Chapter 183 A New Beginning, A New Enemy

Chapter 183: Chapter 183 A New Beginning, A New Enemy

The subterranean shooting range remained completely still around them.

​Veyra lowered her hands, the heavy weight of the Night Blade resting near her hip. Her fingers were still trembling, and her breathing sounded shallow and uneven in the cold space.

​Leon stood a few feet to her left, his arms loosely crossed over his broad chest. His expression was calm, but his dark eyes were sharp and observant.

​"Mrs. Thorne," he spoke up, his voice echoing off the concrete walls. "Your request regarding the Night Blade pistol. Is this sudden decision tied directly to what happened late last night?"

​Veyra kept her lips sealed, staring down at the rubber mat on the floor.

​"The nightmare," Leon pressed on, keeping his tone measured. "Were you in some kind of immediate danger? Is there an active threat out there that makes you feel like you need to carry a weapon?"

​Veyra slowly shook her head. "No, nothing like that."

​"Then why do you need to carry a concealed firearm outside the manor grounds?"

​She took a long, quiet breath to steady herself. "Because simply having it nearby makes me feel safer. It gives me a sense of security."

​Leon studied her pale face for a long moment. He clearly wasn’t fully convinced by her simple explanation, but he chose not to push her any further.

​"I am obligated to report this request directly to Mr. Thorne," he explained firmly. "He is the only one who can grant clearance for you to carry a concealed weapon outside."

​Veyra gave a quick nod. "I understand."

​"I will let you know as soon as I receive his decision."

​She offered another quiet nod, carefully placing the Night Blade down onto the wooden shooting bench. She turned around and walked out of the range, heading upstairs.

​As she walked down the quiet hallway of the main house, her phone began to vibrate in her pocket.

​She pulled the device out and looked at the glowing screen. The caller ID displayed the name Director Yvonne Hayes.

​Her heart gave a sudden, nervous flutter. She pressed the screen and brought the phone to her ear.

​"Director Hayes," she said, trying to keep her tone composed.

​"Mrs. Thorne," a warm, highly professional voice answered back from the line. "I have some wonderful news for you. Your official university admission paperwork has been completely processed."

​Veyra stopped walking right in her tracks, her breath catching in her throat. "It’s completely ready?"

​"It is officially signed and ready," Director Hayes confirmed with a light laugh. "You can come by my office to pick up the physical letter whenever it is convenient for you."

​"Thank you so much, Director Hayes. Thank you," Veyra breathed out, her chest swelling with relief.

​"You are very welcome. I will be working at my desk until four this afternoon."

​Veyra ended the call and lowered her phone, staring at the blank screen with a wide, genuine smile spreading across her face.

​She had been accepted. The hurdle was over.

​She was officially going to medical school.

​Her mind immediately flashed to Professor Julian.

​He was her mentor, her primary instructor, and the one person who had truly believed in her potential when everyone else doubted her. He was the man who had opened up his private basement lab for her, handed over his expensive medical equipment, and given her his complete trust.

​She hadn’t mentioned a single word to him about the final paperwork yet. She had intentionally kept it quiet because she wanted to surprise him with the physical document in hand.

​Now, she could finally give him that surprise.

​She hurried to her room, grabbed her shoulder bag, and walked out to the courtyard where the car was parked. She slid into the back seat and looked over at Leon.

​"Please take me to the Medical University," she instructed.

​Leon nodded, shifted the gear, and smoothly drove the car out through the main gates.

​The drive across the city took roughly forty minutes through light morning traffic.

​Veyra spent the entire ride looking out the passenger window, her thoughts spinning with excitement. She kept imagining the moment she would open the envelope, and she kept picturing the proud look that would appear on Professor Julian’s face when she showed him the letter.

​She couldn’t wait to arrive.

​The sedan eventually slowed down, pulling up to the main entrance of the sprawling campus. Veyra stepped out into the fresh air, her eyes sweeping over the massive stone pillars, the ornate iron gates, and the gold lettering carved into the main archway.

​Etland University of Medicine.

​She had spent countless long nights dreaming about walking through these exact gates. She had worked until she was exhausted, sacrificed her comfort, and fought past every obstacle to reach this point.

​Now, the dream was a physical reality standing right in front of her.

​She walked through the main archway, her footsteps quick and light against the stone pavement as her heart swelled with pride.

​She navigated through the brick buildings until she reached the administrative building and walked into the admissions office.

​Director Hayes was a small, well-dressed woman with kind features and short silver hair. She immediately looked up from her desk and smiled warmly when Veyra walked through the door.

​"Mrs. Thorne," Director Hayes greeted her, picking up a heavy paper folder. "Congratulations."

​Veyra stepped forward and accepted the crisp white envelope. Her hands were trembling slightly as she carefully broke the official seal and pulled out the letter inside.

​The paper was thick, high quality, and prominently stamped with the university’s official crest right at the top.

​Dear Mrs. Thorne,

​We are pleased to inform you that your application has been formally approved, and you have been officially admitted to Etland University of Medicine...

​She read through the paragraphs twice, then read them a third time just to make sure it wasn’t a trick.

​She looked up at the director, her vision blurring slightly with happy tears.

​"Thank you so much for this," Veyra said, her voice full of genuine gratitude. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

​Director Hayes offered her a soft smile. "You don’t need to thank me, my dear. You earned this spot entirely on your own merit."

​Veyra stepped out of the administration building, clutching the thick envelope tightly against her chest.

​She wanted to run straight to Professor Julian’s research building to share the news. However, when she checked her watch, she realized it was already past noon. He would likely be taking his mid-day break, eating lunch in the faculty lounge, or busy conducting experiments in the closed laboratory.

​She decided it would be better to track him down after lunch was over.

​In the meantime, she wanted to express her gratitude to Director Hayes properly. Treating her to a nice meal would be a great way to say thank you while building a strong, professional relationship with the administration.

​She pulled out her phone and dialed the director’s office line again.

​"Director Hayes," Veyra said warmly when she picked up. "I would really like to treat you to lunch nearby as a small token of my appreciation."

​There was a brief pause on the line before Director Hayes chuckled softly. "Oh, Mrs. Thorne, that really isn’t necessary at all."

​"I insist," Veyra insisted gently. "I would truly appreciate the company."

​"Well, in that case, I accept," Director Hayes agreed. "Do you have a specific spot in mind?"

​"I’m actually not very familiar with the dining spots right around campus," Veyra admitted. "Do you know a good place nearby?"

​"There is a quiet little establishment called The Elm," Director Hayes suggested. "It is just two blocks down from the main gate. The food is wonderful, and the environment is very peaceful."

​"That sounds perfect," Veyra replied. "I will head over now and secure us a table."

​The Elm turned out to be a charming, upscale restaurant tucked away quietly between an antique bookstore and a local flower shop.

​The exterior featured large glass windows, while the interior was neatly arranged with wooden tables covered in crisp white linen tablecloths. The air inside carried the rich, comforting scents of roasted garlic, butter, and fresh rosemary.

​Veyra arrived a few minutes ahead of Director Hayes. She walked straight up to the wooden podium at the front entrance.

​"Good afternoon, a table for two, please," Veyra said politely.

​The host checked her reservation logbook on the stand, her face quickly falling into an apologetic frown. "I am so sorry, ma’am. We are completely booked for the lunch rush today."

​Veyra’s eyebrows raised in disappointment. "There are no open tables left at all?"

​"Unfortunately, no," the host replied, glancing down at her list. "The entire main floor is taken, and our single private dining room upstairs is already spoken for."

​"Is the private room currently occupied?" Veyra asked, hoping there might be a chance to share or split the space.

​The host hesitated, looking slightly uncomfortable. "It is reserved by one of our regular VIP guests. She is extremely strict about her privacy."

​Veyra took the hint and gave a polite nod. "I understand. Thank you anyway."

​She turned around, intending to step outside and wait for Director Hayes so they could choose a different venue.

​Before she could take a single step toward the door, a sharp, commanding female voice echoed from behind her.

​"That private dining room belongs to me."

​Veyra stopped in her tracks and turned her head to look toward the entrance.

​A woman was stepping into the foyer, radiating an air of absolute wealth and strict authority. She was tall, slim, and perfectly put together. Her dark hair was styled into flawless waves, her designer coat was clearly worth thousands, and her posture was stiff with arrogance.

​Her cold, sharp eyes immediately swept across the room.

​It was Naya Whitmore.

​Naya walked straight past Veyra as if she were completely invisible, stepping right up to the host’s podium. Her tone was biting and impatient. "I reserved the private dining room hours ago. Is it set up and ready for me yet?"

​The host bowed her head nervously, shuffling her papers. "Yes, of course, Ms. Whitmore! Everything is prepared. Right this way."

​Naya didn’t offer the host a single word of thanks. She simply turned her chin up and began walking toward the private staircase at the back of the restaurant.

​As she passed by, her cold gaze briefly shifted to the side, locking directly onto Veyra’s face.

​For a brief, heavy second, their eyes met in complete silence.

​An icy chill ran straight down Veyra’s spine, a strange instinct warning her that this woman was bad news.

​Without saying a single word to anyone, Naya Whitmore asserted her dominance over the space and aggressively claimed the private room for herself, setting the stage for their very first face-to-face confrontation.