Chapter 38

Valerian drove through town, deciding to have his lunch at the restaurant where Noelle worked. It was a rare sight. There was no convoy, no guards, no black-suited men trailing behind him like shadows. Today, he had left them all behind.

He had his men stationed at Alexei’s academy to ensure his nephew’s safety while Valerian attended to a more...

pressing

matter.

It had only been a few hours since he last saw Noelle, but for some reason, she lingered in his thoughts far more than he cared to admit. She had left an imprint on him, one that refused to fade. He wasn’t used to such distractions, and yet, here he was on his way to actually see her.

He steered the car toward the familiar restaurant where she worked while his sharp eyes scanned the small but lively place as he pulled into an empty parking spot nearby. The scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling food wafted through the open windows, mixing with the chatter of customers enjoying their afterno