“Veronica.” Heath’s cold, detached voice called out to her.
In an instant, the previously noisy atmosphere fell silent.
All eyes turned toward Veronica and Heath, disbelief written across their faces.
From behind the crowd, Rence was ready to step forward and casually start a conversation — just enough to spark a misunderstanding. But before she could move, the man suddenly
addressed Veronica. Her eyes, sharp with jealousy, snapped to Veronica.
She couldn’t understand what made that plain, ordinary woman so special.
She quickly noticed Veronica’s subtle movement, which was to walk the other way. Renee questioned if Veronica was still putting on an act trying to run away again.
Heath’s gaze landed on the petite figure in the crowd. Ever since he and Veronica parted ways at the restaurant, he hadn’t seen her again.
His voice was dry, his throat tight as he asked, “Veronica, why did you ignore my calls?”
“Sorry; I thought they were spam calls,” Veronica replied, shrugging.
Heath clenched his fists, his tone laced with a hint of resentment. “Even if you’re out of the hospital, you’re not supposed to stop your medication. And now, Miriam’s completely out of control because you didn’t discipline her properly. She’s even refusing to eat.”
Upon hearing that, Veronica’s fingers clenched so tightly that they turned white. She wondered what had happened to their daughter, but then stopped herself. She couldn’t let herself be pulled back in.
Her lips curled into a faint smile. “So what? Even if I am her mother, doesn’t she have a father? Why is she acting like this?”
“Veronica, do you really have to talk to me like this? I’m trying to have a civil conversation with you.”
“Was I not speaking properly?”
Heath’s voice turned harsh. “What will it take for you to come back and take care of Miriam? Name your price.” He was giving in now, but his clear eyes held a trace of disappointment.
They had managed to coexist peacefully for many years. He didn’t know why things had to go wrong now and thought that women were nothing but trouble.
“Are you saying that I should abandon a promising career just to go back and be a full–time, around–the–clock nanny to your child?”
Her voice rang out calm and clear, snapping any coworkers out of their daydreams about some
Chapter 56
kind of domineering CEO romance.
No one wanted to be a nanny to raise someone else’s kid.
Heath’s frown deepened. “Do you have to make it sound so harsh? You’ve been doing it for the past six years, and you never complained once. What made you turn into this person now?”
“Maybe I just got tired of being the one who always gets the short end of the stick.” Veronica let out a sarcastic laugh.
She was simply putting her life back on track. But to him, it looked like she had turned into someone else entirely.
A bitter ache welled up in her chest.
He could offer this thankless job of being a stay–at–home nanny to someone else.
Fighting off the emotions rising within her, she replied deliberately, “If you want me to come back, fine. But you, the mighty CEO of Tate Group, had better offer something worth my time.
Heath’s eyes turned darker. “How much?”
“Five million dollars,” she replied, holding up five fingers.
The onlookers around them gasped collectively.
Heath was silent for a moment before finally giving in. “If I pay you, will you stop causing trouble?”
He realized then that Veronica was simply beating around the bush just to ask for money. He had, indeed, neglected her. At least that much was true. If money could bring peace, he was willing to pay for it. But if she stirred up any more trouble, he wouldn’t let it slide again.
Veronica smiled sweetly and said, “Yeah. Five million dollars a month, and I’ll stay perfectly quiet.‘
“What did you say?” His eyes narrowed, his voice sharpened. “Five million dollars a month?”
He wondered if she thought that he was printing cash.
“What, can you not afford it?” Veronica deliberately prodded. “If you can’t, then don’t waste my time.”
Heath was starting to lose his patience. “Veronica, are you toying with me?”
He finally realized that she never intended to have a serious conversation from the start!
“Do you think that I’d ask for five million dollars as a joke?” Veronica lowered her gaze, feigning ignorance.
Then, a voice rang out from the crowd, saying, “I’ll do it! If she won’t, I will!”
