Chapter 587
Chapter 587:
Dorian’s mind churned like a storm-tossed sea after he left Star Wish Investments. He gripped the steering wheel, guiding his car through the city with no destination in mind. Past his house he drifted, then the office, and even the dimly lit bar where he, Alden, and Leonino often swapped stories over whiskey. Those places, once his refuge, now pressed against his chest, heavy and stifling.
He found himself idling outside Valeria’s apartment building. Tilting his head back, he gazed up at her window, picturing her warm smile. For a fleeting moment, the thought of her steadied his racing heart.
A sharp rap on the car window jolted him from his reverie. “Dorian? What in the world are you doing out here p>
Valeria’s voice carried a mix of surprise and curiosity as she peered through the glass, her hazel eyes wide.
She had just returned from the grocery store when she spotted the familiar sedan parked outside her building. At first, she doubted her eyes, but the sight of Dorian’s profile—his jaw set, his brow furrowed—confirmed it was him.
Dorian fumbled for words, a rare stumble for a man usually so smooth. “Uh…” He shifted uncomfortably in the driver’s seat, his fingers tapping an uneven rhythm on the wheel.
Valeria’s brow creased with concern. “Come on, let’s head upstairs and talk,” she urged, her voice soft but insistent.
With a heavy sigh, Dorian pushed open the car door and stepped out.
Inside the apartment, Valeria handed him a steaming mug of coffee. “Why are you not at work?” she asked, suddenly remembering her usual schedule. “I thought today was a regular shift for you p>
She shrugged, settling onto the sofa with her own mug. “A coworker needed a favor, so I swapped shifts and got the day off p>
Her casual tone shifted as she leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “But you didn’t know I’d be home. So why show up p>
Dorian’s gaze dropped to the coffee in his hands. Words eluded him again, his thoughts a tangled mess.
“You’re not yourself today,” Valeria said, her voice laced with worry. “What’s going on p>
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Before Dorian could muster a reply, his phone buzzed sharply in his pocket. His hand shot to it instinctively, pulling it out to glance at the screen.
An unsaved number stared back at him, a string of digits that sent a chill down his spine. Valeria, sitting close to him, noticed the lack of a contact name. Her eyes flicked to his face, catching the hesitation in his tightened jaw. He stared at the phone, frozen, letting it ring unanswered.
Suspicion coiled in her gut. She studied his troubled expression, and old rumors about his past—his reputation as a playboy—flashed through her mind. Was it another woman?
The thought stung, sharp and sudden. Without thinking, she snatched the phone from his hand and pressed it to her ear.
“Hello?” a woman’s voice asked, weathered and mature, likely belonging to someone well into her fifties. Definitely not a romantic rival, Valeria thought, her cheeks warming with embarrassment.