Chapter 6
Heath swept his gaze around the room, and his dark eyes narrowed slightly. The room had been cleared out almost too thoroughly.
He wondered how long Veronica could keep up the act.
He didn’t respond to Miriam’s question right away.
Eleanor gently held Miriam’s hand. Her voice was soft and considerate as she said, “Thanks, Mira. But it’s okay. I don’t mind where I stay. If Veronica gets upset about it, I don’t mind moving out.”
As she finished speaking, she smiled lightly, with a perfectly measured trace of sadness on her face.
“No!” Samuel shouted.
“You can’t!” Miriam echoed.
Their voices rang out simultaneously, anxious and loud.
Samuel scrunched his face up. He missed his mother, but he had no idea when she might return.
On the other hand, Eleanor had just come back, so it probably wouldn’t matter if she stayed in Veronica’s
room for a while.
“Ms. Turner, you have to stay! Mom’s the mean one. She’s the one who should’ve left,” Miriam insisted.
At the mention of Veronica, Miriam’s expression turned pouty with irritation. She didn’t understand why her mother had left, or why she was being so annoying now.
She tugged at Heath’s hand, pleading, “Dad, that room was always meant for Ms. Turner anyway. Come on, say something. You love her the most, don’t you?”
Eleanor’s ears flushed a delicate pink. She gave a small, bashful smile and quickly covered Miriam’s mouth with her hand. “Mira, don’t say that… If it really doesn’t work out, I can just share your room.”
“No,” Heath cut her off firmly with a frown. “You’re not here to crowd in with the kids or take on babysitting duties.”
Eleanor looked up. Her eyes glistened as she glanced at him with gentle resolve. She whispered, “I don’t mind… really.”
Something flickered in Heath’s expression. For a brief second, he thought he saw the young girl she used to be.
Without thinking, he reached out to ruffle her hair. “It’s just a room. Stay there.”
At worst, if Veronica came crawling back, he could let her share his room.
He scoffed inwardly. Veronica hardly deserved that much.
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And so, Heath’s words were final.
“Yay!” Miriam squealed in delight, pulling both their hands as she bounced between them. She wished
Veronica would just stay gone forever.
But then she paused, and her excitement briefly dampened.
Veronica was likely to return and disrupt their peaceful life again, as she always did. Miriam had even
blocked her number yesterday, so there were probably tons of missed calls by now.
Miriam pulled out her phone and opened her blocked contacts list smugly. She scrolled down to the call log, already familiar with the routine.
Aside from the few attempts Veronica had made right after being blocked, the screen now sat empty–no
new calls, no voicemails, nothing.
Her eyes widened, and a strange unease crawled up her spine.
Veronica hadn’t even called once.
Eleanor noticed Miriam staring at the screen. She gently squeezed Miriam’s hand and said with a smile, Come on, let’s grab dinner. Later, I’ll help you and Samuel finish that puzzle.”
“You’re the best, Ms. Turner!” Miriam beamed and quickly locked her phone screen, brushing off the
unease.
If Veronica didn’t want to call, then fine. She didn’t care.
She had Eleanor now–and that was more than enough.
At 8:00 pm, rain drizzled softly over Jouver.
The Cultural Aesthetic Expo was winding down when Courtney’s studio suddenly had an emergency, so she left early. Veronica said her goodbyes and stayed behind to explore the exhibition on her own.
During the event, she exchanged contacts with several rising talents in the industry, gaining valuable connections. After being away from the industry for so many years, she was surprised to find her passion
still burning fiercely.
The conversations she had, spanning a wide range of topics from all over the world, stirred something in
her that had been quiet for years.
Fortunately, it wasn’t too late for a fresh start.
Because only pre–registered vehicles were allowed into the venue, Veronica waited outside for her ride
after the event ended.
A black SUV rolled to a stop beside her, and the window lowered smoothly. “Ms. Dolton, the rain’s picking
- up. Need a ride?”
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Veronica looked up to meet Lionel Shortle’s kind gaze. He was one of the gentlemen she had just
connected with.
Lionel was a master woodcarver and was renowned for preserving traditional craftsmanship.
Veronica smiled. She was about to politely decline when a sharp, mocking female voice cut through the
air.
“Oh, Veronica, I was wondering why you weren’t at home taking care of Mom. Looks like your heart’s somewhere else! Secretly seeing men behind Heath’s back, huh?”
Veronica frowned and turned toward Olivia. “It’s not what you think.”
Olivia sneered, her gaze sliding pointedly toward Lionel inside the car. “Busy, huh? Since leaving Heath, your taste seems to have gone downhill fast.”
Rumors had long passed around that Veronica drugged Heath and seduced him. Heath had covered for her to maintain appearances and even married her because she was pregnant, leaving Eleanor in a difficult position.
Yet now, only a few years later, Veronica was openly seeing others. Olivia found such behavior utterly repugnant.
Olivia’s expression twisted with contempt. “Veronica, don’t forget your place. If Miriam and Samuel ever found out about this, do you really think they’d still call you their mother?
“You’ve already hurt my brother enough. Stop embarrassing our family! If you’re looking for other men, then get a divorce sooner rather than later.”
Veronica blinked rapidly as bitterness crept in.
Since marrying into the Tate family, she had been labeled scandalous and forced to cut ties with her old life.
She was aware of the whispers about her being an opportunist and a homewrecker.
But that night, she had unknowingly drunk that drugged drink. Just as she was about to call for help, Heath held her tightly, his body burning against hers.
His promise to “take responsibility” had sealed that reckless night and the six years that followed–an endless exile disguised as marriage. His “responsibility” was a binding contract that trapped her as “Mrs. Tate“.
Yet, through all those years, she foolishly endured it all.
Veronica bitterly mocked herself and finally said, “I’m already divorced.”
Olivia’s eyes flashed with surprise, then quickly turned to disbelief. “You’d better be.”
Veronica was nothing more than a frail, clingy woman, yet she actually had the nerve to ask Heath for a divorce.
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What a complete joke.
If that day ever came, Olivia would be willing to dance naked all night on Elmbridge Avenue.
Without another word, Olivia climbed into her own car and drove away.
Veronica turned her head slightly, forcing a polite smile at Lionel. “Sorry to cause you any trouble, Mr.
Shortle.”
“No need to blame yourself, Ms. Dolton. I’m sure there’s been some misunderstanding,” Lionel said kindly,
nodding in reassurance.
He didn’t press further and only left after confirming her ride had arrived.
After getting caught in the wind and rain, Veronica felt a sharp headache as soon as she got into the car. Her cold from a few weeks ago hadn’t fully cleared, leaving her shivering and pale.
“Miss, are you okay? Should I take you to the hospital?” the driver asked, concern rising in his voice as he pressed the gas pedal harder.
Veronica held her phone, staring blankly at the screen.
On her Instagram feed, Miriam had unexpectedly removed her from the blocklist and posted a rare photo. In the picture, Eleanor held the children with a bright smile. Behind them, Heath looked at her with nothing but gentle affection.
What stood out most were the matching bear–themed family pajamas they all wore. Those pajamas were
the only design Veronica had personally created for her family since stepping away from the industry.
She had painstakingly adjusted every stitch hundreds of times.
But when she excitedly showed the pajamas to Miriam and Samuel, they rejected them outright.
Samuel had scoffed. “Mom, that’s so childish. I’m not wearing those pajamas.”
“They’re ugly, Mom. I won’t wear them.” Miriam burst into tears.
Veronica tried coaxing them to try on the pajamas, but Miriam cried even harder.
When Heath got home, Miriam tearfully complained to him. Heath gave the pajamas a cold glance from the hanger and snapped, “Veronica, how old do you think you are?”
Now, Heath and the children wore the very pajamas they had once scorned–and so did another woman.
Chapter 7
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Chapter 7
