved by the curious stares, Verena gave him a once-over, shook her head, and murmured, "You're such a drama queen."

Then she added with a calm practicality,"Check your boarding pass. You're probably sitting in the wrong place."

Ivan fumbled for his pass, glanced at it, and gave a sheepish laugh. "Makes sense. I'm actually in the seat right behind you."

After sliding into the spot behind her, he leaned forward over the headrest, his voice brimming with curiosity. "So, when did you get to Clokron? And what were you up to there?"

Turning slightly toward him, Verena answered without hesitation, "I've been here for a little while.I came to treat someone."

Not letting the silence linger, she returned the question. "And you? Why are you on this flight back to Shoildon?"

With a sly lift of his brow, Ivan gave her a grin."That's something I'll keep to myself-for now."

She let out a soft laugh at his cryptic tone and didn't press further.

Verena shifted the conversation. "How's your health these days? Don't keep things bottled up. If anything feels off,you need to tell me." She remembered all too well how she'd pulled him back from the brink when a bullet missed his heart by barely a hair.

Though the wound had healed, lingering problems still followed him, shadows that required constant care.

At her words, Ivan gave a crooked grin, acting like a mischievous younger brother caught red-handed."Relax. I'm fine. I keep my meds with me all the time,and I'm not dying anytime soon."

Her eyes narrowed as she cut him a look. "Want to try saying that again?"

They might not have been related by blood, but the weight of her stare carried the same authority as an older sister.

Ivan quickly covered his mouth with his hand,feigning guilt. "Alright, my mistake."

Only then did she let the matter drop.

By midday the next day, their plane touched down at Shoildon Airport.

When they stepped through the VIP exit, Ivan wrapped her in a quick, familiar hug.

"I'll head out first," he said with an easy smile. "Once I'm done with what I came here for, I'lI give you a call."

Verena returned the gesture with a light pat on his back. "Sounds good. Take care of yourself."

The moment Verena stepped out of the terminal and into the arrivals hall, her striking beauty and elegant presence immediately caught Isaac's attention.

He was just about to step forward when he noticed a man lingering at her side, face hidden beneath a mask and cap.

The stranger leaned in close, exchanged a few words with her, and then pulled her into a hug. She didn't resist; instead, she smiled and gave his back a natural, easy pat, as though they shared a comfortable closeness. Isaac froze, his chest tightening as one troubling thought crept in. Who exactly was this man with her?