"I''m not doing anything special. What''s up? Aren''t you supposed to be in a business meeting? How do you have time to call me?" Vrie asked.


    Brandon replied, "It''s all taken care of. My flight is tonight. Want to meet up?"


    Vrie raised an eyebrow. "What time will you be back in Saintornia?"


    "A little after 11:00 p.m.," Brandon answered.


    Vrie shook her head. "That''s toote. You''ve been on a business trip for almost a week. You should just go home and rest."


    Brandon chuckled. "But I really want to see you. How about this? I''ll have my driver stop by your ce. We can see each other briefly, and then I''ll head home. Sound good?"


    Vrie considered it. His route home would pass by her neighborhood anyway. "Alright. Just call me when you''re close. I''m about to have dinner, so I''ll talk to youter. Bye."


    "Okay," Brandon replied.


    After hanging up, Vrie entered the restaurant.


    Stefan had reserved a private dining room, and by the time she arrived, he was already inside.


    They hadn''t seen each other in half a month. He looked thinner and more tanned than before.


    The moment Stefan saw Vrie, his previously dull eyes lit up, and a smile tugged at his lips. "You''re here, Veevee."


    "Yeah." Vrie sat down across from him. "How have you been?"


    "I''m alright. Oh, where''s your boyfriend? Why didn''t hee with you?" Stefan asked.


    "He''s on a business trip," Vrie answered.


    Something flickered in Stefan''s eyes. "I see. Well, I ordered a couple of dishes before you got here. Take a look and add anything you want."


    Vrie took the menu he handed her, skimmed through it, and added a soup. "It''s just the two of us. Two dishes and a soup are plenty. By the way, why did you book a private room?"


    "Because I wanted to spend time with you without any interruptions," Stefan said.


    Vrie pressed her lips together but didn''t respond. She didn''t know what to say. "Stefan, I''ve been meaning to apologize to you. At first, I tried to develop feelings for you, but I realized I just don''t feel that way. I''m sorry."


    A heavy silence filled the room after her words.


    Stefan forced a bitter smile. "I know. I never med you."


    "You''ll meet someone who''s right for you someday," Vrie said.


    "Yeah," Stefan muttered.


    They exchanged small talk, and soon, the food arrived.


    Throughout the meal, Brandon kept messaging Vrie.


    Each time she picked up her phone to reply, Stefan felt a pang of disappointment. It was


    clear Vrie really liked Brandon. Otherwise, she wouldn''t be texting him even during dinner.


    Halfway through the meal, Vrie suddenly felt her vision blur.


    At first, she thought she was imagining it. She blinked a few times, but the dizziness only intensified.


    As realization struck, everything went dark.


    Her phone slipped from her hand and fell to the floor, still lit up with her chat with Brandon.


    Stefan stood, picked up her phone, and quickly typed a reply.


    Vrie: [I''m busy right now. Let''s talkter tonight.]


    Then, he exited the chat.


    An hourter, Stefan arrived at an abandoned chemical nt on the outskirts of Saintornia, carrying the unconscious Vrie with him.


    Michelle was already there, waiting.


    Seeing Vrie unconscious, she smirked. Wow, Stefan, I have to admit, didn''t think you''d actually go through with it. I thought you might


    have fallen for her after spending all


    that time together


    Stefan''s face remained cold. "I''m not in the mood for your nonsense. Where''s my mom?"


    "She''s at Saintornia Sekond Hospital,


    in the inpatient department, Building


    1, ninth floor. But are you sure you want to transfer her back to Pinnacle Hospital? If she stays at the current hospital, the Snowdens will cover all the medical expenses."