Chapter 30
Victoria sat comfortably in Zayden’s car, the warm leather seats cradling her as the engine purred softly. The night had been unexpectedly pleasant, and now, as they drove through the quiet streets, she found herself smiling more than she had in weeks. The city lights danced across the dashboard, casting a soft glow on Zayden’s face as he glanced at her between moments of conversation.
“You’ve been quiet,” he said, breaking the silence. “Was the food that good, or are you still thinking about Rebecca’s little scene?”
Victoria chuckled, shaking her head. “It’s neither. I’m just… surprised, I guess.”
“Surprised about what?” he asked, genuinely curious.
“How normal this feels,” she admitted. “For so long, my life’s been nothing but chaos. It’s strange to sit here and talk like… like everything’s okay.”
Zayden gave her a sidelong glance, his lips quirking into a small smile. “Well, I’d say normal suits you, Tori. You deserve a little peace.”
She looked at him, her expression softening. “I haven’t heard much about your chaos. What was your childhood like? You said earlier that your parents pushed you into finance, but what about before that?”
He sighed, his hands resting casually on the steering wheel. “My childhood was… complicated. My parents weren’t exactly the nurturing type. My father ran a hedge fund, and my mother was a socialite. They had their expectations, and anything outside of their vision for me wasn’t worth their attention.”
Victoria frowned. “That sounds… lonely.”
“It was,” he admitted. “But I found ways to escape. I loved reading—medical journals, believe it or not. While other kids were dreaming about superheroes, I was fascinated by anatomy and surgery. I knew I wanted to be a doctor from the time I was ten.”
She smiled softly. “That’s incredible. So, you went against your parents’ wishes to chase your dream?”
“Eventually,” Zayden said, a note of humor in his voice. “But not without a fight. They agreed to let me pursue medicine, but only after I worked for them for a while. It was a deal I couldn’t refuse, but I made it work.”
“Do you regret it?” she asked.
“Not for a second,” he replied. “The experience taught me a lot. But medicine is where my heart is, and I’ll always find my way back to it.”
Victoria nodded, her mind drifting. “My childhood was nothing like that. My parents were the opposite—encouraging, loving, and always supportive of everything I did. My father especially… he believed I could do anything.”
“He must be proud of the woman you’ve become,” Zayden said sincerely.
A shadow passed over her face, and she looked away. “He passed away a few years ago. My mother, too.”
Zayden’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, Tori. That must’ve been hard.”
“It was,” she said quietly. “But it also made me stronger. I had to grow up fast, take control of the company, and make sure their legacy didn’t die with them.”
“And you’ve done that,” he said firmly. “You’re remarkable, Victoria. Everything you’ve been through, everything you’re fighting for—you’re a force to be reckoned with.”
She smiled faintly, glancing at him. “You make it sound so heroic. But some days, it just feels like survival.”
“Sometimes survival is the greatest act of courage,” Zayden said, his tone serious. “Don’t underestimate what you’ve accomplished.”
They fell into a comfortable silence, the hum of the car and the occasional passing headlights their only companions. Before long, Zayden slowed the car, pulling up in front of Victoria’s house.
He turned to her, his dark eyes warm and intent. “Thank you for tonight,” he said softly. “It was… nice to get to know you better.”
Victoria nodded, her fingers brushing against the door handle. “Thank you for dinner. And for catching me earlier. You seem to have a knack for being in the right place at the right time.”
Zayden chuckled. “Maybe it’s just luck.”
“Or fate,” she teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Maybe,” he said, his voice quieter now.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, slowly, Zayden leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. The gesture was unexpected but tender, leaving Victoria momentarily stunned.
“Goodnight, Tori,” he murmured, pulling back with a small smile.
“Goodnight,” she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.
She stepped out of the car, her heart beating faster than she cared to admit. As Zayden drove away, she stood on her doorstep for a moment, letting the night’s events settle in her mind. It had been a strange evening—pleasant, chaotic, and everything in between.
Once inside, she kicked off her shoes and set her bag on the counter. Her phone buzzed in her clutch, and she pulled it out, expecting a message from Elena checking in on her.
Instead, her eyes widened as she read the text:
“Zayden is not who he says he is.”
