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Novel Catalog
Chapter 16
Matthew grabbed Veronica’s arm and pulled her towards a small booth in the room. The third floor of the Twilight Club was reserved for VIPs, and each room had private booths for their guests’ “convenience.”
The door slammed shut behind them. Veronica’s heart raced. “Matthew, what are you doing? There’s still the law. Try anything and I’ll call the cops.”
She might have warned him, but her hand instinctively reached for her walkie-talkie. Before she could even speak into it, Matthew grabbed it from her and threw it to the floor, shattering it into pieces.
A chill emanated from him. Veronica’s nerves began to spike. “What are you planning to do?” she asked, her voice trembling.
Matthew didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he kept his gaze fixed on her, the air between them heavy. “You’ve been complaining about the job, about how lonely you are. Maybe I can help you out with that,” he said coolly.
Veronica’s heart sank. She could feel the weight of his words. Though she had always tried to remain composed, the tension was starting to break through. “Matthew, calm down,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Look at me. I’m not what you think. I’m not some trophy. If you need help with something, I can call over the staff to keep you company. I’m sure you’ll find someone more suited to your tastes.”
Matthew gave her a glance, his lips twisting into something between a frown and a sneer. “You’re right. You’re far from what I’m used to.” His words were sharp, but there was a faint, bitter edge to them, as though something from the past was resurfacing in his mind. The memory of her with Xavier, the way she had looked at him—it stirred something unpleasant in him.
“I’m not here for that,” Veronica replied, trying to mask the hurt she felt beneath her defiant words. “But I’m not going to let you disrespect me. I may not be perfect, but I don’t deserve to be treated this way.”
Matthew’s gaze softened for a brief moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he sighed and stepped back, suddenly aware of the tension that had thickened between them. “Fine,” he muttered, as if speaking more to himself than to her. “I shouldn’t have acted like this.”
Veronica, still stunned by his sudden shift, tried to steady herself. She was tired of this back-and-forth, tired of the strange games he played, but she couldn’t afford to show weakness.
“I’ll let you forget today’s incident,” she said, her voice gaining strength. “But I need something from you. My father is receiving treatment at Saint Hospital. The costs are… overwhelming. If you could help me with that, I’d appreciate it.”
Saint Hospital was a prestigious private institution owned by the Kings family. Veronica had no ties to them anymore, but she knew it would be the best place for her father to receive care. She was desperate but kept her tone businesslike.
Matthew raised an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing as he processed her request. “You want financial help?”
Veronica nodded. “Yes. If you can help with the hospital bills, I’ll put this all behind me. But I need your help, Matthew. Can you do that?”
For a long moment, Matthew stayed silent, his mind seemingly working through her words. Finally, he let out a low breath. “Alright,” he said, his voice flat. “I’ll make the arrangements.”
Veronica exhaled a silent sigh of relief. It wasn’t the ideal situation, but at least it was a step in the right direction. She wrapped her arms around herself, as if to protect what little dignity she had left, and nodded. “Thank you.”
Matthew stood up and straightened his jacket. “Someone will bring you a change of clothes,” he said, his tone returning to its usual detachment.
He turned and walked out of the booth, leaving Veronica to collect herself. As the door clicked shut behind him, she took a deep breath, her mind racing.
