Chapter 43

Vera’s POV

I hate this.

No—scratch that.

I really, really hate this.

It’s been two days, Two full days since Kael dragged me back here using threats and that annoyingly calm voice of his, and yet… nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

He hasn’t looked at me.

Not once,

Not when we walked,

Not yesterday, Not today.

It feels… off.

Two days ago, he had me pressed against a door, his breath warm against my skin, his voice low enough to make my brain completely shut down.

Yesterday?

Today?

Nothing.

No teasing. No lingering looks. No tension thick enough to suffocate me.

Just distance,

And I hate him for it.

I groaned under my breath, rolling out of bed with more force than necessary. The cold air hit my skin immediately, making me shiver.

“This house is trying to kill me,” I muttered, dragging the blanket with me and wrapping it around my shoulders like armor.

My pajamas were ridiculous—soft, oversized, and with stupid rabbit ears attached to the hood—but at this point, I didn’t care. If I was going to freeze to death, I was at least going to be comfortable while doing it.

Without bothering to think it through, I made my way down the hallway, my irritation building with every step.

By the time I got to his office, I didn’t hesitate.

I kicked the door open.

Hard.

The loud bang echoed through the room, and instantly, every single one of his men turned toward me, guns raised.

I didn’t even flinch.

“Relax,” I said dryly, rolling my eyes. “If I wanted him dead, I wouldn’t announce it.”

Their fingers didn’t move off the triggers.

Of course not.

Idiots.

Are you planning to keep ignoring me, I continued, stepping into the room like I owned it, “or is this your version of being professional?”

Kael didn’t look up from the file in his hand.

Not even a glance.

“Leave us.”

His voice was calm, controlled, and carried enough authority that his men didn’t question it.

Within seconds, the room emptied.

The door cracked behind them,

Vera crossed her arms, leaning back slightly, her gaze fixed on him. “You dragged me back here,” she said, her voice sharp. “The least you can do is talk to me.”

This time—

He looked up.

Slowly, like he was taking his time on purpose.

Her breath caught for half a second before she forced her expression to stay neutral.

Kael noticed.

Of course he did.

A faint smirk touched his lips. “We need to work together, Vera,” he said calmly. “And kicking down my door instead of knocking is a bit dramatic, don’t you think?”

Vera blinked.

That’s all you have to say? she snapped. “After ignoring me for forty-eight hours?”

“It is.”

“No, it’s not.”

Her voice rose, frustration slipping through before she could stop it.

Kael didn’t react.

His gaze held hers, steady, unreadable.

“You want answers about the organization?”

Her fingers tightened slightly against her arms.

“Yes.”

“Then we work together,” he continued, just as calm as before. “You listen. You do what you’re told. And maybe… we don’t end up killing each other.”

Vera let out a dry laugh. “You really don’t know me if you think I’m just going to start taking orders.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” he murmured, leaning back in his chair, “I know you won’t.”

Something about the way he said it made her pause.

Just for a second.

Like he already knew exactly how this would play out.

Kael’s gaze didn’t leave her. “Sit.”

“No can do.”

“Vera.”

She didn’t move.

“Sit down.”

The tone changed, Commanding.

Vera held his gaze for a moment longer before walking over and dropping into the chair across from him.

Hard.

“Good,” he said simply.

Her irritation spiked again, but she didn’t speak.

And that alone annoyed her even more.

Kael slid a file across the desk toward her.

Vera looked at it… then at him.

“Do you mind telling me what’s inside?” she asked, her voice quieter now.

Kael noticed that too.

A small shift in his expression. Barely there, but enough.

“Your file,” he said.

Vera frowned. “My file?”

“Yes. Yours.”

Her grip tightened slightly as she pulled it closer and opened it.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then her brows furrowed.

“…This is empty.”

“Exactly.”

She looked up at him, confusion mixing with irritation. “What is this supposed to mean?”

Kael stood.

The movement was slow, and suddenly the space between them felt too small.

Vera didn’t move as he walked around the desk.

Didn’t look away.

Even when he stopped right in front of her.

Too close.

“No name,” he began calmly. “No passport. No address. No records linking to your current identity.”

Her heart started to beat faster.

Not from fear.

From something else.

Something she didn’t want to name.

“It’s like you just appeared out of nowhere,” he continued, his gaze locked on hers. “And now that I know where you came from… it makes sense.”

Vera said nothing.

Didn’t interrupt.

“You were erased,” he added. “Wiped clean.”

His eyes darkened slightly.

“But that still doesn’t explain how you became a professor in my university at twenty-six.”

A pause.

Then—

“Do you care to explain?”

Vera held his gaze.

For a second, she considered lying.

Then she exhaled slowly.

“I took it,” she said simply.

Kael didn’t move.

“I found the real candidate,” she continued, her voice steady. “And I replaced them.”

Silence.

“I did what I had to do to survive.”

Kael studied her for a long moment.

Then—

I guessed as much.

And somehow, that unsettled her more.

The door cracked open, almost falling and Lucian stepped inside, Aaron right behind him.

They both paused.

Their gazes moved between Vera and Kael.

Then back again.

Something unspoken passed between them.

Aaron raised a brow. “…Did we interrupt something?”

“No,” Vera said immediately.

"Yes,” Kael said at the same time.

Vera shot him a sharp look.

He ignored it completely.

Aaron sighed, stepping further into the room. “Did a volcano erupt in here or something?” he asked, glancing at the broken door. “Why is your door almost on the floor?”

No one answered him.

Lucian’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smile as he leaned against the wall, his gaze flicking briefly toward Vera.

Then back to Kael.

Interesting, Very interesting.

Aaron looked between them again, clearly not liking what he was seeing.

“…Yeah,” he muttered, dropping into a chair. “This is going to be a problem.”