Chapter 148

He showed his care for her in every possible way.

After breakfast, they set off for the site. Though it was only 7 a.m. and a crisp morning breeze swept through the air, the stark contrast between day and night temperatures was undeniable. Evelyn had draped a lightweight cardigan over her shoulders and shielded herself with a wide-brimmed sun hat.

Sun protection was essential—they would be spending the entire day at the nursery.

This time, instead of a Rolls-Royce, they were escorted in a rugged Summit Trailhawk. Victoria didn’t comment, but her eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement. The SUV was a beast—perfect for off-road terrain and exactly what they needed for this trip.

"What an incredible perk from the company. I had no idea we had access to such a diverse fleet." Victoria marveled, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window.

Then she turned to Evelyn, who had rested her head against the glass. Evelyn could feel Victoria’s scrutinizing stare but kept her eyes trained on the landscape, feigning ignorance.

Victoria, however, wasn’t one to let things go. She leaned in abruptly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Your boyfriend isn’t secretly part of Celestia Group’s upper management, is he?"

Evelyn whipped her head around, blinking in exaggerated disbelief. "If he were, do you think I’d be slaving away at Phoenix Labs? I’d be lounging at headquarters."

Victoria considered this and conceded with a thoughtful hum. "Fair point. Still, this level of luxury is going to ruin me for future work trips."

Evelyn pretended not to hear, focusing instead on the approaching nursery.

As they neared the entrance, vibrant flower beds stretched endlessly before them, a riot of colors that instantly lifted their moods. The fields were so vast that the horizon blurred into a sea of blossoms.

The moment the car stopped and the doors opened, the intoxicating fragrance of flowers enveloped them. "Achoo! Achoo!" Evelyn sneezed violently, hastily pulling on her facemask for relief.

Her sense of smell was unusually sharp—a gift that sometimes felt like a curse. Overwhelming scents could easily overpower her, especially when multiple fragrances mingled in the air.

Victoria, though less sensitive, still wrinkled her nose at the intensity.

A representative from the nursery was already waiting to greet them, having been briefed on their visit. After a quick introduction to the facility, he led them inside.

"All our roses are cultivated here. Though they belong to the same family, the varieties are endless. Over there, you’ll find our sunflowers, and beyond that, the camellias."

Pride laced his voice as he gestured around. "You won’t find a nursery in all of Veridia with a collection as diverse as ours. Whatever flower you seek, we have it."

"Mind if we explore on our own?" Victoria asked, already nodding in anticipation.

The man hesitated briefly before relenting. "Of course. Just be careful—this place is massive. It’s easy to get lost, and walking back can be exhausting."

Victoria flashed him a confident grin. "Don’t worry about us!"