Chapter 162

People said Vanessa seemed like a whole different person after that time she fell into the water-like she had a complete reset. Guess the old "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" really hits hard sometimes. But Maurice knew better. It wasn't that she survived the accident-it's that the real Vanessa didn't. The one standing here now... was Freya, just in a new skin. Freya used to be this brilliant girl-smart to a fault, honest to a fault, kind to a fault. Loved and sheltered growing up, she never learned to question people's intentions. And that blind trust? That's how Victor wormed his way in and wrecked everything... "You wanna eat something?" Vanessa couldn't stand Maurice zoning out like this. Ever since they met today, the guy had been acting off. "I'm good. Not hungry. Come sit down-we need to talk." Maurice reached out to grab her arm. She dodged, stepping back straight into a familiar, solid chest. That deep, unmistakably smooth voice sounded right in her ear. "Wow, missin