ack to the Jone

would be home, yet when she stepped inside

and called out, "Vince, wh

ed it, he hurried over to her. "Rena, you're back? Why didn't you

erself composed on the way here, th

y crossed his gaze. Without saying much, he reached out and pulled her

e expected, and the calm she had been

d into Vince, and tears kept

nce

ned something in him, and a s

ad known exactly what

he thought about how the Jones family had needed that mar

my mind. I'm filing fo

ght flickered in his eyes, and he leaned forward slightly. "Yo

a firm nod i

and, he wiped away the tears on her cheeks, and his voice carried a

Verena finally eased. Her shoulders

speak again, the sharp sou

d, his expression shifted, and the

nything, she spoke first. "If something came up, the

ence in the house fel

mini dress. After putting it on, she finished with bold makeup, and then h

later, Verena arrived

e, she had never stepped into a p

it was time to le

er lips, she walked ins

flashed while people dan

nother. The bartender guided her to a quieter spot,

ter glass disappeared into her hand, and she kept g

above on the second floor,

son was

his eyes as he st

downstairs looked nothing like the ca

her, and he did not look

nk did his expression tighten. Without another th

th the alcohol, and it hit her fast. She had drunk too q

tilted slightly as sh

es, and the ice knocked against t

feel was sorrow. It reminded her of every time Bray

f her. Among them, one man stepped forwa

e her dipped a

the man with unfocused eyes. A faint shine lingered o

ou?" she asked, h

kept his eyes on her, and then spoke

e and the shape of his f

avy, so Verena s

e looked at him for a second, and then let out a quiet laugh. "You l

and his childhood had been tied c

ther. After she married Brayden, Timothy had vani

face had faded from h

e looked at her in that state, y

st reached the lower floor w

rose in him all at once, u

dea Timothy

hing in Brayden, and memories from

moment, his

them, he stopped in his tracks. Verena ha

and it didn't look right at all. But

eached up again, tapping his cheek l

can take care of you," Vere

d. His eyes widened, and his

er so she wouldn't fall, and then lowe

inking a few times didn't help.

e said, trying hard

sigh quietly. "Alright, fine. You're

r seat, but before he could get her se

his annoyance at all, and h

k you're doing, V

expect to run

flashing in his eyes, and then finally spok

d, but his gaze stayed

er name, Verena

e pulled her eyes away like sh

His face turned cold right after. He reached out

hy said as he stepped in when he saw her fr

didn't

he finally noticed wh

ugged her b

for a second, and his

ok off his coat and wrapped it arou

uard, and she instinctively loope

eyes l