CHAPTER 4

Vera’s Point of View

As I said, I went outside and kept scanning the surroundings. It was safe around here, no suspicious activities.

While I was gazing at the hospital entrance and exit, someone called my name, and I nearly jumped in surprise.

At first, I thought it was Ares, but as the person approached me, I felt my palms getting sweaty, not out of fear, but out of nervousness and inexplicable feelings. It was Alder, my friend who is also a doctor, and I just remembered that he works at this hospital too.

"Alder!" I greeted him with surprise, trying to calm myself.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, wondering. I quickly glanced at the car. The windows were tinted, but he seemed to understand what I was trying to convey.

"A new mission?" he answered his own question, and I nodded.

"Who?" he inquired further.

I jumped in surprise as our car honked.

I jumped even more when the window on Ares' side opened.

"Verania, do your job! Clara is here!" he called out, pointing to a woman walking towards the car.

"Oh? Ares is your job now, huh? Nice!" Alder said with amusement, and I just rubbed the back of my head.

"Yeah, we need to leave. Our appointment here has arrived," I said, smiling at him.

"Okay," he replied, waving at me, and I waved back before running to the driver's seat since Ares seemed to be in a hurry.

"Are you on time for work? Why are you flirting?" he said, sounding uncertain about what he was saying.

I adjusted my seat and glanced at the woman named Clara, who was sitting behind me.

"Sorry, it won't happen again. He's just a friend," I replied shortly, then looked back at Clara, who just smiled at me.

I slightly smiled back, returning her gesture, so she wouldn't think I'm snobbish.

"Clara, this is my bodyguard, nurse, and driver, Verania. You can call her Vera," Ares introduced me to Clara.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Isabella Clara Hernandez. It's up to you which of my names you want to call me," she said with a hint of shyness.

"Ah, okay, let's go with 'Doctor,’" I replied shortly emphasizing the word doctor, since I was busy watching the road. I can’t continue chatting with them or else they might witness an accident going to happen. 

"Hehe, alright..." she chuckled, scratching her neck, and I didn't bother to reply further, especially since I do not need to, and I do not have the guts to reply too.

Ares knows I am his fiancee and he should see how unpleasant my actions will be if he’s with another woman, so he could at least believe me being his fake fiancee.

We returned to Ares' restaurant, and they both started eating. Of course, I didn't want to be left behind, so I also started eating right beside their table. I didn't want to share the table because it wouldn't look good. Besides, it's their date, and I didn't want to be a third wheel, duh.

While I was enjoying my Butter Honey Garlic shrimp, one of the dishes I ordered, Alder suddenly sat in the chair opposite me. What is he doing here?

"You're eating lunch here too!" he exclaimed in surprise as he placed his tray of orders on the table.

"And you're the one surprised? You're the one who joined my table," I replied, and he laughed.

"Sorry hehe," he said, glancing at the table beside us where Ares and Clara were sitting.

"Oh, are they together with Clara?" he whispered to me, making me look at Ares.

"Maybe? I'm not sure, but I heard that Ares is courting her," I replied.

"Ah, so it's a lunch date!" he concluded.

"Yup!" I answered, looking back at us, and Ares raised an eyebrow when he noticed Alder. I chuckled lightly at his reaction.

They know each other too since their dads are close friends. However, it seems like they only know each other and are not really friends.

"Anyway, are you really not planning to go back to working in hospitals? You'd rather stay in the army?" Alder started a new conversation.

"Yeah, if I were to decide, out of 100 percent, maybe only 12 percent of me wants to go back," I replied with a laugh, and he nodded.

Alder and I continued chatting, and we fell silent when we overheard Ares and Clara's conversation.

The two of us immediately turned our heads to the other table to witness what was happening. I think Alder and I seems to love gossips, I shook my head to prevent myself from laughing at my thought, then I finally turned to see Clara and Ares. 

"I'm saying yes, Ares," Clara said happily, and I glanced at Alder, who raised an eyebrow at me.

"R-really?" Ares stuttered with widened eyes, and Clara nodded before standing up and hugging him.

I winced and looked at Alder when he offered me water.

"Water?" he said, and I quickly accepted it.

"Sure, I'll go ahead. It seems I took a while," he said, and I nodded.

But before he could stand up from his previous seat, Ares called him, raising my eyebrows. Why and for what?

"Bring your cousin with you," Ares said, making me look at him with an arched brow.

"Cousin?" I asked in confusion, furrowing my forehead.

"Yes, Vera. Clara is my cousin; her mother is my father's younger sister," Alder replied, answering my question. As our eyes met, I couldn't help but stare at his eyes for a moment.

I felt a shiver, somewhat reminiscent of the eyes of the person who shot Ares' car a few days ago.

"Alright, Vera, Ares, we'll go ahead," Alder said, smiling at me, and Clara followed him after kissing Ares on the cheek.

I shook my head at what I was thinking. It couldn't be Alder, it's impossible! It just can't be!

"Vera? What are you hesitating about? Let's go!" Ares called, so I quickly approached him to push his wheelchair.

"Are we going home?" I asked.

"Yeah," he replied shortly, with evident joy in his tone.

Though I found my thoughts about Alder impossible, I still needed to be cautious and investigate. I can't let my mind be occupied with too many thoughts. I'll start my investigation with Alder. Maybe I have feelings for him, but Ares is my job, and he's the one I need to protect.

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